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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): 040X–Sonoran Basin and Range
AZ 40.1 – Upper Sonoran Desert
Elevations range from 2000 to 3200 feet and precipitation averages 10 to 13 inches per year. Vegetation includes saguaro, palo verde, mesquite, creosotebush, triangle bursage, prickly pear, cholla, limberbush, wolfberry, bush muhly, threeawns, ocotillo, and globe mallow. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is typic aridic. This unit occurs within the Basin and Range Physiographic Province and is characterized by numerous mountain ranges that rise abruptly from broad, plain-like valleys and basins. Igneous and metamorphic rock classes dominate the mountain ranges and sediments filling the basins represent combinations of fluvial, lacustrine, colluvial and alluvial deposits.Associated sites
R040XA108AZ Limy Fan 10"-13" p.z.
R040XA112AZ Loamy Swale 10"-13" p.z.
R040XA114AZ Loamy Upland 10"-13" p.z.
Similar sites
R041XC305AZ Clay Loam Upland 12-16" p.z.
R041XB204AZ Clay Loam Upland 8-12" p.z.
R040XB205AZ Clay Loam Upland 7"-10" p.z.
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree (1) Prosopis velutina
(2) Parkinsonia microphyllaShrub Not specified
Herbaceous (1) Pleuraphis mutica
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the upper elevations of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona. It occurs on alluvial fans and fan terraces.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
Landforms (1) Fan
(2) Terrace
(3) Stream terrace
Flooding duration Extremely brief (0.1 to 4 hours) Flooding frequency None to rare Ponding frequency None Elevation 2000 – 3400 ft Slope 1 – 15 % Aspect Aspect is not a significant factor Climatic features
Precipitation in the sub resource area ranges from 10 to 13 inches in the southern part, along the Mexican border with elevations from about 1900 to 3200 feet. Precipitation in the northern part of the resource area ranges from 11 to 14 inches with elevations from about 1700 to 3500 feet. Winter-summer rainfall ratios range from 40%-60% in the southern portions of the land resource unit, to 50%-50% in the central portions, to 60%-40% in the northern part of the land resource unit. As one moves from east to west in this resource area rains become slightly more unpredictable and variable with Coefficients of Variation of annual rainfall equal to 29% at Tucson and 36% at Carefree. Summer rains fall July through Sept., originate in the Gulf of Mexico, and are convective, usually brief, intense thunderstorms. Cool season moisture tends to be frontal, originating in the Pacific and Gulf of California. This winter precipitation falls in widespread storms with long duration and low intensity. Snow is rare and seldom lasts more than an hour or two. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally very low.
Winter temperatures are mild, with very few days recording freezing temperatures in the morning. Summer temperatures are warm to hot, with several days in June and July exceeding 105 degrees F.
Both the spring and the summer growing seasons are equally important for perennial grass, forb and shrub growth. Cool and warm season annual forbs and grasses can be common in their respective seasons with above average rainfall. Perennial forage species can remain green throughout the year with available moisture.Table 3 Representative climatic features
Frost-free period (average) 270 days Freeze-free period (average) 0 days Precipitation total (average) 10 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 are deep and moderately deep soils which have formed in clayey alluvium of mixed origins. They are not calcareous. Cemented lime pans may occur at moderate depths. These soils exhibit slight cracking but no soil churning. Plant-soil moisture relationships are fair.
