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CEGL005465 Isocoma acradenia Desert Scrub
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Alkali Goldenbush Desert Scrub
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: The dominant and characteristic shrub Isocoma acradenia forms an open shrub layer (to 35% cover). Other shrubs often present at low cover include Atriplex canescens, Atriplex polycarpa, Larrea tridentata, and Suaeda moquinii. The emergent tree layer, if present, is sparse, and the herbaceous layer is open. Dominant and characteristic herbs range from sparse to moderately dense but are typically open (20-30% cover) and include Schismus spp., Camissonia spp., Cryptantha spp., and Pectocarya platycarpa. Others often present are Abronia villosa, Amsinckia spp., Brassica tournefortii, Camissonia claviformis, Chaenactis stevioides, Cleomella obtusifolia, Cryptantha pterocarya, Descurainia pinnata, Eremalche exilis, Erodium cicutarium, Hesperocallis undulata, Machaeranthera spp., Malacothrix glabrata, Oenothera deltoides, Pectocarya setosa, and Pleuraphis rigida. Commonly associated nonvascular plants include cryptogamic crust. The association is known from the Imperial Valley, Mojave Desert and from the southern San Joaquin Valley and Carrizo Plain of southern California where it is found primarily on low and midslopes at elevations ranging from approximately 25 to 300 m with northeast and southwest aspects. Soils are variable and derived from alluvium and dune sand; textures include sand and loamy sand, but include sites with finer-textured soil.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands are sparse to open vegetation dominated by Isocoma acradenia and lack wet indicator species of Baccharis and Salix.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This desert scrub lacks the wet indicator species of the more mesic, higher elevation wash type ~Isocoma acradenia Wet Shrubland (CEGL005395)$$. Stands codominated by Suaeda moquinii should be classified into an Isocoma acradenia - Suaeda moquinii association (J. Evens pers. comm. 2016).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The dominant and characteristic shrub is Isocoma acradenia with up to 35% cover. Other shrubs often present at low cover include Atriplex canescens, Atriplex polycarpa, Larrea tridentata, and Suaeda moquinii. The herbaceous layer ranges from sparse to moderately dense but is typically open (20-30% cover) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012). Dominant and characteristic herbs include Schismus spp., Camissonia spp., Cryptantha spp., and Pectocarya platycarpa, and those often present are Abronia villosa, Amsinckia spp., Brassica tournefortii, Camissonia claviformis, Chaenactis stevioides, Cleomella obtusifolia, Cryptantha pterocarya, Descurainia pinnata, Eremalche exilis, Erodium cicutarium, Hesperocallis undulata, Machaeranthera spp., Malacothrix glabrata, Oenothera deltoides, Pectocarya setosa, Pleuraphis rigida, and other forbs. Commonly associated nonvascular plants include cryptogamic crust.
Dynamics: The stands typically occur in a fine-scale mosaic with other alkaline/saline shrubland and herbaceous stands. Herbaceous cover, including both forbs and grasses, can vary significantly in stands depending on rainfall and disturbance, though it typically is as high as or higher than the shrub cover. Where it occurs along the edges of playas or along alkali rain pools, both settings are wet in the winter and spring with heavy clay soils beneath, where water can perch, and then usually dry the rest of the year unless there are rainstorms. They are too hot and dry for the wet indicator species, such as Baccharis and Salix, to persist.
Environmental Description: This scrub occurs in semi-desert, lowland areas of southern California. Stands with Isocoma acradenia dominant are typically found along alkaline/saline stream terraces, playa margins, and alkali rain pools with sandy to silty and clayey soils. The association has been sampled on low and midslopes just above the playa of Soda Dry Lake in Mojave National Preserve, as well as in Imperial Valley, southern San Joaquin Valley, and Carrizo Plain. It is at low elevations (below 300 m) with northeast and southwest aspects. Soils are frequently sand and loamy sand derived from alluvium and eolian sand.
Geographic Range: This semi-arid desert scrub occurs in the Colorado and Mojave Deserts and in the Great Valley, specifically in the Imperial Valley, Soda Dry Lake area, southern San Joaquin Valley, and in the Carrizo Plain in southern California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.943971
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
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.5 Salt Marsh Formation | F035 | 2.C.5 |
| Division | 2.C.5.Nd North American Western Interior Brackish Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Division | D036 | 2.C.5.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.5.Nd.1 Warm & Cool Desert Alkali-Saline Marsh, Playa & Shrubland Macrogroup | M082 | 2.C.5.Nd.1 |
| Group | 2.C.5.Nd.1.b Greasewood - Saltbush species Alkaline-Saline Wet Scrub Group | G537 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.b |
| Alliance | A3880 Mojave Seablite - Red Swampfire - Alkali Goldenbush Alkaline Wet Scrub Alliance | A3880 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.b |
| Association | CEGL005465 Alkali Goldenbush Desert Scrub | CEGL005465 | 2.C.5.Nd.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Isocoma acradenia Provisional (Stout et al. 2013)
= Isocoma acradenia Association (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Isocoma acradenia Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Isocoma acradenia Association (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Isocoma acradenia Association (Evens et al. 2014)
- Buck-Diaz, J., S. Batiuk, and J. M. Evens. 2012. Vegetation alliances and associations of the Great Valley ecoregion, California. California Native Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/pdf/great_valley_eco-vegclass2012.pdf]
- Buck-Diaz, J., and J. Evens. 2011b. Carrizo Plain National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Report to USDI, Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish and Game, and The Nature Conservancy. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
- 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.
- Stout, D., J. Buck-Diaz, S. Taylor, and J. M. Evens. 2013. Vegetation mapping and accuracy assessment report for Carrizo Plain National Monument. California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program, Sacramento, CA. 71 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.