Print Report
CEGL005764 Larrea tridentata - Ambrosia dumosa / Pleuraphis rigida Desert Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Creosotebush - Burrobush / Big Galleta Desert Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association occurs at lower to upper elevations in the Colorado and Mojave deserts in Arizona, Nevada and California. Vegetation is characterized by an open to patchy shrub canopy (3-18% cover) codominated by Larrea tridentata and Ambrosia dumosa with an herbaceous layer dominated by perennial native grass Pleuraphis rigida. Other shrubs are often present, including Cylindropuntia echinocarpa and Krameria grayi. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse to moderate and characterized by dominance of Pleuraphis rigida. Associated grasses and forbs include Pectis papposa and exotic annuals Bromus madritensis. A biological soil crust is often present to abundant. Stands are found on a variety of slope positions in the uplands. It is primarily present on sandy fans and lower bajadas and occasionally at the edges of sandsheets and dunes. However, sites also include sandy alluvial deposits, washes, plains, toeslopes of hills and rocky highlands ranging from 93-1250 m elevation. Sites are primarily flat to gently sloping or undulating, but include steep slopes on various aspects. Soils are typically sandy and rarely finer-textured soils and are derived from a variety of substrates, especially as alluvium and eolian sand, but include a variety of other parent materials. Stands typically experience low to high levels of disturbance from competition from exotic species (0-35%) and low levels of disturbance.
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 (3-18% cover) codominated by Larrea tridentata and Ambrosia dumosa with an herbaceous layer dominated by perennial native grass Pleuraphis rigida (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens and Hartman 2007, Evens et al. 2014). Other shrubs are often present, including Cylindropuntia echinocarpa and Krameria grayi (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens and Hartman 2007, Evens et al. 2014). Occasional emergent trees are sometimes present. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse to moderate (to 26% cover) and characterized by dominance of Pleuraphis rigida. Associated grasses and forbs include Pectis papposa and exotic annuals Bromus madritensis. A biological soil crust is often present to abundant (to 68% cover) (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens and Hartman 2007, Evens et al. 2014).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs at lower to upper elevations in the Colorado and Mojave deserts in Arizona, Nevada and California. It occurs on a variety of slope positions in the uplands. It is primarily present on sandy fans and lower bajadas and occasionally at the edges of sandsheets and dunes. However, sites also include sandy alluvial deposits, washes, plains, toeslopes of hills and on rocky highlands ranging from 93-1250 m elevation (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens and Hartman 2007, Evens et al. 2014). Sites are primarily flat to gently sloping or undulating (to 6°), but include steep slopes (to 28°) on various aspects with cooler north- to southeast-facing slopes common. Soils are typically sandy (sand to sandy loam) and rarely finer-textured soils. Gravel content ranges from high to low (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens and Hartman 2007). Soils are derived from a variety of substrates, especially as alluvium and eolian sand, but include gneiss, granite, granodiorite, rhyolite, sandstone, sialic sediments, schist and plutonic, noncalcareous, metamorphic parent materials (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens and Hartman 2007, Evens et al. 2014). Stands typically experience low to high levels of disturbance from competition from exotic species (0-35%) and low levels of disturbance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005).
Geographic Range: This association occurs at lower to upper elevations in the Colorado and Mojave deserts. It was sampled in Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Arizona and Nevada, and Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve in California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.971728
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 | CEGL005764 Creosotebush - Burrobush / Big Galleta Desert Shrubland | CEGL005764 | 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 / Pleuraphis rigida Shrubland Association (Evens and Hartman 2007)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa / Pleuraphis rigida Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa-Eriogonum fasciculatum (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa-Pleuraphis rigida Shrubland Association (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005)
< Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa / Pleuraphis rigida Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa-Eriogonum fasciculatum (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
= Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa-Pleuraphis rigida Shrubland Association (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005)
< Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
- 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.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., S. San, and D. Hickson. 2005. Vegetation classification of Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, California. Unpublished report to the National Park Service. California Fish and Game and 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.