Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R038XA105AZ
Limestone Hills
12-16" p.z.
Last updated: 5/07/2020
Accessed: 09/28/2026
-
Search
Major Land Resource Area or ecological site by name and/or ID.
PreviousSectionsNextGeneral information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Click to explore map
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 038X–Mogollon Transition South
AZ 38.1 – Lower Mogollon Transition
Elevations range from 3000 to 4500 feet and precipitation averages 12 to 16 inches per year. Vegetation includes canotia, one-seed juniper, mesquite, catclaw acacia, jojoba, turbinella oak, ratany, shrubby buckwheat, algerita, skunkbush, tobosa, vine mesquite, bottlebrush squirreltail, grama species, curly mesquite, desert needlegrass and New Mexico feathergrass. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is ustic aridic. This unit occurs within the Transition Zone Physiographic Province and is characterized by canyons and structural troughs or valleys. Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock classes occur on rough mountainous terrain in association with less extensive sediment filled valleys exhibiting little integrated drainage.Classification relationships
This site is similar to TE Site #350 on the Prescott National Forest.
Associated sites
R038XA104AZ Granitic Hills 12-16" p.z.
R038XA117AZ Volcanic Hills 12-16" p.z. Clayey
R038XA118AZ Basalt / Sandstone Hills 12-16" p.z.
R038XA133AZ Volcanic/Metamorphic Hills 12-16" p.z.
R038XA135AZ Diabase Hills 12-16" p.z.
Similar sites
R040XA107AZ Limestone Hills 10"-13" p.z.
R041XC307AZ Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z.
R038XB205AZ Limestone Hills 16-20" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Parkinsonia
(2) CanotiaShrub (1) Simmondsia chinensis
(2) fouquieria splendensHerbaceous (1) aristida
(2) marina parryiPhysiographic features
This site occurs at the lowest elevations of the interior chaparral zone in the Mogollon Transition area. This site occurs in an upland position. It occurs on hill-slopes, ridge-tops and mountains.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Hill
(2) Mountain slope
(3) Ridge
Flooding frequency None Elevation 3100 – 4600 ft Slope 15 – 75 % Aspect N, E, S Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area averages 12 to 16 inches annually. The winter-summer rainfall ratio ranges from about 60/40% in the northwest part of the area to 50/50% in the southeast part. Summer rains fall July through September; are from high-intensity, convective thunderstorms. This moisture originates primarily from the Gulf of Mexico, but can come from the remnants of Pacific hurricanes in September. Winter moisture is frontal, originates in the north Pacific, and falls as rain or snow in widespread storms of low intensity and long duration. Snowfall ranges from a trace to 10 inches per year and can occur from November through March. Snow seldom persists for more than a day except on north aspects. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally low all year. Average annual air temperatures range from 59 to 70 degrees F (thermic temperature regime). Daytime temperatures in the summer are commonly in the high 90’s. Freezing temperatures are common from October through April, usually during the night or early morning hours. The actual precipitation, available moisture and temperature vary, depending on, region, elevation, rain shadow effect and aspect.
Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 230 days Freeze-free period (average) 290 days Precipitation total (average) 20 in BarLineFigure 2. Monthly precipitation range
BarLineFigure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
">Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
These soils are shallow (10 to 20 inches) and dark colored. They are loamy textured, very calcareous and well drained. They have formed in residuum and colluvium from limestone and related conglomerates. Soil surfaces are well covered by light colored gravels, cobbles and/or stones. The effective rooting depth is limited by hard, fractured bedrock at 10 to 20 inches. Runoff is moderate on moist soils due to porous bedrock. The erosion hazard is slight due to gravel, cobble and rock covers. Rock outcrop and can be as high as 20%.
