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CEGL005776 Yucca brevifolia / (Prunus fasciculata, Salazaria mexicana) Wooded Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Joshua Tree / (Desert Almond, Mexican Bladdersage) Wooded Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This upland scrub association occurs in higher elevation sites in the Mojave Desert in California and possibly southern Nevada. Yucca brevifolia is the characteristic tall shrub/small tree species in the sparse to open scrub canopy with 1-4% cover. An open to moderately dense shrub layer is present and ranges from 10-35% cover. It is characterized by wash-associated species such as Prunus fasciculata, Hymenoclea salsola, Salazaria mexicana, and Salvia dorrii. A variety of other shrubs may be present. If present, the herbaceous layer is sparse to open and composed of scattered perennial grasses with exotic annual species Bromus rubens and Erodium cicutarium frequently present. Stands occur along upper bajadas, ranging from 1300-1730 m elevation, on gentle to moderately steep, often south-facing slopes. Sites are characterized by disturbance and are found on slopes with multiple intermittent drainage channels that may become braided, as well as along larger intermittent washes that flow directly from adjacent piedmont slopes and mountains. Soils are typically coarse-textured loam or sand 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 the tall shrub/small tree Yucca brevifolia that forms a sparse to open scrub canopy layer with 1-4% cover (Evens et al. 2014). The short-shrub layer is open to moderately dense, ranging from 10 to 35% cover, and characterized by wash-associated species such as Prunus fasciculata, Hymenoclea salsola, Salazaria mexicana, and Salvia dorrii (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). Other commonly associated shrub species include Acacia greggii, Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus, Hymenoclea salsola (= Ambrosia salsola), Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa, Cylindropuntia ramosissima, Cylindropuntia echinocarpa, Ephedra nevadensis, Ericameria cooperi, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Gutierrezia microcephala, Larrea tridentata, Lycium andersonii, Lycium cooperi, Phoradendron californicum, Thamnosma montana, and Yucca schidigera (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). If present, the sparse to open herbaceous layer (to 16% cover) is composed of perennial grasses and forbs such as Achnatherum speciosum, Adenophyllum cooperi, Muhlenbergia porteri, and Pleuraphis rigida often with exotic annual species Bromus rubens and Erodium cicutarium (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014).
Dynamics: The fire resistance of Yucca brevifolia increases with age. The thick mat of dried leaves along the trunk decreases with age, and the corky bark of older trunks serves as a firebreak between surface fuels and the flammable shag on upper limbs (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005). This association as well as certain associations, including ~Yucca brevifolia / Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa Wooded Shrubland (CEGL005779)$$, are probably related to disturbance including fire and grazing (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005).
Environmental Description: This higher elevation upland Mojave Desert scrub association occurs along upper bajadas, ranging from approximately 1300-1730 m elevation, on gentle to moderately steep, often south-facing slopes (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). Sites are characterized by disturbance and are found on slopes with multiple intermittent drainage channels that may become braided, as well as along larger intermittent washes that flow directly from adjacent piedmont slopes and mountains, and in areas with other types of recent disturbance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). Soils are typically gravelly, coarse-textured loam or sand derived from alluvium often with other substrates present such as gneiss, granodiorite, and tephrite/volcanic rocks (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014).
Geographic Range: This higher elevation upland Mojave Desert scrub association occurs in Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park in California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, NV?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.971770
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.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S11 | 3.B |
| Formation | 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F033 | 3.B.1 |
| Division | 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D040 | 3.B.1.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 3.B.1.Ne.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a Joshua Tree - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - Rough Joint-fir Mixed Desert Scrub Group | G296 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
| Alliance | A3148 Joshua Tree Wooded Scrub Alliance | A3148 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005776 Joshua Tree / (Desert Almond, Mexican Bladdersage) Wooded Shrubland | CEGL005776 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Yucca brevifolia / (Prunus fasciculata-Salazaria mexicana) Association (Evens et al. 2014)
> Yucca brevifolia / Prunus fasciculata (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.170.13]
= Yucca brevifolia / Prunus fasciculata Association (Evens et al. 2012)
> Yucca brevifolia / Salazaria mexicana (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.170.09]
= Yucca brevifolia/Prunus fasciculata Wooded Shrubland Association (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005)
> Yucca brevifolia / Prunus fasciculata (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.170.13]
= Yucca brevifolia / Prunus fasciculata Association (Evens et al. 2012)
> Yucca brevifolia / Salazaria mexicana (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.170.09]
= Yucca brevifolia/Prunus fasciculata Wooded Shrubland Association (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.