Soils mapped on this site include: in
SSA-627 Southern Mohave County MU's Aquarius-8, Continental-34, 35, 36 & 37, Eba-114 & 115, Vekol family-126;
SSA-645 Aguilla-Carefree MU's Continental-65, Eba-33, 34, 37 & 40, Mohave-85, Pinaleno-40, 42, 96 & 97;
SSA-661 Eastern Pinal Southern Gila counties MU's Nahda-650 & Tubac-870;
SSA-668 Tucson Avra Valley MU's Anway-Aw, Mohave-Mo & Tubac-TuA & TuB;
SSA-669 Eastern Pima county MU's Nahda-48 & 50 & Tubac-80;
SSA-703 Tohono O'odham MU Tubac-58.Table 4. Representative soil features
Surface texture (1) Gravelly loam
(2) Clay loam
(3) Gravelly clay loam
Family particle size (1) Clayey
Drainage class Well drained Permeability class Moderately slow to slow Soil depth 25 – 60 in Surface fragment cover <=3" 0 – 60 % Surface fragment cover >3" 0 – 10 % Available water capacity
(0-40in)4 – 9 in Calcium carbonate equivalent
(0-40in)0 – 15 % Electrical conductivity
(0-40in)0 – 2 mmhos/cm Sodium adsorption ratio
(0-40in)0 – 2 Soil reaction (1:1 water)
(0-40in)6.6 – 7.8 Subsurface fragment volume <=3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 60 % Subsurface fragment volume >3"
(Depth not specified)0 – 20 % Ecological dynamics
The plant communities found on an ecological site are naturally variable. Composition and production will vary with yearly conditions, location, aspect, and the natural variability of the soils. The Historical Climax Plant Community represents the natural potential plant communities found on relict or relatively undisturbed sites. Other plant communities described here represent plant communities that are known to occur when the site is disturbed by factors such as fire, grazing, or drought.
Production data provided in this site description is standardized to air dry weight at the end of the summer growing season. The plant communities described in this site description are based on near normal rainfall years.
NRCS uses a Similarity Index to compare existing plant communities to the plant communities described here. Similarity Index is determined by comparing the production and composition of a plant community to the production and composition of a plant community described in this site description. To determine Similarity Index, compare the production (air dry weight) of each species to that shown in the plant community description. For each species, count no more than the maximum amount shown for the species, and for each group, count no more than the maximum amount shown for the group. Divide the resulting total by the total normal year production shown in the plant community description. If the rainfall has been significantly above or below normal, use the total production shown for above or below normal years. If field data is not collected at the end of the summer growing season, then the field data must be corrected to the end of the year production before comparing it to the site description. The growth curve can be used as a guide for estimating production at the end of the summer growing season.
State and transition model
Custom diagramStandard diagram
Figure 4. State and Transition model, Clay Loam Upland 10-13
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 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 5 submodel, plant communities
State 6 submodel, plant communities
State 7 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Historical Climax Plant CommunityCommunity 1.1
Historical Climax Plant CommunityThe potential plant community is a diverse mixture of desert trees, shrubs, and cactii with understories of halfshrubs, tobosa grass and annuals. The aspect is shrubland.
With continuous, heavy grazing, perennial grass species are removed from the plant community and half shrubs like bursage and snakeweed can increase in the understory. Tree species tend to be shrubby on this site due to clayey textures at the surface. With loss of herbaceous cover, this site becomes a very ineffective user of summer rainfall. A 5% tree canopy is very important in this site to keep diversity in the community. The potential of the site to produce grass is reduced as tree cover exceeds this amount. Prickly pear and cholla can increase with heavy grazing pressure.
This site is an effective user of winter moisture and will produce tremendous amounts of annuals in a wet spring. It is not an effcient user of intense summer storms and production of summer annuals will be much less.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 108 300 775 Forb 10 150 650 Shrub/Vine 8 75 130 Tree 5 25 50 Total 131 550 1605 Table 6. Soil surface cover
Tree basal cover 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 10-20% Litter 20-70% Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" 0-60% Surface fragments >3" 0-10% Bedrock 0% Water 0% Bare ground 10-80% Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
Height Above Ground (ft) Tree Shrub/Vine Grass/
GrasslikeForb <0.5 – – 1-25% 0-25% >0.5 <= 1 – 0-2% 1-10% 1-20% >1 <= 2 – 0-2% 5-15% 1-20% >2 <= 4.5 – 15-5% 0-1% 0-1% >4.5 <= 13 0-5% – – – >13 <= 40 0-2% – – – >40 <= 80 – – – – >80 <= 120 – – – – >120 – – – – Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ4013 , 40.1 10-13" p.z. other sites. Growth begins in the late winter, goes semi-dormant in the drought period of late May through early July, growth continues in the summer through early fall..