Soils mapped to date on this site include: SSA-675 San Carlos Indian Reservation MU Maybray-570.Table 4. Representative soil features
Parent material (1) Residuum – limestone
(2) Colluvium – conglomerate
Surface texture (1) Cobbly sandy loam
(2) Very gravelly sandy loam
(3) Very cobbly sandy loam
Family particle size (1) Loamy
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately rapid to moderate Soil depth 5 – 20 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 35 – 60 % Surface fragment cover >3" 5 – 20 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)0.4 – 1.4 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)15 – 60 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)7.8 – 8.6 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)35 – 65 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 10 % Ecological dynamics
The historic native plant community is a diverse mixture of desert trees, shrubs, succulents, forbs and grasses. This includes a diverse flora of native annual grasses and forbs of both the winter and summer seasons. Periodic wildfires occurred at moderate intervals (15 to 30 years) and helped maintain a balance between herbs and shrubs. In the absence of fire for longer periods, shrubby species and cacti can become dominant. The interactions of drought, fire and continuous livestock grazing can, over time, result in the loss of palatable grasses, half shrubs and suffrutescent forbs. In some situations non-native annuals can dominate the site. These species can, over time, diminish the soil seed-bank of native annual species. Non-native annuals can act to increase the fire frequency of areas of the site near roads and urban areas, where the incidence of man-made fires is high.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. State and Transition, Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z.
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available. View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective textEcosystem states
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Mixed Shrub-Herbaceous State
The historic native plant community is a diverse mixture of perennial grasses, suffrutescent forbs, shrubs, succulents and desert trees. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Periodic, naturally occurring, wildfires were important in maintaining the potential plant community.
North slopes have a chaparral of evergreen shrubs like jojoba, turbinella oak, mountain mahogany, cliffrose, desert buckbrush and canotia. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of desert shrubs, trees like paloverde and succulents in the plant community. More xeric grasses will dominate southern exposures (aristida, tridens). Grasses on cooler aspects include stipa species and sideoats grama.Dominant plant species
-
crucifixion thorn (Canotia holacantha), tree
-
blue paloverde (Parkinsonia florida), tree
-
jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), shrub
-
Sonoran scrub oak (Quercus turbinella), shrub
-
mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus), shrub
-
Arizona cliffrose (Purshia ×subintegra), shrub
-
desert ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii), shrub
-
threeawn (Aristida), grass
-
tridens (Tridens), grass
-
(Stipa), grass
-
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
Community 1.1
Perennial grasses (5-15% canopy) Annual grasses/Forbs (5-15% canopy) Shrubs, succulents (20-30% canopy)
The historic native plant community is a diverse mixture of perennial grasses, suffrutescent forbs, shrubs, succulents and desert trees. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Periodic, naturally occurring, wildfires were important in maintaining the potential plant community.
North slopes have a chaparral of evergreen shrubs like jojoba, turbinella oak, mountain mahogany, cliffrose, desert buckbrush and canotia. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of desert shrubs, trees like paloverde and succulents in the plant community. More xeric grasses will dominate southern exposures (aristida, tridens). Grasses on cooler aspects include stipa species and sideoats grama.Dominant plant species
-
crucifixion thorn (Canotia holacantha), tree
-
paloverde (Parkinsonia), tree
-
jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), shrub
-
Sonoran scrub oak (Quercus turbinella), shrub
-
mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus), shrub
-
Arizona cliffrose (Purshia ×subintegra), shrub
-
desert ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii), shrub
-
threeawn (Aristida), grass
-
tridens (Tridens), grass
-
(Stipa), grass
-
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
Figure 5. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Grass/Grasslike 111 300 550 Shrub/Vine 70 250 445 Forb 25 75 150 Tree 5 25 100 Total 211 650 1245 Table 6. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover 0-0% Shrub/vine/liana basal cover 0-0% Grass/grasslike basal cover 0-0% Forb basal cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0-0% Litter 20-50% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 40-60% Surface fragments >3" 10-20% Bedrock 10-20% Water 0% Bare ground 10-30% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – 1-5% 1-5% 1-5% >0.5 <= 1 – 5-10% 1-10% 2-5% >1 <= 2 – 1-10% 1-5% 0-5% >2 <= 4.5 – 5-10% 0-2% 0-1% >4.5 <= 13 1-5% 1-5% – – >13 <= 40 0-5% – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3811 , 38.1 12-16" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs in the summer..
