Print Report

A3877 Prosopis glandulosa - Prosopis velutina - Prosopis pubescens Wet Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of open to closed woodlands dominated by Prosopis glandulosa, Prosopis pubescens, and/or Prosopis velutina. Sites include mesic areas such as floodplains, streambanks, intermittently flooded arroyo terraces, alkali sinks and washes, and dry terraces. Substrates are generally coarse-textured, gravelly alluvium. It occurs from California to Texas and northern Mexico.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Honey Mesquite - Velvet Mesquite - Screwbean Mesquite Wet Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: Mesquite Wet Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Woodlands included in this alliance are characterized by a moderate to dense tall woody canopy dominated by Prosopis glandulosa, Prosopis pubescens, and/or Prosopis velutina. The diversity of other species can vary greatly with geography and substrate. The dominant understory shrubs are often species of Atriplex, but may include many other species. Succulents may include several species of Opuntia and Yucca. This alliance occurs in southern California, Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, Texas, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Coahuila. Sites include mesic areas such as floodplains, streambanks, intermittently flooded arroyo terraces, alkali sinks and washes, and extends into the upland on dry terraces above streams and arroyos. Substrates are generally coarse-textured, gravelly alluvium. Prosopis spp. trees extract groundwater with extensive root systems, but grow best where water tables are shallow, such as along drainages.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic of this alliance is the dominance of Prosopis glandulosa, Prosopis pubescens, and/or Prosopis velutina in the shrub canopy.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Xeromorphic, deciduous tall shrubs that are usually less than 10 m tall. The understory is dominated by a moderate to dense layer of xeromorphic deciduous shrubs that is less than 2 m tall. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse and dominated by graminoids, with annual forbs present seasonally. Succulents may be present.

Floristics: This alliance is of short to medium-tall shrublands dominated by Prosopis pubescens, Prosopis glandulosa, and/or Prosopis velutina. The shrub layer may include Acacia constricta, Acacia greggii, Ambrosia spp., Artemisia filifolia, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex lentiformis, Atriplex polycarpa, Baccharis salicifolia, Baccharis spp., Celtis laevigata var. reticulata, Chilopsis linearis, Ericameria laricifolia, Funastrum spp. (= Sarcostemma spp.), Gutierrezia sarothrae, Larrea tridentata, Lycium andersonii, Lycium spp., Olneya tesota, Parkinsonia florida, Parkinsonia spp., Pluchea sericea, Rhus trilobata, Suaeda moquinii (= Suaeda torreyana), Suaeda suffrutescens, and Ziziphus obtusifolia. Succulents may include Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa (= Opuntia acanthocarpa), Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (= Opuntia leptocaulis), Cylindropuntia imbricata (= Opuntia imbricata), Opuntia phaeacantha, Yucca baccata, and Yucca elata. The herbaceous layer can be moderately dense to insignificant depending on geography, substrate, and land-use history. The most common species in the herbaceous layer are the perennial grasses Aristida spp., Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua dactyloides (= Buchloe dactyloides), Distichlis spicata, Pleuraphis mutica (= Hilaria mutica), Muhlenbergia porteri, Sporobolus airoides, Sporobolus flexuosus, and Sporobolus wrightii. Sparse annual grasses may include Aristida adscensionis, Bouteloua barbata, and Dasyochloa pulchella (= Erioneuron pulchellum). Forb cover is also sparse, but it can be relatively diverse. Common forbs may include species of Amaranthus, Chenopodium, Croton, Eriogonum, Euphorbia, Solanum, and Zinnia.

