Name:
Zanthoxylum fagara - Forestiera angustifolia - Diospyros texana Shrubland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
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, <i>Zanthoxylum fagara, Forestiera angustifolia, Amyris texana, Condalia hookeri, Diospyros texana, Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa, Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri</i>, and <i>Yucca treculeana</i> are present at all known occurrences. While <i>Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. albicans</i> occurs as a dominant shrub and sometimes emergent small tree in more northern occurrences, it is absent from more southern occurrences, where <i>Sideroxylon celastrinum</i> occurs as a dominant shrub. In the single known occurrence where the two species occur together, <i>Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. albicans</i> occupies the upper shrub canopy while <i>Sideroxylon celastrinum</i> occupies the lower shrub layer. Other shrubs which may be variously present in the majority of known occurrences include <i>Vachellia farnesiana, Baccharis halimifolia, Baccharis texana</i> (in more southern occurrences), <i>Celtis laevigata, Celtis ehrenbergiana, Erythrina herbacea, Ilex vomitoria, Iva frutescens, Lantana urticoides, Lycium berlandieri var. berlandieri</i> (in more southern occurrences), <i>Lycium carolinianum, Cylindropuntia leptocaulis</i> (in more southern occurrences), <i>Sabal minor, Solanum triquetrum</i>, and <i>Ziziphus obtusifolia</i>. Less common shrubs and emergent trees include <i>Acacia rigidula, Mahonia trifoliolata, Colubrina texensis, Cornus drummondii, Ehretia anacua, Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii, Schaefferia cuneifolia</i> (in more southern occurrences), and <i>Sophora secundiflora</i>. Woody and herbaceous vines are a characteristic trait of this association, and may include <i>Anredera vesicaria, Clematis drummondii, Cynanchum barbigerum, Cynanchum racemosum var. unifarium, Ibervillea lindheimeri, Merremia dissecta, Maurandella antirrhiniflora, Matelea reticulata, Melochia pyramidata, Passiflora foetida var. gossypiifolia, Rubus</i> sp., <i>Funastrum cynanchoides, Vitis mustangensis, Cissus trifoliata</i>, and <i>Smilax bona-nox</i>. When present, <i>Sideroxylon lanuginosum ssp. albicans, Celtis cf. laevigata var. reticulata, Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa, Ehretia anacua</i>, and <i>Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii</i> occasionally emerge from the shrub layer to form a scattered overstory. Grasses and forbs which may be common in shaded areas include <i>Elymus virginicus, Setaria leucopila, Rivina humilis</i>, and <i>Leersia monandra</i>. 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 <i>Acleisanthes obtusa, Calylophus berlandieri, Calylophus serrulatus, Chamaesyce serpens, Thelesperma filifolium, Stenaria 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</i>, and <i>Stachys drummondii</i>. Many species found in this community are not known to occur outside of Texas, within the U.S.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:33399-{A984EC1D-1869-487C-BEAC-ACF51073F0B8}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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