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Ephedra torreyana / Bouteloua eriopoda Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Ephedra torreyana / Bouteloua eriopoda Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: From Muldavin et al. (2000b): On White Sands Missile Range this is a major community within the northern Jornada Del Muerto basin but also occurs in valleys on the east side of the Oscura Mountains. This type is typically found on sandy rolling plains within the northern Jornada Del Muerto basin. It occurs less frequently on the northern Jornada lava flow and within valleys on the eastern slopes of the Oscura Mountains, at elevations of 1400 to 1610 m (4600-5300 feet). Slopes are generally flat to gentle, with little aspect differentiation, and occur on many different substrates. Stands on the Jornada plains receive wind-blown deposits, mostly from the Rio Grande valley, while stands in the Oscura Mountains receive alluvial deposits from the surrounding Paleozoic limestone and sandstone slopes. Low rolling sandy plains broken up by occasional swales characterize the landscape on the northern Jornada plains. Lava flow stands are characterized by flat platform summits overlain by wind-blown deposits. The landscape in the Oscura Mountain valleys is characterized by large, dissected, and gently sloped alluvial fans. Soils can be poorly developed (plains stands) or well-developed (lava flows or alluvial fans). Surface textures are generally coarse but become finer on the alluvial or lava stands. This Chihuahuan Desert grassland is dominated by <i>Bouteloua eriopoda</i>, with a shrub layer of scattered <i>Ephedra torreyana</i>. The grass layer is well-represented to luxurious and may include <i>Sporobolus cryptandrus</i><i>, Aristida purpurea, Sporobolus flexuosus</i> (on sandy soils), <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i> (on the Jornada lava flow) along with <i>Dasyochloa pulchella (= Erioneuron pulchellum)</i>. Other shrubs are scattered and include an occasional <i>Yucca elata</i> along with dwarf-shrubs and succulents such as <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae, Gutierrezia microcephala, Opuntia clavata</i>, and <i>Opuntia phaeacantha</i>. The forb layer is moderate in diversity (41 species) and commonly includes <i>Dimorphocarpa wislizeni, </i><i>Sphaeralcea </i>spp., <i>Solanum elaeagnifolium</i><i>, Machaeranthera pinnatifida var. pinnatifida</i>, and <i>Zinnia grandiflora</i>.  Accession Code: VB.CC.33702.CEGL001731 Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 17-Nov-2014 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686750 NatureServe Explorer   Translated: Torrey's Joint-fir / Black Grama Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation   Scientific: Ephedra torreyana / Bouteloua eriopoda Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation   Code: CEGL001731