Print Report
CEGL005777 Yucca brevifolia / Larrea tridentata - Yucca schidigera / Pleuraphis rigida Wooded Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Joshua Tree / Creosotebush - Mojave Yucca / Big Galleta Wooded Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This upland scrub association occurs at mid to upper elevations in the Mojave Desert in California and in northwestern Arizona. Yucca brevifolia is the characteristic tall shrub/small tree species in the sparse to open scrub canopy with 1-5% cover. An open to moderately dense shrub layer is present, ranging from 8 to 28% cover, and characterized by the dominance or codominance of Larrea tridentata and/or Yucca schidigera in varying mixtures. A variety of other shrubs may be present, including Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus, Ambrosia dumosa, Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa, Ephedra nevadensis, Echinocereus engelmannii, Krameria spp., and Salazaria mexicana. If present, the herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense (to 25% cover) and composed of scattered perennial grasses and forbs such as Muhlenbergia porteri, Pleuraphis jamesii, Pleuraphis rigida, and Sphaeralcea ambigua with native annual Eriogonum inflatum and often with exotic annual species Bromus rubens and Erodium cicutarium frequently present. Stands occur along upper bajadas, undulating toeslopes, and bottoms of mountain slopes, ranging from 840 to 1440 m elevation. Sites are gentle to moderately steep slopes which often have southern to westerly aspects. Soils are variable, ranging from coarse sand to moderately fine sandy clay loam derived mostly from alluvium, but also several other substrates.
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 species Yucca brevifolia in the sparse to open scrub canopy (1-5% cover) (Evens et al. 2012, 2014). An open to moderately dense shrub layer is present, ranging from 8 to 28% cover, and characterized by the dominance or codominance of Larrea tridentata and/or Yucca schidigera in varying mixtures (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). A variety of other shrubs may be present, including Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus, Ambrosia dumosa, Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa, Cylindropuntia echinocarpa, Echinocereus engelmannii, Ephedra nevadensis, Ericameria cooperi, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Krameria erecta, Krameria grayi, Salazaria mexicana, and Thamnosma montana (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). If present, the herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately dense (to 25% cover) and composed of scattered perennial grasses and forbs such as Muhlenbergia porteri, Pleuraphis jamesii, Pleuraphis rigida, and Sphaeralcea ambigua with native annual Eriogonum inflatum and often with exotic annual species Bromus rubens and Erodium cicutarium frequently present (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).
Environmental Description: This upland scrub association occurs at mid to upper elevations in the Mojave Desert in California and in southern Nevada along upper bajadas, undulating toeslopes, and bottoms of mountain slopes, ranging from 840 to 1440 m elevation (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). Sites are gentle to moderately steep slopes (to 18°), often with southern to westerly aspects (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). Soils are variable, ranging from coarse sand to moderately fine sandy clay loam derived mostly from alluvium, but may include granodiorite, gneiss, rhyolite, sandstone, and tephrite substrates (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). These sites are often moderately disturbed from competition from exotics, and occasionally moderate levels of disturbance from foot traffic/trampling (Evens et al. 2012).
Geographic Range: This upland scrub association occurs at mid to upper elevations in the Mojave Desert in Arizona and California and was sample in Mojave Desert Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, and Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.971773
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 | CEGL005777 Joshua Tree / Creosotebush - Mojave Yucca / Big Galleta Wooded Shrubland | CEGL005777 | 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 / Larrea tridentata - Yucca schidigera (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.170.10]
= Yucca brevifolia / Larrea tridentata – Yucca schidigera / Pleuraphis rigida Woodland Association (Evens et al. 2012)
= Yucca brevifolia / Larrea tridentata-Yucca schidigera / Pleuraphis rigida Association (Evens et al. 2014)
> Yucca brevifolia/Larrea tridentata - Yucca schidigera Association (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005)
> Yucca brevifolia/Larrea tridentata-Pleuraphis rigida Association (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000) [(Watts n=18)]
> Yucca brevifolia/Larrea tridentata/Pleuraphis rigida Association (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005)
> Yucca brevifolia/Yucca schidigera-Larrea tridentata Association (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
= Yucca brevifolia / Larrea tridentata – Yucca schidigera / Pleuraphis rigida Woodland Association (Evens et al. 2012)
= Yucca brevifolia / Larrea tridentata-Yucca schidigera / Pleuraphis rigida Association (Evens et al. 2014)
> Yucca brevifolia/Larrea tridentata - Yucca schidigera Association (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005)
> Yucca brevifolia/Larrea tridentata-Pleuraphis rigida Association (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000) [(Watts n=18)]
> Yucca brevifolia/Larrea tridentata/Pleuraphis rigida Association (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005)
> Yucca brevifolia/Yucca schidigera-Larrea tridentata Association (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
- 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.