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CEGL005763 Larrea tridentata - Ambrosia dumosa / Cryptogamic Crust Desert Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Creosotebush - Burrobush / Cryptogamic Crust Desert Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This scrub association occurs at low to mid elevations in the Colorado and Mojave deserts in California. Vegetation is characterized by an open to patchy shrub canopy (5-15% cover) codominated by Ambrosia dumosa and Larrea tridentata with Cylindropuntia ramosissima often present. There is a characteristic nonvascular biological soil crust that is typically moderate to dense (45-88% cover). If present, the herbaceous layer is sparse and composed of Camissonia boothii and exotic grasses Schismus spp. It is found on bajadas and in valleys, as well as less commonly on ridgetops at 50-1050 m elevation. Sites occur on flat to gentle slopes, frequently with various aspects. Soils are also variable but often sandy with moderate to high gravel and are primarily derived from alluvium.
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 patchy shrub canopy (5-15% cover) codominated by Ambrosia dumosa and Larrea tridentata with Cylindropuntia ramosissima often present. There is a characteristic nonvascular biological soil crust that is typically moderate to dense (45-88% cover) (Evens and Hartman 2007, Evens et al. 2014). If present, the herbaceous layer is sparse (2-6% cover) and composed of Camissonia boothii and exotic grasses Schismus spp. (Evens et al. 2014).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This scrub association occurs at low to mid elevations in the Colorado and Mojave deserts in California. It is found on bajadas and in valleys, as well as less commonly on ridgetops at 50-1050 m elevation (Evens and Hartman 2007, Evens et al. 2014). Sites occur on flat to gentle slopes (to 7°), frequently with various aspects. Soils are also variable but often sandy with moderate to high surface gravel cover that are primarily derived from alluvium (Evens and Hartman 2007, Evens et al. 2014).
Geographic Range: The association is found in the Colorado and Mojave deserts and was sampled in Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Arizona, and Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and Mojave National Preserve in California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.971724
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 | CEGL005763 Creosotebush - Burrobush / Cryptogamic Crust Desert Shrubland | CEGL005763 | 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 tridentata - Ambrosia dumosa / Cryptogamic crust (Evens et al. 2012)
= Larrea tridentata - Ambrosia dumosa / Crytogamic crust (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.140.35]
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa / Cryptogamic Crust Association (Evens et al. 2014)
< Larrea tridentata / Cryptogamic crust Shrubland Association (Evens and Hartman 2007)
= Larrea tridentata - Ambrosia dumosa / Crytogamic crust (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.140.35]
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa / Cryptogamic Crust Association (Evens et al. 2014)
< Larrea tridentata / Cryptogamic crust Shrubland Association (Evens and Hartman 2007)
- Evens, J. M., D. Roach-McIntosh, and D. Stout. 2012. Vegetation descriptions for Joshua Tree National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI, National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. 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.
- Evens, J. M., and S. Hartman. 2007. Vegetation survey and classification for the Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Coordinated Management Plan (NECO). CNPS Vegetation Program, Sacramento, 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.