Dynamics:  The age of the stands and moisture conditions within these bosques determine the canopy composition and cover. Stands dominated solely by Prosopis pubescens are the furthest from the river, or have deeper water tables. If sufficient moisture is available for extended periods, Tamarix chinensis can outcompete the Prosopis pubescens and become completely dominant. Most stands of this alliance have been invaded by the exotic small tree Tamarix chinensis, which either codominates with or has nearly eliminated Prosopis pubescens. Only the most xeric of sites, where flooding is very infrequent and the water table is too deep for Tamarix chinensis to tap, still support stands dominated solely by screwbean mesquite (Reid et al. 1994).
Environmental Description:  Shrublands included in this alliance occur in floodplains of large river basins. Sites are typically upper terraces along perennial streams. Slope is level to gentle. Mesic sites include washes, streambanks, alkali sinks or outwash plains with groundwater near the surface. Elevations range from sea level to 1240 m. Climate is arid to semi-arid. Amount and season of precipitation vary with geography. Upland sites include the rarely flooded and dry terraces above streams and arroyos. Sites are generally flat or gently sloping on any aspect. Parent material is usually sandy or gravelly alluvium. Substrates are generally coarse-textured, but may include gravelly silty loams. Some soils are moderately saline. Prosopis spp. trees extract groundwater with extensive root systems, but grow best where water tables are shallow, such as along drainages.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in southern California, Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, Texas, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Coahuila.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, MXCHH, MXCOA, MXSON, NM, NV, TX


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nc Southwestern North American Warm Desert Freshwater Marsh & Bosque Division D032 2.C.4.Nc
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nc.1 Warm Desert Lowland Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M076 2.C.4.Nc.1
Group 2.C.4.Nc.1.b Honey Mesquite - Velvet Mesquite - False Willow species North American Warm Desert Riparian Low Bosque & Shrubland Group G533 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Alliance A3877 Honey Mesquite - Velvet Mesquite - Screwbean Mesquite Wet Scrub Alliance A3877 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL001381 Western Honey Mesquite Wet Scrub CEGL001381 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL001387 American Screwbean Wet Scrub CEGL001387 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL001390 Velvet Mesquite / Netleaf Hackberry Wet Scrub CEGL001390 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL004934 Honey Mesquite Wet Scrub CEGL004934 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL005340 Velvet Mesquite - Catclaw Acacia Wet Scrub CEGL005340 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL005341 Velvet Mesquite / Carelessweed Wet Scrub CEGL005341 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL005342 Velvet Mesquite / Johnson Grass Ruderal Wet Scrub CEGL005342 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL006861 Honey Mesquite / (Saltbush species, Mojave Seablite) Mojave Desert Shrubland CEGL006861 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Concept Lineage: A.661 and A.1042

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Prosopis glandulosa (Mesquite bosque, mesquite thicket) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [61.512.00]
> Prosopis glandulosa Woodland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
> Prosopis glandulosa Woodland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012)
> Prosopis pubescens (Screwbean mesquite bosques) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [61.513.00]
? Prosopis pubescens-Prosopis juliflora torreyana-Pluchea sericea Association (234.711) (Brown 1982a) [within Sonoran Deciduous Swamp and Riparian Scrub, Mixed Scrub Series.]
> Prosopis pubescens Alliance (Screwbean mesquite bosques) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Prosopis pubescens Woodland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
? Great Valley Mesquite Scrub (#63420) (Holland 1986b) [once extensive in southern San Joaquin Valley in California, now it is nearly extirpated.]
? Mesquite - scrub series (Donart et al. 1978a) [from the Chihuahuan Desert Region of the Desert Shrub Formation.]
? Mesquite Bosque (#61820) (Holland 1986b) [occurred in along the lower Colorado River. Current extent is unknown.]
>< Mesquite Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995) [Prosopis pubescens is listed as an associate for some stands.]
? Mesquite Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [in both the Arroyo Riparian and Closed Basin-Playa-Alkali Sink Riparian Vegetation Types.]
? Mesquite Series (224.52) (Brown 1982a) [within Sonoran Riparian and Oasis Forests.]
? Mesquite bosques series (Donart et al. 1978a) [from the Riparian Region of the Woodland Formation.]
? Mesquite: 242 (Eyre 1980)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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