Print Report
CEGL005757 Larrea tridentata - Ambrosia dumosa - Atriplex confertifolia Desert Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Creosotebush - Burrobush - Shadscale Saltbush Desert Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: The association is found at mid to upper elevations in the Mojave Desert and was sampled in Death Valley National Park in California. Vegetation is characterized by an open to moderate shrub canopy (6-30% cover) codominated by Ambrosia dumosa and Larrea tridentata with Atriplex confertifolia characteristically present to codominant. Other shrubs frequently present include Echinocactus polycephalus, Ephedra nevadensis, Ericameria cooperi, Hymenoclea salsola, Gutierrezia microcephala, Opuntia basilaris, and Salazaria mexicana. If present, the herbaceous layer is variable, ranging from sparse to open with a few perennial forb associates and many annual forbs. It occurs on flats, gentle hillslopes, and piedmonts on variable slope positions ranging from 700-1750 m elevation. Sites occur on flat to steep slopes on various aspects. Soils are variable and range from sand to clay texture and are derived from a variety of substrates, but primarily alluvium and sandstone.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
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: Vegetation is characterized by an open to moderate shrub canopy (6-30% cover) codominated by Ambrosia dumosa and Larrea tridentata with Atriplex confertifolia characteristically present to codominant (Evens et al. 2014). Other shrubs frequently present include Echinocactus polycephalus, Ephedra nevadensis, Ericameria cooperi, Hymenoclea salsola, Gutierrezia microcephala, Opuntia basilaris, and Salazaria mexicana (Annable 1985, Evens et al. 2014). If present, the herbaceous layer is variable, ranging from sparse to open (to 19% cover) with a few perennial forb associates such as Astragalus layneae, Castilleja angustifolia var. dubia (= Castilleja chromosa), Chamaesyce albomarginata, and Xylorhiza tortifolia and many annual forbs such as Amsinckia tessellata, Calycoseris wrightii, Chaenactis carphoclinia, Eriogonum inflatum, Malacothrix californica, Monoptilon bellioides, Rafinesquia neomexicana, and species of Cryptantha, Eschscholzia, Gilia, and Phacelia (Annable 1985, Evens et al. 2014).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: The association is found at mid to upper elevations in the Mojave Desert and was sampled in Death Valley National Park in California. It occurs on flats, gentle hillslopes, and piedmonts on variable slope positions ranging from 700-1750 m elevation (Annable 1985, Evens et al. 2014). Sites occur on flat to steep slopes (to 40°) on various aspects. Soils are variable and range from sand to clay texture and are derived from a variety of substrates, but primarily alluvium and sandstone (Evens et al. 2014).
Geographic Range: The association is found at mid to upper elevations in the Mojave Desert and was sampled in Death Valley National Park in California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.971702
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.b Creosotebush - Burrobush - Brittlebush Desert Scrub Group | G295 | 3.A.2.Na.4.b |
| Alliance | A3277 Creosotebush - Burrobush Bajada & Valley Desert Scrub Alliance | A3277 | 3.A.2.Na.4.b |
| Association | CEGL005757 Creosotebush - Burrobush - Shadscale Saltbush Desert Shrubland | CEGL005757 | 3.A.2.Na.4.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Larrea - Atriplex Association (Beatley 1976)
> Larrea tridentata - Ambrosia dumosa - Atriplex confertifolia - Psorothamnus arborescens Shrubland (Peterson 1984a)
= Larrea tridentata - Ambrosia dumosa - Atriplex confertifolia (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.140.39]
< Larrea tridentata - Atriplex confertifolia Shrubland (Ostler et al. 2000)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa-Atriplex confertifolia Association (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa-Atriplex confertifolia Association (Annable 1985)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa-Atriplex confertifolia Association (Evens et al. 2014)
< Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
> Larrea tridentata - Ambrosia dumosa - Atriplex confertifolia - Psorothamnus arborescens Shrubland (Peterson 1984a)
= Larrea tridentata - Ambrosia dumosa - Atriplex confertifolia (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.140.39]
< Larrea tridentata - Atriplex confertifolia Shrubland (Ostler et al. 2000)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa-Atriplex confertifolia Association (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa-Atriplex confertifolia Association (Annable 1985)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa-Atriplex confertifolia Association (Evens et al. 2014)
< Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
- Annable, C. R. 1985. Vegetation and flora of the Funeral Mountains, Death Valley National Monument. California-Nevada Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, National Park Service/University of Nevada Contribution 016/07. Las Vegas, NV. 188 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ostler, W. K., D. J. Hansen, D. C. Anderson, and D. B. Hall. 2000. Classification of vegetation on the Nevada Test Site. DOE/NV/11718-477. U.S. Department of Energy, Bechtel Nevada Ecological Services, Las Vegas, NV. 102 pp.
- Peterson, P. M. 1984a. Flora and physiognomy of the Cottonwood Mountains, Death Valley National Monument, California. University of Nevada Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit Report CPSU/UNLV 022/06. Las Vegas, NV.
- 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.