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A.792 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.792
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: Shrublands included in this alliance occur in the foothills zone of isolated desert mountain ranges in extreme southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. Elevations range from 1500-1800 m. Most of the mean annual precipitation of approximately 14 cm occurs during the summer months as convectional thunderstorms and during winter as occasional rains. Late spring and early summer are typically dry. Summers are hot and winters can have periods of cold weather and occasional snows. Stands occur on nearly level to moderately steep (to 30%), rocky foothill slopes. Aspects are south to southwest. Soils are gravelly loams and clay loam derived from andesite or rhyolite, with high amounts of surface gravel and rocks (typically over 40%). Stands included in this alliance have a sparse to moderately dense woody layer dominated by the broad-leaved evergreen shrubs ~Quercus toumeyi$ and ~Quercus emoryi$, which occasionally reach small tree size. Occasional individuals of the evergreen needle-leaved tree ~Pinus discolor$ or the scale-leaved tree ~Juniperus deppeana$ may occur. Several other shrubs may be present, particularly succulents such as ~Agave palmeri, Arctostaphylos pungens, Dasylirion wheeleri, Nolina microcarpa, Opuntia imbricata, Rhus$ spp., and ~Yucca baccata$. Cover of this layer ranges from 15-30%. The herbaceous layer is sparse to moderately sparse, ranging from 5-20% cover. Perennial grasses are the most abundant species, particularly ~Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua hirsuta, Muhlenbergia$ spp., and ~Schizachyrium cirratum$. Many forb species can occur, but have less than 1% cover. Common forbs include ~Allium cernuum, Artemisia ludoviciana, Macroptilium gibbosifolium, Sida neomexicana$, and ~Trichostema arizonicum$. Adjacent upland vegetation is typically woodlands dominated by species of ~Pinus$ and ~Quercus$. Vegetation at lower elevations is likely to be desert grasslands. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.2423.A792
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: III.A.2.N.c
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: QUERCUS TOUMEYI SHRUBLAND ALLIANCE
  Code: A.792
  Common: Toumey Oak Shrubland Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Quercus toumeyi Shrubland Alliance