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 1 7 15 20 22 20 10 5 0 0 Community 1.2
Perennial grasses (1-5% canopy) Annual grasses/Forbs (10-50% canopy) Shrubs, succulents (30-40%)The historic native plant community is a diverse mixture of perennial grasses, suffrutescent forbs, shrubs, succulents and desert trees. A rich native flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Periodic, naturally occurring, wildfires were important in maintaining the potential plant community.
North slopes have a chaparral of evergreen shrubs like jojoba, turbinella oak, mountain mahogany, cliffrose, desert buckbrush and canotia. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of desert shrubs, trees like paloverde and succulents in the plant community. More xeric grasses will dominate southern exposures (aritida, tridens). Grasses on cooler aspects include stipa species and sideoats grama.Dominant plant species
-
crucifixion thorn (Canotia holacantha), tree
-
paloverde (Parkinsonia), tree
-
jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), shrub
-
Sonoran scrub oak (Quercus turbinella), shrub
-
mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus), shrub
-
Arizona cliffrose (Purshia ×subintegra), shrub
-
desert ceanothus (Ceanothus greggii), shrub
-
threeawn (Aristida), grass
-
tridens (Tridens), grass
-
(Stipa), grass
-
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), grass
Figure 7. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 8. Annual production by plant type
Plant type Low
(lb/acre)Representative value
(lb/acre)High
(lb/acre)Grass/Grasslike 111 300 550 Shrub/Vine 70 250 445 Forb 25 75 150 Tree 5 25 100 Total 211 650 1245 Table 9. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover 0-0% Shrub/vine/liana basal cover 0-0% Grass/grasslike basal cover 0-0% Forb basal cover 0-0% Non-vascular plants 0% Biological crusts 0-0% Litter 20-50% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 40-60% Surface fragments >3" 10-20% Bedrock 10-20% Water 0% Bare ground 10-30% Table 10. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – 1-5% 1-5% 1-5% >0.5 <= 1 – 5-10% 1-10% 2-5% >1 <= 2 – 1-10% 1-5% 0-5% >2 <= 4.5 – 5-10% 0-2% 0-1% >4.5 <= 13 1-5% 1-5% – – >13 <= 40 0-5% – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 8. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3811 , 38.1 12-16" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring, most growth occurs in the summer..
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 0 1 7 15 20 22 20 10 5 0 0 Pathway
Community 1.1 to 1.2Increase in time since last burn. Fire interval is 15 to 30 years.
Key drivers
-
Fire frequency
Key ecosystem services affected
-
Food and fiber: livestock forage
Pathway
Community 1.2 to 1.1Recent burn. Fire interval is 15 to 30 years.
Key drivers
-
Fire
Key ecosystem services affected
-
Food and fiber: livestock forage
State 2
Shrub Dominated State
Perennial grass canopy cover is reduced due to the interactions of drought, grazing and fire. Desert shrubs and cacti dominate the plant community. Shrub cover exceeds 30%. Annuals, both native and non-native, dominate the under-story. Fire frequency is reduced but the site can still burn, especially after "El Nino" years produce heavy fuel loads of annual grasses and forbs.
Community 2.1
Shrubs, succulents (40-70% canopy) Perennial grasses, forbs (1-5% canopy) Annual grasses, forbs (5-40% canopy
Perennial grass canopy cover is reduced due to the interactions of drought, grazing and fire. Desert shrubs and cacti dominate the plant community. Shrub cover exceeds 30%. Annuals, both native and non-native, dominate the under-story. Fire frequency is reduced but the site can still burn, especially after "El Nino" years produce heavy fuel loads of annual grasses and forbs.
State 3
Shrub Dominated and Eroded StateShrubs like jojoba, whitethorn acacia, mesquite, ocotillo and canotia, and succulents like prickly pear, cholla and banana yucca can increase to dominate the site in the absence of fire for very long periord of time. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the under-story. In "El Nino" years, herbaceous fuels can be sufficient to carry fire through the heavy canopy of shrubs. The major woody shrubs are, however, fire resistant once established. Such fires would remove less tolerant species like cacti and leave intact the sprouting woody plants to become more and more dominant. Extreme rainfall events coupled with the fire, drought and grazing interaction, can lead to rilling of steep slopes. Compaction of soils can occur with heavy trailing from continuous livestock use. Loss of plant cover after repeated fire can lead to accelerated rill erosion under these circumstances.
