Name:
Hymenoclea salsola - Bebbia juncea Mojave-Sonoran Desert Wash Scrub Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
The vegetation in this alliance is characterized by a sparse to moderately dense shrub layer of <i>Hymenoclea salsola, Lycium andersonii, Lycium pallidum</i>, or <i>Salazaria mexicana</i> as dominants or codominants. Other common associate shrubs may include <i>Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus, Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Bebbia juncea, Brickellia incana, Encelia farinosa, Ephedra californica, Ephedra nevadensis, Ericameria paniculata, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Grayia spinosa, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Larrea tridentata, Opuntia basilaris, Cylindropuntia echinocarpa, Picrothamnus desertorum, Psorothamnus schottii, Salvia dorrii, Senna armata, Tetradymia axillaris</i>, and <i>Viguiera reticulata</i>. Occasional emergent tall shrubs or small trees may be present, such as <i>Acacia greggii, Chilopsis linearis, Olneya tesota, Parkinsonia florida, Psorothamnus spinosus</i>, or <i>Yucca brevifolia</i>. The herbaceous layer is usually very sparse and dominated by perennial bunchgrasses, including <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum speciosum</i>, and <i>Pleuraphis jamesii</i>. Frequent perennial forbs include <i>Astragalus</i> spp., <i>Calochortus kennedyi, Castilleja angustifolia var. dubia</i>, and <i>Lomatium mohavense</i>. Annual grasses and forbs include the introduced <i>Bromus rubens</i> and <i>Bromus madritensis</i>; other annuals include <i>Camissonia</i> spp., <i>Eriogonum deflexum, Eriogonum inflatum, Mentzelia</i> spp., and <i>Oxytheca perfoliata</i>. This alliance occurs in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, and northern Arizona. The vegetation of this alliance occurs in areas with low topographic relief, such as ephemeral drainages and playa margins. Some sites may experience short-term flooding following precipitation or snowmelt. The affinity of the vegetation in this alliance for basins and drainages has more to do with winter cold-air drainage than soil moisture or other edaphic characteristics. Precipitation ranges from 15-20 cm annually. Temperatures are continental, with large annual and diurnal ranges. Soils are generally medium-textured and often somewhat alkaline. The vegetation in this alliance is intermediate in drought and cold tolerance between relatively cooler, wetter <i>Artemisia tridentata</i>-dominated communities and hotter, drier <i>Larrea tridentata</i>-dominated communities. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1600 m. Sites include washes and palustrine environments, valley bottoms, and alluvial flats. Wetland substrates are well-drained, coarse-textured soils that are moderately acidic to slightly saline.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39387-{1ACE3B4C-14FC-4545-9C53-25C582C38AA4}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
