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CEGL005778 Yucca brevifolia / Lycium andersonii - Ephedra nevadensis Wooded Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Joshua Tree / Water Jacket - Nevada Joint-fir 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 0.5-11% cover. An open to moderately dense shrub layer is present, ranging from 6 to 29% cover, and characterized by the codominance of Ephedra nevadensis, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Lycium andersonii. A variety of other shrubs may be present, including Cylindropuntia echinocarpa and Menodora spinescens. If present, the herb understory is also variable and ranges from 0.2-24% cover with native herbs Eriogonum inflatum and Sphaeralcea ambigua often with exotic annual species Bromus rubens and Erodium cicutarium present. A biological soil crust is frequently present in this association. Stands occur on foothill slopes that grade from mountains down to intermountain valleys, ranging from 810 to 1830 m elevation. Intermittent drainages may intersect these lower slopes into the valleys and drainage channels below. Sites are gentle to moderately steep slopes on a variety of aspects. Soils range from sand to loam and are derived from a variety of 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 Yucca brevifolia in the sparse to open scrub canopy (0.5-11% cover) (Evens et al. 2014). An open to moderately dense shrub layer is present and ranges from 6 to 29% cover. It is characterized by the codominance of Ephedra nevadensis, Krascheninnikovia lanata, and Lycium andersonii. A variety of other shrubs may be present, including Cylindropuntia echinocarpa and Menodora spinescens (Evens et al. 2014). If present, the herb understory is also variable and ranges to 24% cover with native herbs Eriogonum inflatum, Pleuraphis rigida, and Sphaeralcea ambigua often with exotic annual species Bromus rubens and Erodium cicutarium present. A biological soil crust is frequently present in this association (Evens et al. 2014).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur on foothill slopes that grade from mountains down to intermountain valleys, ranging from 810 to 1830 m elevation (Evens et al. 2014). Intermittent drainages may intersect these lower slopes into the valleys and drainage channels below. Sites are gentle to moderately steep slopes (to 22°) on a variety of aspects. Soils range from sand to loam and are derived from a variety of substrates, including as alluvium, basalt, conglomerate, granodiorite, limestone/dolostone, rhyolite, sandstone, and tephrite (Evens et al. 2014).
Geographic Range: This upland scrub association occurs at mid to upper elevations in the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin and was sampled in the Mojave National Preserve, Death Valley National Park, and Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Arizona, California and possibly southern Nevada.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CA, NV?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.971776
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 | CEGL005778 Joshua Tree / Water Jacket - Nevada Joint-fir Wooded Shrubland | CEGL005778 | 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 - Juniperus californica / Ephedra nevadensis Association (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
? Yucca brevifolia / Ephedra nevadensis (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.170.20]
= Yucca brevifolia / Lycium andersonii-Ephedra nevadensis Association (Evens et al. 2014)
? Yucca brevifolia / Lycium andersonii (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.170.08]
< Yucca brevifolia Woodland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
? Yucca brevifolia / Ephedra nevadensis (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.170.20]
= Yucca brevifolia / Lycium andersonii-Ephedra nevadensis Association (Evens et al. 2014)
? Yucca brevifolia / Lycium andersonii (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.170.08]
< Yucca brevifolia Woodland 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.
- 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.