Dominant plant species
-
jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), shrub
-
whitethorn acacia (Acacia constricta), shrub
-
mesquite (Prosopis), shrub
-
crucifixion thorn (Canotia holacantha), shrub
-
cholla (Cylindropuntia), shrub
-
banana yucca (Yucca baccata), shrub
-
pricklypear (Opuntia), shrub
Dominant resource concerns
-
Sheet and rill erosion
-
Compaction
Community 3.1
Shrubs (10-30% canopy) Perennial grasses, forbs (0-1% canopy) Annual grasses/forbs (0-25% canopy)Shrubs like jojoba, whitethorn acacia, mesquite, ocotillo and canotia, and succulents like prickly pear, cholla and banana yucca can increase to dominate the site in the absence of fire for very long periord of time. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the under-story. In "El Nino" years, herbaceous fuels can be sufficient to carry fire through the heavy canopy of shrubs. The major woody shrubs are, however, fire resistant once established. Such fires would remove less tolerant species like cacti and leave intact the sprouting woody plants to become more and more dominant. Extreme rainfall events coupled with the fire, drought and grazing interaction, can lead to rilling of steep slopes. Compaction of soils can occur with heavy trailing from continuous livestock use. Loss of plant cover after repeated fire can lead to accelerated rill erosion under these circumstances.
Dominant plant species
-
jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), shrub
-
whitethorn acacia (Acacia constricta), shrub
-
mesquite (Prosopis), shrub
-
ocotillo (Fouquieria), shrub
-
crucifixion thorn (Canotia holacantha), shrub
-
cholla (Cylindropuntia), shrub
-
banana yucca (Yucca baccata), shrub
-
pricklypear (Opuntia), shrub
Dominant resource concerns
-
Sheet and rill erosion
-
Compaction
State 4
Exotic Invaded StateNon-native annual grasses and forbs like red brome, cheatgrass, and wild oats can invade and dominate areas of the site. These species can, over time, reduce the seed-bank of native annual grasses and forbs. Their presence can increase the fire frequency (of man made fires) especially where roads and urban areas are adjacent to areas of the site. Repeated fires tend to remove fire sensitive species like paloverde, cacti and canotia, and leave fire tolerant species like turbinella oak, mesquite, whitethorn and jojoba.
Dominant plant species
-
red brome (Bromus rubens), grass
-
cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), grass
-
wild oat (Avena fatua), grass
Dominant resource concerns
-
Wildfire hazard from biomass accumulation
Community 4.1
Shrubs (10-30% canopy) Perennial grasses, forbs (0-1% canopy) Annual grasses, forbs (0-25% canopy)Shrubs like jojoba, whitethorn acacia, mesquite, ocotillo and canotia, and succulents like prickly pear, cholla and banana yucca can increase to dominate the site in the absence of fire for very long periods of time. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the under-story. In "El Nino" years, herbaceous fuels can be sufficient to carry fire through the heavy canopy of shrubs. The major woody shrubs are, however, fire resistant once established. Such fires would remove less tolerant species like cacti and leave intact the sprouting woody plants to become more and more dominant. Extreme rainfall events coupled with; the fire, drought and grazing interaction, can lead to rilling of steep slopes.
Compaction of soils can occur with heavy trailing from continuous livestock use. Loss of plant cover after repeated fire can lead to accelerated rill erosion under these circumstances.Transition 1a
State 1 to 2
Mixed Shrub-Herbaceous State
Shrub Dominated StateLack of fire for long periods, continuous heavy grazing and drought that reduced fuel loads.
Key drivers
-
Livestock grazing or browsing
-
Precipitation (annual scale)
-
Fire frequency
Key ecosystem services affected
-
Food and fiber: livestock forage
Transition 2a
State 1 to 3Introduction of seed source of exotic annuals like red brome and wild oats plus increased fire frequency (every 5 to 10 years).
Key drivers
-
Nonnative plant species presence and/or establishment
-
Fire frequency
Key ecosystem services affected
-
Food and fiber: livestock forage
Restoration pathway 1b
State 2 to 1
Shrub Dominated State
Mixed Shrub-Herbaceous StateUnknown, possible herbicide followed by prescribed fire as maintenance.
