Name:
Zanthoxylum fagara - Forestiera angustifolia - Diospyros texana Shrubland
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This 1.5- to 4-m tall shrubland occurs on old beach and shell ridges along the Central Gulf Coast of Texas. It is dominated by a 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 occurrences. 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 occurrences), Celtis laevigata, Celtis pallida, Erythrina herbacea, Ilex vomitoria, Iva frutescens, Lantana urticoides (= Lantana horrida), Lycium berlandieri var. berlandieri (in more southern occurrences), Lycium carolinianum, Opuntia leptocaulis (in more southern occurrences), Sabal minor, Solanum triquetrum, and Ziziphus obtusifolia. Less common shrubs and emergent trees include Acacia rigidula, Mahonia trifoliolata (= Berberis trifoliolata), Colubrina texensis, Cornus drummondii, Ehretia anacua, Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii, Schaefferia cuneifolia (in more southern occurrences), and Sophora secundiflora. Woody and herbaceous vines are a characteristic trait of this association, and may include Anredera vesicaria, Clematis drummondii, Cynanchum barbigerum, Cynanchum racemosum var. unifarium (= Cynanchum unifarium), Ibervillea lindheimeri, Merremia dissecta (= Ipomoea sinuata), Maurandella antirrhiniflora (= Maurandya antirrhiniflora), Matelea reticulata, Melochia pyramidata, Passiflora foetida var. gossypiifolia, Rubus sp., Funastrum cynanchoides (= Sarcostemma cynanchoides), Vitis mustangensis, Cissus trifoliata (= Cissus incisa), and Smilax bona-nox. When present, Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. albicans, Celtis cf. laevigata var. reticulata, Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa, Ehretia anacua, and Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii occasionally emerge from the shrub layer to form a scattered overstory. Grasses and forbs which may be common in shaded areas include Elymus virginicus, Setaria leucopila, Rivina humilis, and Leersia monandra. More open areas have a more diverse ground layer, and data suggest that this herbaceous component is even more variable that the woody component. Some characteristic herbaceous species that may be present 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. Many species found in this community are not known to occur outside of Texas, within the U.S.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.24686.ZANTHOXYLUMFAGA
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
