Print Report

A4188 Hymenoclea salsola - Bebbia juncea Mojave-Sonoran Desert Wash Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: The vegetation is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense shrub layer of Hymenoclea salsola, Lycium andersonii, Lycium pallidum, or Salazaria mexicana as dominants or codominants. It occurs in areas with low topographic relief, such as ephemeral drainages and playa margins, in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, and northern Arizona.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Burrobrush - Sweetbush Mojave-Sonoran Desert Wash Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: Mojave-Sonoran Burrobrush - Sweetbush Desert Wash Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: The vegetation in this alliance is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense shrub layer of Hymenoclea salsola, Lycium andersonii, Lycium pallidum, or Salazaria mexicana as dominants or codominants. Other common associate shrubs may include Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Bebbia juncea, Brickellia incana, Encelia farinosa, Ephedra californica, Ephedra nevadensis, Ericameria paniculata, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Grayia spinosa, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Larrea tridentata, Opuntia basilaris, Cylindropuntia echinocarpa, Picrothamnus desertorum, Psorothamnus schottii, Salvia dorrii, Senna armata, Tetradymia axillaris, and Viguiera reticulata. Occasional emergent tall shrubs or small trees may be present, such as Acacia greggii, Chilopsis linearis, Olneya tesota, Parkinsonia florida, Psorothamnus spinosus, or Yucca brevifolia. The herbaceous layer is usually very sparse and dominated by perennial bunchgrasses, including Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum speciosum, and Pleuraphis jamesii. Frequent perennial forbs include Astragalus spp., Calochortus kennedyi, Castilleja angustifolia var. dubia, and Lomatium mohavense. Annual grasses and forbs include the introduced Bromus rubens and Bromus madritensis; other annuals include Camissonia spp., Eriogonum deflexum, Eriogonum inflatum, Mentzelia spp., and Oxytheca perfoliata. This alliance occurs in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, and northern Arizona. The vegetation of this alliance occurs in areas with low topographic relief, such as ephemeral drainages and playa margins. Some sites may experience short-term flooding following precipitation or snowmelt. The affinity of the vegetation in this alliance for basins and drainages has more to do with winter cold-air drainage than soil moisture or other edaphic characteristics. Precipitation ranges from 15-20 cm annually. Temperatures are continental, with large annual and diurnal ranges. Soils are generally medium-textured and often somewhat alkaline. The vegetation in this alliance is intermediate in drought and cold tolerance between relatively cooler, wetter Artemisia tridentata-dominated communities and hotter, drier Larrea tridentata-dominated communities. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1600 m. Sites include washes and palustrine environments, valley bottoms, and alluvial flats. Wetland substrates are well-drained, coarse-textured soils that are moderately acidic to slightly saline.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Washes lined with any of the following shrub species (or a mix) Hymenoclea salsola, Lycium andersonii, Lycium pallidum, and Salazaria mexicana.

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: Short cold-deciduous or evergreen shrubs with low to moderate cover.

Floristics: The vegetation in this alliance is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense shrub layer of Hymenoclea salsola, Lycium andersonii, Lycium pallidum, or Salazaria mexicana as dominants or codominants. Other common associate shrubs may include Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Bebbia juncea, Brickellia incana, Encelia farinosa, Ephedra californica, Ephedra nevadensis, Ericameria paniculata, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Grayia spinosa, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Larrea tridentata, Opuntia basilaris, Cylindropuntia echinocarpa (= Opuntia echinocarpa), Picrothamnus desertorum (= Artemisia spinescens), Psorothamnus schottii, Salvia dorrii, Senna armata (= Cassia armata), Tetradymia axillaris, and Viguiera reticulata. Occasional emergent tall shrubs or small trees may be present, such as Acacia greggii, Chilopsis linearis, Olneya tesota, Parkinsonia florida, Psorothamnus spinosus, or Yucca brevifolia. The herbaceous layer is usually very sparse and dominated by perennial bunchgrasses, including Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Achnatherum speciosum, and Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii). Frequent perennial forbs include Astragalus spp., Calochortus kennedyi, Castilleja angustifolia var. dubia (= Castilleja chromosa), and Lomatium mohavense. Annual grasses and forbs include the introduced Bromus rubens and Bromus madritensis (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000); other annuals include Camissonia spp., Eriogonum deflexum, Eriogonum inflatum, Mentzelia spp., and Oxytheca perfoliata.

Dynamics:  Dominant shrubs of this alliance have been known to concentrate chemical elements in their leaves and fruits, and soils beneath the shrubs often show high levels of magnesium and potassium. Seeds remain viable for long periods (4 years or more) before germination (Mozingo 1987). Due to its wide geographic range, the species may demonstrate considerable ecotypic variation. For example, seeds from Mojave Desert individuals can germinate at 40°C, but seeds from Great Basin plants cannot germinate at that high temperature (Mozingo 1987). Disturbance is important in maintaining the vegetation included in this alliance and may be caused by a variety of sources such as flooding, burning, and grazing animals (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000).
Environmental Description:  The vegetation of this alliance occurs in areas with low topographic relief, such as ephemeral drainages and playa margins. Some sites may experience short-term flooding following precipitation or snowmelt. Beatley (1976) argues that the affinity of the vegetation in this alliance for basins and drainages has more to do with winter cold-air drainage than soil moisture or other edaphic characteristics. Precipitation ranges from 15-20 cm annually. Temperatures are continental, with large annual and diurnal ranges. Soils are generally medium-textured and often somewhat alkaline. The vegetation in this alliance is intermediate in drought and cold tolerance between relatively cooler, wetter Artemisia tridentata-dominated communities and hotter, drier Larrea tridentata-dominated communities. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1600 m. Sites include washes and palustrine environments, valley bottoms, and alluvial flats. Wetland substrates are well-drained, coarse-textured soils that are moderately acidic to slightly saline (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000).
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, and northern Arizona.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, NV, UT


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.7 North American Warm-Desert Xeric-Riparian Scrub Macrogroup M092 3.A.2.Na.7
Group 3.A.2.Na.7.a Desert-willow - Apache Plume - Desert Almond Desert Wash & Colluvial Slope Group G541 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Alliance A4188 Burrobrush - Sweetbush Mojave-Sonoran Desert Wash Scrub Alliance A4188 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Association CEGL002702 Burrobrush - (Woolly-fruit Bur-ragweed) Shrubland CEGL002702 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Association CEGL005391 Sweetbush Shrubland CEGL005391 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Association CEGL005392 Longleaf Brickellbush Shrubland CEGL005392 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Association CEGL005398 Burrobrush Wash Shrubland CEGL005398 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Association CEGL005753 Burrobrush - Creosotebush Desert Wash Shrubland CEGL005753 3.A.2.Na.7.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Ambrosia salsola (= Hymenoclea salsola) Shrubland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005)
= Ambrosia salsola (= Hymenoclea salsola) Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012)
= Ambrosia salsola (Cheesebush scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.200.00]
= Ambrosia salsola Alliance (Cheesebush scrub) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Ambrosia salsola Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [33.200.00]
= Hymenoclea salsola Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
< Catclaw acacia series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Mojave Creosote Bush Scrub (#34100) (Holland 1986b)
>< Mojave Desert Wash Scrub (#63700) (Holland 1986b)
>< Sonoran Creosote Bush Scrub (#33100) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid and J. Evens, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2015)

Author of Description: G. Kittel, M.S. Reid, D. Sarr, K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-14-14
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