Restoration pathway 2b
State 3 to 1Unknown
Additional community tables
Table 11. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Dominant perennial grasses 100–300 sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 50–100 – black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 10–50 – slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 10–50 – slim tridens TRMUE Tridens muticus var. elongatus 1–50 – blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 20–50 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 1–40 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0–30 – purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 0–20 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 1–20 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 1–20 – 2 Cool season grasses 5–100 New Mexico feathergrass HENE5 Hesperostipa neomexicana 5–50 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 0–30 – prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0–20 – squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0–10 – needle and thread HECO26 Hesperostipa comata 0–5 – Indian ricegrass ACHY Achnatherum hymenoides 0–5 – 3 Misc. perennial grasses 5–100 red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0–25 – big galleta PLRI3 Pleuraphis rigida 0–25 – Hall's panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 1–25 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0–20 – low woollygrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 1–10 – nineawn pappusgrass ENDE Enneapogon desvauxii 1–10 – fall witchgrass DICO6 Digitaria cognata 0–5 – green sprangletop LEDU Leptochloa dubia 0–5 – slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 0–5 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–5 – spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 0–5 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0–5 – southwestern bristlegrass SESC2 Setaria scheelei 0–5 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–5 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–5 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–2 – curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 0–2 – shortleaf woollygrass ERAV Erioneuron avenaceum 0–2 – plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 0–1 – tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 0–1 – 4 Annual grasses 1–50 small fescue VUMI Vulpia microstachys 0–10 – Eastwood fescue VUMIC Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata 0–10 – sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 0–10 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–10 – sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 1–10 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–5 – witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0–5 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–5 – mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 0–5 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–2 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–2 – Rothrock's grama BORO2 Bouteloua rothrockii 0–2 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–2 – feather fingergrass CHVI4 Chloris virgata 0–2 – canyon cupgrass ERLE7 Eriochloa lemmonii 0–1 – tufted lovegrass ERPE Eragrostis pectinacea 0–1 – desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0–1 – little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0–1 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 0–1 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–1 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–1 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–1 – Forb5 Perennial forbs 20–100 white sagebrush ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 0–10 – white sagebrush ARLUM2 Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana 0–10 – perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 1–10 – paleface HIDE Hibiscus denudatus 0–10 – glandleaf milkwort POMA7 Polygala macradenia 1–10 – spikemoss SELAG Selaginella 0–10 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 1–10 – desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–5 – cliffbrake PELLA Pellaea 0–5 – slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 0–5 – Fendler's bladderpod LEFE Lesquerella fendleri 0–5 – Parry's false prairie-clover MAPA7 Marina parryi 1–5 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–5 – lipfern CHEIL Cheilanthes 0–5 – leatherweed CRPO5 Croton pottsii 0–5 – trailing windmills ALIN Allionia incarnata 1–5 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–5 – hairyseed bahia BAAB Bahia absinthifolia 0–5 – tarragon ARDR4 Artemisia dracunculus 0–2 – desert trumpet ERIN4 Eriogonum inflatum 0–2 – Mojave spurge EUSC6 Euphorbia schizoloba 0–2 – southwestern mock vervain GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0–2 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 0–2 – lacy tansyaster MAPI Machaeranthera pinnatifida 0–2 – cloak fern NOTHO Notholaena 0–2 – shrubby deervetch LORI3 Lotus rigidus 0–2 – bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 0–2 – Coues' cassia SECO10 Senna covesii 0–2 – rue of the mountains THTE2 Thamnosma texana 0–2 – branched noseburn