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 5 10 20 15 0 5 20 15 5 5 0 State 2
Tobosa, shrub increase, cobbly surfacesCommunity 2.1
Tobosa, shrub increase, cobbly surfacesOn some areas of the site, cobbly surfaces protect the soil surface from erosion. Tobosa diminishes and shrubs and succulents increase to dominate the site with annuals. Cobbly sufaces help retain good hydrologic characteristics and stabilize the site.
State 3
Exotic annualsCommunity 3.1
Exotic annualsExotic annuals like filaree, red brome, schismus, London rocket and purslane invade the native plant community. These species displace native annual grasses and forbs.
State 4
Shrub increased stateCommunity 4.1
Shrub increased stateThis state occurs where the native grass cover of tobosa has been depleted and shrubs and succulents increase to dominate the plant community. Soil compaction and reduced herbaceous cover leads to accelerated sheet erosion.
State 5
Annuals, desert broomCommunity 5.1
Annuals, desert broomThis state occurs after clearing for irrigation and subsequent abandonment. Early stages of plant succession lead to dominance by annual forbs and grasses (both native and non-native). Tumbleweed (Russian thistle) will persist with continued disturbance like disking. Desert broom can invade and may dominate the upper layer of the plant community. This state will persist for several years before other shrubs and desert trees come in and assume dominance. It will persist for long periods of time with continued disturbance. Natural flooding is reduced or eliminated by dikes, ditches and levees that were built to protect irrigated fields.
State 6
Mesquite, grass and shrubsCommunity 6.1
Mesquite, grass and shrubsThis state will result from long term rest of areas that were cleared and then abandoned. Without disturbance for 30 or 40 years mesquite will come in with other shrubs like pencil cholla and whitethorn acacia and form an open overstory. Perennial grasses, both native and non-native will dominate the understory especially in areas where water accumulates; the bottom ends of fields and along borders and old ditches. Some areas (with heavy soil crusting due to silty clayloam textures) will be entirely barren until a wet winter is effective in producing a crop of annuals. Annual forbs and grasses (both native and exotic) will fluctuate with climate. This appears to be a stable community without fire or other disturbance like continuous grazing. Usually water control features (dikes, ditches) are left intact and natural flooding of these areas does not occur.
State 7
ErodedCommunity 7.1
ErodedThis state occurs where the site has severe sheet, rill and gully erosion. Lack of plant cover, soil compaction and concentration of surface water flow will lead to rilling and gully formation. Usually these areas lack any perennial cover except along drainage ways.
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Grass/Grasslike1 Dominant Perennial Grasses 100–250 tobosagrass PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 100–250 – 2 Short perennial grasses 1–150 curly-mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 1–150 – Rothrock's grama BORO2 Bouteloua rothrockii 0–100 – red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0–100 – blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 0–10 – ring muhly MUTO2 Muhlenbergia torreyi 0–5 – 3 Perennial threeawns 2–100 purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 1–100 – spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 1–50 – spidergrass ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0–25 – Parish's threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0–20 – Fendler threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 0–15 – 4 Misc perennial grasses 0–25 black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 0–10 – hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0–10 – Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0–10 – common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 0–10 – bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 0–10 – sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0–10 – large-spike bristlegrass SEMA5 Setaria macrostachya 0–10 – plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0–5 – tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 0–5 – sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 0–5 – big galleta PLRI3 Pleuraphis rigida 0–2 – slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 0–2 – desert needlegrass ACSP12 Achnatherum speciosum 0–2 – Wooton's threeawn ARPA9 Aristida pansa 0–2 – blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 0–2 – cane bluestem BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 0–2 – low woollygrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 0–1 – burrograss SCBR2 Scleropogon brevifolius 0–1 – squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 0–1 – nineawn pappusgrass ENDE Enneapogon desvauxii 0–1 – slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 0–1 – 5 Annual