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CEGL005779 Yucca brevifolia / Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa Wooded Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Joshua Tree / Buckhorn Cholla 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. Yucca brevifolia is the characteristic tall shrub/small tree species in the sparse to open scrub canopy with 1-20% cover. An open to moderately dense shrub layer is present and ranges from 10-28% cover. It is characterized and dominated or codominated by Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa. A variety of other shrubs and succulents may be present, including Echinocereus engelmannii, Ephedra nevadensis, Ericameria cooperi, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Gutierrezia microcephala, Hymenoclea salsola, Lycium andersonii, Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea, Salazaria mexicana, Thamnosma montana, Yucca baccata, and Yucca schidigera. If present, the sparse to open herbaceous layer is composed of perennial grasses and forbs such as Achnatherum speciosum, Bouteloua eriopoda, Dasyochloa pulchella, Muhlenbergia porteri, and Sphaeralcea ambigua, often with exotic annual species Bromus rubens and Erodium cicutarium. Stands occur along upper bajadas at bases of mountains, high slopes of valleys, and volcanic dome highlands, ranging from 1320-1660 m elevation, on gentle to moderately steep slopes. Sites are usually found on high to mid slopes on all aspects. Soils are variable, but tend to be sandy 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 that forms a sparse to open scrub canopy layer with 1-20% cover (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). The short-shrub layer is open to moderately dense and ranges from 10 to 28% cover. It is characterized and dominated or codominated by Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). A variety of other shrubs and succulents may be present, including Echinocereus engelmannii, Ephedra nevadensis, Ericameria cooperi, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Gutierrezia microcephala, Hymenoclea salsola, Lycium andersonii, Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea, Salazaria mexicana, Thamnosma montana, Yucca baccata, and Yucca schidigera (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). If present, the sparse to open herbaceous layer (to 8% cover) is composed of perennial grasses and forbs such as Achnatherum speciosum, Bouteloua eriopoda, Dasyochloa pulchella, Muhlenbergia porteri, and Sphaeralcea ambigua, 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 / Lycium andersonii - Ephedra nevadensis Wooded Shrubland (CEGL005778)$$, ~Yucca brevifolia / (Prunus fasciculata, Salazaria mexicana) Wooded Shrubland (CEGL005778 )$$, 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 at bases of mountains, high slopes of valleys, and volcanic dome highlands, ranging from 1320 to 1660 m elevation, on gentle to moderately steep slopes (18°) (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014). Sites are usually found on high to mid slopes on all aspects (Evens et al. 2014). Soils are variable, but tend to be sandy and are derived from a variety of substrates such as alluvium, granodiorite, and rhyolite (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2005, Evens et al. 2012, 2014).
Geographic Range: This Joshua tree scrub association is found at higher elevation sites in the Mojave Desert in California and was sampled in the Mojave National Preserve.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.971780
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 | CEGL005779 Joshua Tree / Buckhorn Cholla Wooded Shrubland | CEGL005779 | 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 / Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.170.06]
= Yucca brevifolia / Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Yucca brevifolia/Opuntia acanthocarpa (Keeler-Wolf and Thomas 2000)
= Yucca brevifolia / Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa Association (Evens et al. 2014)
= Yucca brevifolia/Opuntia acanthocarpa (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.