TRRA5 Tragia ramosa 0–1 – Louisiana vetch VILUL2 Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana 0–1 – turpentinebroom THMO Thamnosma montana 0–1 – Lemmon's ragwort SELE8 Senecio lemmonii 0–1 – New Mexico fanpetals SINE Sida neomexicana 0–1 – silverleaf nightshade SOEL Solanum elaeagnifolium 0–1 – Parry's beardtongue PEPA24 Penstemon parryi 0–1 – desert penstemon PEPS Penstemon pseudospectabilis 0–1 – orange fameflower PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0–1 – slender poreleaf POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 0–1 – scurfpea PSORA2 Psoralidium 0–1 – canaigre dock RUHY Rumex hymenosepalus 0–1 – twinleaf senna SEBA3 Senna bauhinioides 0–1 – fleabane ERIGE2 Erigeron 0–1 – Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca 0–1 – Wright's deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 0–1 – ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 0–1 – longflower tube tongue JULO3 Justicia longii 0–1 – New Mexico groundsel PANE7 Packera neomexicana 0–1 – Oak Creek ragwort PAQU8 Packera quercetorum 0–1 – toadflax penstemon PELI2 Penstemon linarioides 0–1 – desert tobacco NIOB Nicotiana obtusifolia 0–1 – desert rosemallow HICO Hibiscus coulteri 0–1 – dense ayenia AYMI Ayenia microphylla 0–1 – New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0–1 – purplenerve springparsley CYMU2 Cymopterus multinervatus 0–1 – Gregg's prairie clover DAGR2 Dalea greggii 0–1 – James' prairie clover DAJA Dalea jamesii 0–1 – Cooley's bundleflower DECO2 Desmanthus cooleyi 0–1 – desert larkspur DEPA Delphinium parishii 0–1 – tall mountain larkspur DESC Delphinium scaposum 0–1 – narrowleaf silverbush ARLA12 Argythamnia lanceolata 0–1 – tuber anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0–1 – largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 0–1 – dwarf desertpeony ACNA2 Acourtia nana 0–1 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–1 – San Felipe dogweed ADPO Adenophyllum porophylloides 0–1 – desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0–1 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–1 – climbing wartclub BOSC Boerhavia scandens 0–1 – wavyleaf Indian paintbrush CAAPM Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii 0–1 – Arizona wrightwort CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0–1 – desert mariposa lily CAKE Calochortus kennedyi 0–1 – sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 0–1 – 6 Annual forbs 1–50 bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–10 – phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0–10 – chia SACO6 Salvia columbariae 0–5 – lyreleaf jewelflower STCA5 Streptanthus carinatus 0–5 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 0–5 – woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0–5 – foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0–5 – desertparsley LOMAT Lomatium 0–5 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSA Lotus salsuginosus 0–5 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0–5 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–5 – combseed PECTO Pectocarya 0–5 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 0–5 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–5 – Coulter's spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0–5 – fivewing spiderling BOIN Boerhavia intermedia 0–5 – pitseed goosefoot CHBE4 Chenopodium berlandieri 0–5 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–5 – longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 0–5 – California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–5 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–5 – Thurber's pepperweed LETH2 Lepidium thurberi 0–2 – spurge EUPHO Euphorbia 0–2 – crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0–2 – wedgeleaf draba DRCU Draba cuneifolia 0–2 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–2 – sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0–2 – exserted Indian paintbrush CAEXE Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 0–2 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0–2 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–2 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–2 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–2 – Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–2 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–2 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 0–1 – creamcups PLCA5 Platystemon californicus 0–1 – sawtooth sage SASU7 Salvia subincisa 0–1 – ragwort SENEC Senecio 0–1 – spreading fanpetals SIAB Sida abutifolia 0–1 – woollyhead neststraw STMI2 Stylocline micropoides 0–1 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–1 – whitestem blazingstar MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0–1 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–1 – desert evening primrose OEPR Oenothera primiveris 0–1 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–1 – Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0–1 – miniature lupine LUBI Lupinus bicolor 0–1 – desert unicorn-plant PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0–1 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–1 