grasses 5–250 mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 1–200 – sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 1–100 – sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 1–100 – needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0–50 – little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0–50 – Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0–50 – Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0–20 – prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0–15 – sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0–10 – sticky sprangletop LEVI5 Leptochloa viscida 0–10 – canyon cupgrass ERLE7 Eriochloa lemmonii 0–5 – tufted lovegrass ERPEP2 Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea 0–2 – delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0–2 – littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0–2 – Eastwood fescue VUMIC Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata 0–2 – Pacific fescue VUMIP Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora 0–2 – Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0–2 – Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 0–2 – Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0–2 – low woollygrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 0–2 – Forb6 Perennial forbs 5–50 desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1–15 – Coues' cassia SECO10 Senna covesii 0–10 – dense ayenia AYMI Ayenia microphylla 0–10 – slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 0–10 – lacy tansyaster MAPIP4 Machaeranthera pinnatifida ssp. pinnatifida var. pinnatifida 0–5 – Indian rushpea HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca 0–5 – bluedicks DICAC5 Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 0–5 – spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0–5 – weakleaf bur ragweed AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1–5 – slender poreleaf POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 0–5 – desert tobacco NIOBO Nicotiana obtusifolia var. obtusifolia 0–2 – brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 0–2 – spreading fanpetals SIAB Sida abutifolia 0–2 – silverleaf nightshade SOEL Solanum elaeagnifolium 0–2 – dwarf desertpeony ACNA2 Acourtia nana 0–2 – red-gland spurge CHME5 Chamaesyce melanadenia 0–2 – San Felipe dogweed ADPO Adenophyllum porophylloides 0–2 – wishbone-bush MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 0–1 – Davis Mountain mock vervain GLBIC Glandularia bipinnatifida var. ciliata 0–1 – desert rosemallow HICO Hibiscus coulteri 0–1 – leatherweed CRPOP Croton pottsii var. pottsii 0–1 – pricklyburr DAIN2 Datura inoxia 0–1 – desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0–1 – climbing wartclub BOSC Boerhavia scandens 0–1 – brownfoot ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0–1 – field anoda ANPE4 Anoda pentaschista 0–1 – New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0–1 – Coulter's wrinklefruit TECO Tetraclea coulteri 0–1 – orange fameflower PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0–1 – twinleaf senna SEBA3 Senna bauhinioides 0–1 – 7 Annual forbs 5–600 California poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0–100 – shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0–100 – Nuttall's povertyweed MONU Monolepis nuttalliana 0–100 – Arizona popcornflower PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 0–100 – Coulter's lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0–50 – mesa tansyaster MATA Machaeranthera tagetina 0–50 – woolly plantain PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0–50 – thelypody THELY Thelypodium 0–50 – foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0–50 – Arizona poppy KAGR Kallstroemia grandiflora 0–50 – western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0–50 – bristly fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0–50 – wheelscale saltbush ATEL Atriplex elegans 0–50 – yellow tackstem CAPA7 Calycoseris parryi 0–25 – white tackstem CAWR Calycoseris wrightii 0–25 – coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSA Lotus salsuginosus 0–25 – miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0–25 – combseed PECTO Pectocarya 0–25 – manybristle chinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0–20 – desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 0–20 – cleftleaf wildheliotrope PHCR Phacelia crenulata 0–20 – Gordon's bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0–20 – Lindley's silverpuffs MILI5 Microseris lindleyi 0–20 – wedgeleaf draba DRCU Draba cuneifolia 0–20 – fringed redmaids CACI2 Calandrinia ciliata 0–20 – smallflowered milkvetch ASNU4 Astragalus nuttallianus 0–20 – exserted Indian paintbrush CAEXE Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 0–15 – pitseed goosefoot CHBE4 Chenopodium berlandieri 0–15 – buckwheat ERIOG Eriogonum 0–15 – California desertdandelion MACA6 Malacothrix californica 0–15 – Coulter's globemallow SPCO2 Sphaeralcea coulteri 0–10 – New Mexico plumeseed RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0–10 – sleepy silene SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0–10 – Mexican fireplant EUHE4 Euphorbia heterophylla 0–10 – pincushion flower CHFR Chaenactis fremontii 0–10 – Sonoran sandmat CHMI7 Chamaesyce micromera 0–10 – Esteve's pincushion CHST Chaenactis stevioides 0–10 – cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0–10 – carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0–10 – white easterbonnets ANLA7 Antheropeas lanosum 0–10 – fringed amaranth AMFI Amaranthus fimbriatus 0–10 – American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0–5 – California suncup CACA32 Camissonia californica 0–5 – Texas stork's bill ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0–5 – Arizona cottonrose LOAR12 Logfia arizonica 0–5 – limestone bedstraw GAPR Galium proliferum 0–5 – star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0–5 – California mustard GULA4 Guillenia lasiophylla 0–5 – woollyhead neststraw STMI2 Stylocline micropoides 0–5 – Louisiana vetch VILU Vicia ludoviciana 0–5 – whitestem blazingstar MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0–5 – distant phacelia PHDI Phacelia distans 0–5 – Arizona phacelia PHAR13 Phacelia arizonica 0–5 – green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0–5 – woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0–3 – redseed plantain PLRH Plantago rhodosperma 0–3 – bluedicks DICAC5 Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum 0–3 – desert trumpet ERIN4 Eriogonum inflatum 0–3 – common fiddleneck AMMEI2 Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia 0–3 – flatspine stickseed LAOCO Lappula occidentalis var. occidentalis 0–2 – hoary bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 0–2 – Palmer's spectaclepod DICA31 Dimorphocarpa candicans 0–2 – New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0–2 – purslane PORTU Portulaca 0–2 – doubleclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0–2 – Lemmon's ragwort SELE8 Senecio lemmonii 0–2 – Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0–2 – Mojave desertstar MOBE2 Monoptilon bellioides 0–2 – slender goldenweed MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0–1 – tanseyleaf tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0–1 – desert evening primrose OEPR Oenothera primiveris 0–1 – sand fringepod THCU Thysanocarpus curvipes 0–1 – lyreleaf jewelflower STCAA Streptanthus carinatus ssp. arizonicus 0–1 – London rocket SIIR Sisymbrium irio 0–1 – sand pygmyweed CRCOC Crassula connata var. connata 0–1 – dainty desert hideseed EUMI2 Eucrypta micrantha 0–1 – scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0–1 – Shrub/Vine8 Half Shrubs 2–50 fairyduster CAER Calliandra eriophylla 1–20 – littleleaf ratany KRER Krameria erecta 1–20 – rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 0–15 – broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0–15 – Eastern Mojave buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 0–10 – bastardsage ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 0–5 – burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0–5 – triangle bur ragweed AMDE4 Ambrosia deltoidea 0–5 – desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 0–5 – winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0–2 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–2 – yerba de pasmo BAPT Baccharis pteronioides 0–2 – Coulter's brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 0–1 – brittlebush ENFA Encelia farinosa 0–1 – threadleaf snakeweed GUMI Gutierrezia microcephala 0–1 – white ratany KRGR Krameria grayi 0–1 – American threefold TRCA8 Trixis californica 0–1 – rayless goldenhead ACSP Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus 0–1 – 9 Large shrubs 1–30 jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 0–10 – catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 0–5 – fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0–5 – Warnock's snakewood COWA Condalia warnockii 0–2 – snakewood CONDA Condalia 0–2 – ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 0–2 – water jacket LYAN Lycium andersonii 0–2 – Berlandier's wolfberry LYBE Lycium berlandieri 0–2 – Arizona desert-thorn LYEX Lycium exsertum 0–2 – plains blackfoot MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 0–2 – Mexican bladdersage SAME Salazaria mexicana 0–2 – slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 0–2 – Joshua tree YUBR Yucca brevifolia 0–2 – soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0–2 – pelotazo ABIN Abutilon incanum 0–2 – whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 0–1 – lotebush ZIOB Ziziphus obtusifolia 0–1 – creosote bush LATR2 Larrea tridentata 0–1 – banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 0–1 – sangre de cristo JACA2 Jatropha cardiophylla 0–1 – knifeleaf condalia COSP3 Condalia spathulata 0–1 – Nevada jointfir EPNE Ephedra nevadensis 0–1 – longleaf jointfir EPTR Ephedra trifurca 0–1 – turpentine bush ERLA12 Ericameria laricifolia 0–1 – crucifixion thorn CAEM4 Castela