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Mortonia sempervirens Shrubland Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Mortonia sempervirens Shrubland Alliance Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: Shrublands included in this alliance occur in southeastern Arizona growing on north- and east-facing slopes of limestone mountains at 1460-1630 m in elevation. Climate is generally semi-arid with warm summers and cool winters. Approximately two-thirds of the 41 cm mean annual precipitation falls during the summer and early fall. The winter precipitation has high year-to-year variation. The cooler north and east aspects create relatively mesic sites necessary for the abundant growth of evergreen shrub species. These shrublands may have high diversity of woody species, but are usually dominated by Mortonia sempervirens. At sites in the Mule Mountains, 58 shrubby species were recorded in 29 quadrats. Mortonia scabrella (= Mortonia sempervirens ssp. scabrella) had a mean canopy cover of 11.4%. Two other diagnostic species are Dasylirion wheeleri and Quercus pungens with 2.6% and 4.0% cover, respectively. Other common shrubs include Aloysia wrightii, Parthenium incanum, Rhus virens var. choriophylla, Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus (= Cercocarpus breviflorus), Nolina spp., and Fouquieria splendens. The sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer (mean cover of 13%) is dominated by a variety of grasses such as Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi (= Aristida glauca), Tridens muticus, Achnatherum eminens (= Stipa eminens), and Muhlenbergia emersleyi. Frequent forbs include Bahia absinthifolia and Astrolepis sinuata (= Notholaena sinuata). Adjacent vegetation includes desert grasslands dominated by Elionurus barbiculmis, Heteropogon contortus, and Bouteloua spp. at lower elevations and other desertscrub stands dominated by Cercocarpus montanus, Rhus virens var. choriophylla, Acacia neovernicosa, or Parthenium incanum.  Accession Code: VB.CC.21725.MORTONIASEMPERV Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: Mortonia sempervirens Shrubland Alliance   Translated: Rio Grande Saddlebush Shrubland Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.124529 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.859