Print Report
CEGL005747 Dicoria canescens Dune Sparse Vegetation
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Desert Twinbugs Dune Sparse Vegetation
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sparse to moderately dense, annual herbaceous dune association occurs in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts and may extend into the southeastern Great Basin in California and Nevada. Annual herb Dicoria canescens characterizes and dominates or codominates the vegetation with 0.5-31% cover. Associated species present often include Achnatherum hymenoides, Abronia villosa, and Astragalus lentiginosus. Shrubs that are sometimes present with low cover(<2%) include Larrea tridentata and Petalonyx thurberi. Stands are found in sand dune areas at mid to upper elevations (50-1300 m). Slopes are gentle to moderate. It is found on all slope positions although more frequently on southerly aspects. Soils are sandy and predominantly eolian dune sand.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The herbaceous cover and composition vary depending on annual and seasonal rainfall. Dicoria canescens is a summer annual while other various herbs found in this association are spring annuals. Dicoria canescens often remains as skeletal plants in the winter and spring when other annuals are blooming. Floristic information from Yuma and Mohawk dunes is needed to determine if this association occurs there. Felger (1980) lists Dicoria canescens as a common ephemeral in Gran Desierto (Sonora, Mexico), so this warm-season annual association likely occurs there, but needs to be documented. Schoenherr and Burk (2007) list Dicoria canescens with winter annuals in their descriptions of Psammophytic Scrub
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation is characterized by sparse to moderately dense cover of the annual herbaceous species Dicoria canescens that dominates or codominates the site with 0.5-31% cover (Evens et al. 2014). Associated species present often include Achnatherum hymenoides, Abronia villosa, and Astragalus lentiginosus (Evens et al. 2014). Shrubs are sometimes present with low cover, such as Larrea tridentata and Petalonyx thurberi (Evens et al. 2014).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is found in various sand dune areas in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts and may extend into the southern Great Basin. It occurs at mid to upper elevations (50-1300 m) and is found on all slope positions (Evens et al. 2014). Slopes are gentle to moderate (to 10°) with southerly aspects common. Soils are sandy and are predominantly eolian dune sand, though alluvial and dolostone (dolomite) sediments may also be present (Evens et al. 2014).
Geographic Range: This ephemeral dune association is found in various sand dune areas in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts and southern Great Basin including in Gran Desierto in Sonora, Mexico, Algodones and Kelso dunes and Eureka dunes in California.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ?, CA, MXSON?, NV?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.971592
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.4 Saguaro - Organ Pipe Cactus - Burrobush Mojave-Sonoran Semi-Desert Scrub Macrogroup | M088 | 3.A.2.Na.4 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.4.e North American Warm Semi-Desert Dune & Sand Flats Group | G675 | 3.A.2.Na.4.e |
| Alliance | A4026 Desert Twinbugs - Desert Sand-verbena - Desert Panicgrass Dune Alliance | A4026 | 3.A.2.Na.4.e |
| Association | CEGL005747 Desert Twinbugs Dune Sparse Vegetation | CEGL005747 | 3.A.2.Na.4.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Dicoria canescens (Sawyer et al. 2009) [22.100.01]
= Dicoria canescens Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Dicoria canescens association (Pavlik 1980)
< Psammophytic Scrub (Schoenherr and Burk 2007) [may include ephemeral types.]
= Dicoria canescens Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Dicoria canescens association (Pavlik 1980)
< Psammophytic Scrub (Schoenherr and Burk 2007) [may include ephemeral types.]
- Bowers, J. E. 1982. The plant ecology of inland dunes in western North America. Journal of Arid Environments 5:199-220.
- Bowers, J. E. 1984. Plant geography of southwestern sand dunes. Desert Plants 6(1):31-42, 51-54.
- CDFW-VegCAMP and AIS. 2013. 2013 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.
- 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.
- Felger, R. S. 1980. Vegetation and flora of the Gran Desierto, Sonora, Mexico. Desert Plants 2(2):87-114.
- Pavlik, B. M. 1980. Unpublished data on the frequency of plant species in 26 relevés sampled on 9 different dune systems in the Mojave Desert, California. Mills College, Oakland, CA.
- 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.
- Schoenherr, A. A., and J. H. Burk. 2007. Colorado Desert vegetation. Pages 657-682 in: M. G. Barbour, T. Keeler-Wolf, and A. A. Schoenherr, editors. 2007. Terrestrial vegetation of California. Third edition. University of California Press, Berkeley.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.