emoryi 0–1 – Wright's beebrush ALWR Aloysia wrightii 0–1 – 10 Succulents 5–50 saguaro CAGI10 Carnegiea gigantea 0–20 – cactus apple OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 5–15 – Arizona pencil cholla CYAR14 Cylindropuntia arbuscula 0–10 – jumping cholla CYFU10 Cylindropuntia fulgida 0–5 – purple pricklypear OPMA8 Opuntia macrocentra 0–5 – tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 0–5 – buck-horn cholla CYAC8 Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 0–5 – walkingstick cactus CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0–5 – candy barrelcactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 0–2 – Christmas cactus CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0–2 – devil's cholla GRKU Grusonia kunzei 0–1 – Graham's nipple cactus MAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0–1 – Thornber's nipple cactus MATH Mammillaria thornberi 0–1 – beavertail pricklypear OPBA2 Opuntia basilaris 0–1 – dollarjoint pricklypear OPCH Opuntia chlorotica 0–1 – Whipple cholla CYWH Cylindropuntia whipplei 0–1 – Engelmann's hedgehog cactus ECEN Echinocereus engelmannii 0–1 – pinkflower hedgehog cactus ECFA Echinocereus fasciculatus 0–1 – spinystar ESVIV Escobaria vivipara var. vivipara 0–1 – Tree11 Trees 5–50 yellow paloverde PAMI5 Parkinsonia microphylla 1–30 – velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 1–30 – blue paloverde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 0–10 – crucifixion thorn CAHO3 Canotia holacantha 0–5 – desert ironwood OLTE Olneya tesota 0–5 – Table 9. Community 2.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 10. Community 3.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 11. Community 4.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 12. Community 5.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 13. Community 6.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Table 14. Community 7.1 plant community composition
Group Common name Symbol Scientific name Annual production () Foliar cover (%) Interpretations
Animal community
The plant community on this site is suitable for grazing by livestock mainly in wet seasons when annual forbs and grasses are available. Perennial forage species like tobosa grow year-round with available moisture. Clayey horizons give this site a longer spring green season than other coarser textured upland sites.
Water developments are very important to wildlife species on this site. Vegetative cover and forage diversity are good enough for a variety of wildlife species including large mammals.Hydrological functions
Heavy textured soils are good producers of runoff.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking, camping, horseback riding, photography,
Wood products
Limited mesquite for campfires and branding fires.
Other products
Mesquite beans, hog potatoes, blue dicks and cactus fruits.
Supporting information
Type locality
Location 1: Cochise County, AZ Township/Range/Section T13S R19E S25 General legal description Cascabel area, Banderilla Ranch Location 2: Pima County, AZ Township/Range/Section T17S R6E S11 General legal description Sells FO - Shuck Toak District San Juan Trail Location 3: Pima County, AZ Township/Range/Section T18S R12E S16 General legal description Santa Rita Experimental Range, Pasture 5S, Two miles west of Kinney tank. Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. EllicottRangeland 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 Approved by Approval date Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on Annual Production Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
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Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
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Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
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Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
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Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
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Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
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Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
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Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
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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:
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Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
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Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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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:
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Perennial plant reproductive capability:
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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.
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