Print Report
A4025 Aloysia wrightii - Pericome caudata - Ephedra nevadensis Sparsely Vegetated Bedrock Cliff & Lava Field Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes sparsely vegetated (<10% total vascular cover) areas with Aloysia wrightii, Atriplex hymenelytra, Bursera microphylla, Ephedra nevadensis, Fouquieria splendens, Larrea tridentata, Nolina bigelovii, Cylindropuntia bigelovii, and/or Pericome caudata, and other desert species, especially succulents. This alliance occurs from California to Texas and adjacent Mexico and is found from foothill to subalpine elevations and on barren rocky areas.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Wright''s Beebrush - Mountain Tail-leaf - Nevada Joint-fir Sparsely Vegetated Bedrock Cliff & Lava Field Alliance
Colloquial Name: Sparsely Vegetated Bedrock Cliff & Lava Field
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance includes sparsely vegetated (<10% total vascular cover) areas with Aloysia wrightii, Atriplex hymenelytra, Bursera microphylla, Ephedra nevadensis, Fouquieria splendens, Larrea tridentata, Nolina bigelovii, Cylindropuntia bigelovii, and/or Pericome caudata, and other desert species, especially succulents. Lichens are predominant lifeforms in most areas. This alliance occurs from California to Texas and adjacent Mexico. It is found from foothill to subalpine elevations and includes barren rocky substrates such as steep cliff faces, narrow canyons, and smaller rock outcrops of various igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic bedrock types. Also included are unstable scree and talus slopes that typically occur below cliff faces.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparsely vegetated areas where rock is the predominate substrate with Aloysia wrightii, Atriplex hymenelytra, Bursera microphylla, Ephedra nevadensis, Fouquieria splendens, Larrea tridentata, Nolina bigelovii, Cylindropuntia bigelovii, and/or Pericome caudata, and other desert species, especially succulents.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Perhaps better as a group-level concept with several alliances, but is so poorly documented it needs significant further work and understanding to solidify the concepts. Nominal species are representative of the rocky, warm and dry habitat. Stands may be characterized by different species, as described in the concept summary. This alliance needs more quantitative plot data to describe the range of variation of associations and confirm alliance concept.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation in this alliance has sparse cover of vascular plants that are generally short xeromorphic deciduous shrubs.
Floristics: Sparsely vegetated stands are dominated by Aloysia wrightii, Pericome caudata, and/or Ephedra nevadensis. The shrub layer can have a wide variety of other shrubs, including Atriplex hymenelytra, Bursera microphylla, Cylindropuntia bigelovii (= Opuntia bigelovii), Chrysothamnus spp., Ericameria cooperi, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Fouquieria splendens, Grayia spinosa, Hymenoclea salsola, Larrea tridentata, Nolina bigelovii, Pericome caudata , Psorothamnus arborescens, Salazaria mexicana, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus. Grasses, if present, include Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Elymus elymoides, and Poa secunda (= Poa scabrella). Common forbs may include perennials such as Astragalus layneae, Camissonia multijuga, Lomatium mohavense, and Mentzelia multiflora, and annuals such as Camissonia contorta, Eriastrum eremicum, Eriogonum polycladon, Navarretia spp., Oxytheca perfoliata, and Phacelia spp. Total vegetation cover is sparse (<10% total cover).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs in valleys, bajadas, foothills, piedmont hills, ridges and into the upper montane. Elevation ranges from 600 to 1930 m. Soils range from coarse and loamy to clayey but are always shallow and are often covered by rocky colluvium. Climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cold winters. Rain occurs mostly in winter. Annual precipitation varies widely from year to year with mean annual precipitation ranging from 16-20 cm depending on elevation and location.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the warm semi-deserts of North America, including the Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, MXBCN, MXCHH, MXSON, NM, TX, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900076
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.A Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Woodland, Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S06 | 3.A |
| Formation | 3.A.2 Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F015 | 3.A.2 |
| Division | 3.A.2.Na North American Warm Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D039 | 3.A.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 3.A.2.Na.6 Ocotillo - Desert-holly - Watson''s Amaranth North American Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M117 | 3.A.2.Na.6 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.6.a Ocotillo - Bear-grass species - Desert-holly Rock Vegetation Group | G569 | 3.A.2.Na.6.a |
| Alliance | A4025 Wright''s Beebrush - Mountain Tail-leaf - Nevada Joint-fir Sparsely Vegetated Bedrock Cliff & Lava Field Alliance | A4025 | 3.A.2.Na.6.a |
| Association | CEGL001280 Wright''s Beebrush / New Mexico Rockdaisy Shrubland | CEGL001280 | 3.A.2.Na.6.a |
| Association | CEGL002936 Nevada Joint-fir Basalt Shrubland | CEGL002936 | 3.A.2.Na.6.a |
| Association | CEGL004579 Mountain Tail-leaf Sparse Vegetation | CEGL004579 | 3.A.2.Na.6.a |
Concept Lineage: A.1035, A.1848
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Ericameria cooperi-Ephedra nevadensis association (Peterson 1984a) [included within the Mixed Shrub Zone.]
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