Name:
A.752
Reference:
EcoArt 2002
Description:
This alliance includes diverse maritime shrublands on old beach and shell ridges along the Central Gulf Coast of Texas. This 1.5- to 4-m tall shrubland is dominated by a variable mixture of temperate and tropical shrubs (44 native species have been documented), but occurs in a temperate climate. While dominants vary between occurrences, ~Zanthoxylum fagara, Forestiera angustifolia, Amyris texana, Condalia hookeri, Diospyros texana, Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa, Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri$, and ~Yucca treculeana$ are present at all known occurances. While ~Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. albicans (= Bumelia lanuginosa var. albicans)$ occurs as a dominant shrub and sometimes emergent small tree in more northern occurrences, it is absent from more southern occurrences, where ~Sideroxylon celastrinum$ occurs as a dominant shrub. In the single known occurrence where the two species occur together, ~Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. albicans$ occupies the upper shrub canopy while ~Sideroxylon celastrinum$ occupies the lower shrub layer. Other shrubs which may be variously present in the majority of known occurrences include ~Acacia farnesiana (= Acacia minuta), Baccharis halimifolia, Baccharis texana$ (in more southern occurences), ~Celtis laevigata, Celtis pallida, Lantana urticoides (= Lantana horrida), Lycium berlandieri var. berlandieri$ (in more southern occurences), ~Lycium carolinianum, Opuntia leptocaulis$ (in more southern occurences), ~Sabal minor, Solanum triquetrum$, and ~Ziziphus obtusifolia$. Woody and herbaceous vines are a characteristic trait of this association. This diverse assemblage of vines may include ~Anredera vesicaria, Clematis drummondii, Cynanchum barbigerum, Cynanchum racemosum var. unifarium (= Cynanchum unifarium), Ibervillea lindheimeri, Merremia dissecta (= Ipomaea sinuata), Maurandella antirrhiniflora (= Maurandya antirrhiniflora), Matelea reticulata, Melochia pyramidata, Passiflora foetida var. gossypiifolia, Rubus$ sp., ~Funastrum cynanchoides ssp. cynanchoides (= Sarcostemma cynanchoides), Vitis mustangensis, Cissus trifoliata (= Cissus incisa)$, and ~Smilax bona-nox$. The herbaceous layer is usually sparse beneath the dense shade of the tight shrub canopy, but may be quite variable and diverse in sunny openings. Characteristics herbs in shaded areas include ~Elymus virginicus, Setaria leucopila, Rivina humilis$, and ~Leersia monandra$. Herbs characteristic of more sunny openings may include ~Acleisanthes obtusa, Calylophus berlandieri, Calylophus serrulatus, Chamaesyce serpens (= Euphorbia serpens), Thelesperma filifolium, Hedyotis nigricans, Geranium texanum, Gaillardia pulchella, Gaura longiflora, Indigofera miniata, Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii, Rhynchosia americana, Eragrostis secundiflora, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Phacelia congesta, Phyllanthus polygonoides, Polanisia dodecandra$, and ~Stachys drummondii$. The soils are generally deep sands mixed with shell and lack substantial organic matter.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.2384.A752
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