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–1 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–1 – Fendler's desertdandelion MAFE Malacothrix fendleri 0–1 – hairy prairie clover DAMO Dalea mollis 0–1 – miner's lettuce CLPEP Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 0–1 – scrambled eggs COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0–1 – yellow tackstem CAPA7 Calycoseris parryi 0–1 – white tackstem CAWR Calycoseris wrightii 0–1 – brittle spineflower CHBR Chorizanthe brevicornu 0–1 – Esteve's pincushion CHST Chaenactis stevioides 0–1 – hoary bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 0–1 – milkvetch ASTRA Astragalus 0–1 – annual agoseris AGHE2 Agoseris heterophylla 0–1 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–1 – Texas stork's bill ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0–1 – sacred thorn-apple DAWR2 Datura wrightii 0–1 – flatcrown buckwheat ERDE6 Eriogonum deflexum 0–1 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–1 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–1 – redstar IPCO3 Ipomoea coccinea 0–1 – ivyleaf morning-glory IPHE Ipomoea hederacea 0–1 – Arizona poppy KAGR Kallstroemia grandiflora 0–1 – California goldfields LACA7 Lasthenia californica 0–1 – star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0–1 – Shrub/Vine7 Evergreen shrubs 10–150 Sonoran scrub oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 0–30 – jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 0–30 – desert ceanothus CEGR Ceanothus greggii 0–20 – alderleaf mountain mahogany CEMOM4 Cercocarpus montanus var. montanus 0–20 – hairy mountain mahogany CEMOP Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus 0–20 – algerita MATR3 Mahonia trifoliolata 0–10 – Stansbury cliffrose PUST Purshia stansburiana 0–10 – sugar sumac RHOV Rhus ovata 0–5 – snapdragon penstemon KEANM Keckiella antirrhinoides ssp. microphylla 0–5 – red barberry MAHA4 Mahonia haematocarpa 0–1 – Arizona cliffrose PUSU2 Purshia ×subintegra 0–1 – redberry buckthorn RHCR Rhamnus crocea 0–1 – 8 Large shrubs 15–60 Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 1–20 – ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 5–20 – mariola PAIN2 Parthenium incanum 1–15 – whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 0–10 – catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 0–10 – Berlandier's wolfberry LYBE Lycium berlandieri 1–5 – Arizona desert-thorn LYEX Lycium exsertum 0–5 – Kearney's snakewood COWAK Condalia warnockii var. kearneyana 0–2 – crown of thorns KOSP Koeberlinia spinosa 0–2 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0–2 – creosote bush LATR2 Larrea tridentata 0–2 – littleleaf sumac RHMI3 Rhus microphylla 0–2 – Wright's mock buckthorn SAWR Sageretia wrightii 0–2 – Arizona necklacepod SOAR3 Sophora arizonica 0–2 – catclaw mimosa MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0–2 – lotebush ZIOBC Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens 0–1 – skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0–1 – Florida hopbush DOVI Dodonaea viscosa 0–1 – pale desert-thorn LYPA Lycium pallidum 0–1 – Thurber's desert honeysuckle ANTH2 Anisacanthus thurberi 0–1 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–1 – California brickellbush BRCA3 Brickellia californica 0–1 – spiny hackberry CEEH Celtis ehrenbergiana 0–1 – desert sweet CHMI2 Chamaebatiaria millefolium 0–1 – Warnock's snakewood COWA Condalia warnockii 0–1 – 9 Dominant half shrubs 35–150 fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 15–50 – featherplume DAFO Dalea formosa 1–50 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 1–50 – desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 1–25 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 1–20 – purple sage SADOM Salvia dorrii ssp. mearnsii 0–15 – woody crinklemat TICA3 Tiquilia canescens 0–10 – bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 0–5 – longleaf phlox PHLO2 Phlox longifolia 0–5 – starry bedstraw GAST Galium stellatum 0–1 – Eastern Mojave buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 0–1 – American threefold TRCA8 Trixis californica 0–1 – Parish's goldeneye VIPA14 Viguiera parishii 0–1 – ragged rockflower CRBI2 Crossosoma bigelovii 0–1 – shortleaf baccharis BABR Baccharis brachyphylla 0–1 – yerba de pasmo BAPT Baccharis pteronioides 0–1 – sweetbush BEJU Bebbia juncea 0–1 – Coulter's brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 0–1 – 10 Succulents 5–60 banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 1–20 – common sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 1–15 – Schott's century plant AGSC3 Agave schottii 0–15 – sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 0–10 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 1–10 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 1–10 – goldenflower century plant AGCH2 Agave chrysantha 0–5 – saguaro CAGI10 Carnegiea gigantea 0–5 – buck-horn cholla CYAC8 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 0–2 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–2 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0–1 – dollarjoint pricklypear OPCH