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A4157 Ephedra funerea Scrub Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance forms an open to intermittent shrub layer in which the dominant and characteristic shrub is Ephedra funerea, often with Ambrosia dumosa and Atriplex confertifolia. The alliance is currently known from the Mojave Desert in California where it is found on upland rocky slopes on various aspects.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Death Valley Joint-fir Scrub Alliance
Colloquial Name: Death Valley Joint-fir Scrub
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance forms an open to intermittent shrub layer. The emergent tree layer is typically not present, and when present is typically sparse. The herbaceous layer is sparse to open. The dominant and characteristic shrub is Ephedra funerea and others that are often present include Ambrosia dumosa and Atriplex confertifolia. Characteristic herbs include Eriogonum inflatum as well as Bromus rubens, Sphaeralcea ambigua, and Xylorhiza tortifolia. The alliance is currently known from the Mojave Desert in California where it is found on upland rocky slopes on various aspects. Elevations range from approximately 900 to 1800 m. Soils are derived from a variety of substrates, though often nutrient-poor, including calcareous, granodiorite, and rhyolite/basalt. Textures are typically loamy sand or loam.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is characterized by an open to intermittent shrub layer with Ephedra funerea dominant or codominant. The overall shrub cover ranges from 4 to 38%.
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: No Data Available
Floristics: The alliance forms an open to intermittent shrub layer with Ephedra funerea dominant or codominant, and the overall shrub cover ranges from 4 to 38%. The tree layer is typically not present, and the herb layer is sparse to open. Nonvascular plants are typically sparse, when present. The dominant and characteristic shrub is Ephedra funerea and others that are often present include Ambrosia dumosa and Atriplex confertifolia. Characteristic herbs include Eriogonum inflatum as well as Bromus rubens, Sphaeralcea ambigua, and Xylorhiza tortifolia.
Dynamics: Ephedra funerea typically occurs as a dominant along nutrient-poor slopes, including on calcareous and basalt slopes that are rugged and rocky. It can tolerate natural disturbance from rockfall.
Environmental Description: The alliance is found on upland rocky slopes at various aspects. The alliance occurs at mid to high elevation (approximately 900-1800 m). Soils are derived from a variety of substrates, though often nutrient-poor calcareous, granodiorite, and rhyolite/basalt substrates, and textures are often loamy sand or loam.
Geographic Range: The alliance appears to be common in parts of the Kingston, Mesquite, and Nopah ranges (Root 1978, Thomas et al. 2004) in the Mojave Desert, and it occurs in the Panamint Mountains (Thomas et al. 2004) in the southeastern Great Basin. It is well-defined in sampling at Death Valley National Monument, California, and is represented by two plots in the Cinder Cones area of Mojave National Preserve.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.941888
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S11 | 3.B |
| Formation | 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F033 | 3.B.1 |
| Division | 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D040 | 3.B.1.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 3.B.1.Ne.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a Joshua Tree - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - Rough Joint-fir Mixed Desert Scrub Group | G296 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
| Alliance | A4157 Death Valley Joint-fir Scrub Alliance | A4157 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005750 Death Valley Joint-fir Shrubland | CEGL005750 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Ephedra funerea (Death Valley joint fir scrub) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.275.00]
= Ephedra funerea Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
= Ephedra funerea Provisional Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [33.275.00]
= Ephedra funerea Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
= Ephedra funerea Provisional Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [33.275.00]
- Beatley, J. C. 1976. Vascular plants of the Nevada Test Site and central-southern Nevada: Ecological and geographic distributions. Technical Information Center, Energy Research and Development Administration. TID-26881. Prepared for Division of Biomedical and Environmental Research. 297 pp.
- CNPS [California Native Plant Society]. 2015-2017. A manual of California vegetation [online]. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://vegetation.cnps.org/].
- Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., and K. Thomas. 2000. Draft descriptions of vegetation alliances for the Mojave Ecosystem Mapping project. California Natural Diversity Database, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Thomas, K. A., T. Keeler-Wolf, J. Franklin, and P. Stine. 2004. Mojave Desert Ecosystem Program: Central Mojave vegetation mapping database. U.S. Geological Survey, Western Regional Science Center. 251 pp.
- VegCAMP and AIS [Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.]. 2013. 2012 California desert vegetation map and accuracy assessment in support of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. Unpublished report to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Renewable Energy Program and the California Energy Commission. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.