Opuntia chlorotica 0–1 – Parry's agave AGPA4 Agave parryi 0–1 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECBO2 Echinocereus bonkerae 0–1 – Arizona hedgehog cactus ECCOA Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus 0–1 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–1 – redspine fishhook cactus ECER2 Echinomastus erectocentrus 0–1 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFA Echinocereus fasciculatus 0–1 – spinystar ESVI2 Escobaria vivipara 0–1 – Leconte's barrel cactus FECYL Ferocactus cylindraceus var. lecontei 0–1 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0–1 – teddybear cholla CYBI9 Cylindropuntia bigelovii 0–1 – jumping cholla CYFU10 Cylindropuntia fulgida 0–1 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0–1 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–1 – Whipple cholla CYWH Cylindropuntia whipplei 0–1 – 11 Increaser half-shrubs 1–25 broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 1–20 – whitestem paperflower PSCO2 Psilostrophe cooperi 0–5 – turpentine bush ERLA12 Ericameria laricifolia 0–2 – narrowleaf goldenbush ERLI6 Ericameria linearifolia 0–1 – threadleaf snakeweed GUMI Gutierrezia microcephala 0–1 – brittlebush ENFA Encelia farinosa 0–1 – button brittlebush ENFR Encelia frutescens 0–1 – burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0–1 – Tree12 Trees 5–100 crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 1–50 – yellow paloverde PAMI5 Parkinsonia microphylla 0–15 – oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 0–15 – redberry juniper JUCO11 Juniperus coahuilensis 0–10 – western honey mesquite PRGLT Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 0–5 – velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 0–5 – blue paloverde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 0–5 – Table 12. Community 1.2 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Dominant perennial grasses 100–300 2 Cool season grasses 5–100 3 Misc. perennial grasses 5–100 4 Annual grasses 1–50 Forb5 Perennial forbs 20–100 6 Annual forbs 1–50 Shrub/Vine7 Evergreen shrubs 10–150 8 Large shrubs 15–60 9 Dominant half shrubs 35–150 10 Succulents 5–60 11 Increaser half-shrubs 1–25 Tree12 Trees 5–100 Table 13. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 14. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 15. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
This site is suitable for grazing year round, but is not easily traversed by livestock. Livestock grazing use is concentrated on south slopes, canyon bottoms and ridge-tops. North slopes may be little used. Slopes greater than 50% and areas with very cobbly surfaces limit grazing use by cattle. Areas of rock outcrop can form barriers to livestock movement. The site is susceptible to erosion in overgrazed areas like bed-grounds, livestock trails and lower slopes adjacent to water.
The site has good habitat diversity for a great variety of desert wildlife species. Water developments are very important to both livestock and wildlife on this site.Hydrological functions
This site has rough surfaces, due to a high cover of gravels, cobbles and stones, which act to hold water on the site. The bedrock is very porous. When the soils are dry, it produces little runoff. It produces significant runoff only when heavy rain falls on snow or moist soils.
Recreational uses
Hunting, camping, horseback riding, backpacking, rock hounding, fossil hunting, photography.
Wood products
Limited harvest of fuel-wood, fence posts and stays from mesquite, juniper, canotia and saguaro.
Other products
There is some native harvest of food plants like pinyon nuts, thistle, prickly pear tunas, jojoba nuts and mescal. There is limited harvest of herbs like, terragon, herbaceous sage, mormon tea and dogweed.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Gila County, AZ Township/Range/Section T3S R15E S30 General legal description Links 7VT Ranch (old Bar Flag Ranch) in the dripping Springs mountains on jeep trail to the Manhattan Mine. Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. EllicottApproval
Scott Woodall, 5/07/2020
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
Author(s)/participant(s) Contact for lead author Date 09/28/2026 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
-
Presence of water flow patterns:
-
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
-
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
-
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
-
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
-
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
-
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
-
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
-
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
-
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
-
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
-
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
-
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
-
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Print Options
Sections
Font
AAAAOther
PrintThe Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
Accessibility statement
