Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R038XA135AZ
Diabase Hills 12-16" p.z.
Accessed: 11/13/2024
General 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.
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.
Associated sites
| R038XA104AZ |
Granitic Hills 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R038XA105AZ |
Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z. |
| R038XA117AZ |
Volcanic Hills 12-16" p.z. Clayey |
Similar sites
| R040XA105AZ |
Shallow Hills 10"-13" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R040XA119AZ |
Schist Hills 10"-13" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
(1) Parkinsonia |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) acacia greggii |
| Herbaceous |
(1) bouteloua eriopoda |
Physiographic 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 | 3,100 – 4,600 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) | 285 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 16 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 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 sand to coarse sandy loam in texture, calcareous in places and well drained. They have formed in residuum and colluvium from diabase and granodiorite parent materials. Bedrock has carbonates in the fractures. Soil surfaces are not well covered by gravels, cobbles and/or stones. Gravel size is inadequate to prevent soil erosion. The effective rooting depth is limited by slightly weathered bedrock at 10 to 20 inches. Runoff is moderate to high on moist soils. Rock outcrop and can be as high as 10%.
Soils mapped to date on this site include Schifflin.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Residuum
–
diabase
(2) Colluvium – granodiorite |
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Gravelly loamy sand (2) Very gravelly loamy sand (3) Very gravelly sandy loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Sandy |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Rapid to moderately rapid |
| Soil depth | 10 – 20 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 5 – 30% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 5 – 35% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
0.6 – 1.5 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
10% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.4 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
5 – 30% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
15% |
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
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Mixed Shrub-Herbaceous State
Community 1.1
Historic Native Plant Community
Figure 4. Diabase Hills 12-16" pz. HCPC
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 more evergreen shrubs like juniper and turbinella oak. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of desert shrubs, trees and succulents in the plant community. More xeric grasses will dominate southern exposures (aristida, black grama, bush muhly). Grasses on cooler aspects include desert stipa and sideoats grama.
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 | 100 | 250 | 560 |
| Shrub/Vine | 100 | 250 | 460 |
| Forb | 25 | 75 | 250 |
| Tree | 15 | 25 | 100 |
| Total | 240 | 600 | 1370 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0-1% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-2% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 2-5% |
| Forb basal cover | 1-2% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0-1% |
| Litter | 20-50% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 5-30% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 5-35% |
| Bedrock | 1-10% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 15-65% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | 1-5% | 0-10% | 0-10% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 5-10% | 1-10% | 1-5% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 1-5% | 1-5% | 0-5% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 5-15% | 0-2% | 0-1% |
| >4.5 <= 13 | 0-5% | 1-5% | – | – |
| >13 <= 40 | 0-2% | – | – | – |
| >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 |
State 2
Shrub Dominated State
Community 2.1
Shrub Dominated Plant Community
Figure 7. Diabase Hills 12-16" pz. shrubby
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 40%. 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 State
Community 3.1
Shrub Dominated and Eroded Plant Community
Figure 8. Diabase Hills 12-16" pz. eroded
Shrubs like catclaw and whitethorn acacia; trees like mesquite, juniper, ocotillo, blue paloverde, 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. Small gravel sizes (1/4 inch) are inadequate to prevent soil movement on steep slopes when the plant cover has been depleted.
State 4
Exotic Invaded State
Community 4.1
Exotic Forb and Grass Plant Community
Non-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 juniper, and leave fire tolerant species like turbinella oak, mesquite, whitethorn, catclaw and mimosa.
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Dominant perennial grasses | 95–300 | ||||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 50–200 | – | ||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 20–70 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 5–50 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 5–50 | – | ||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 10–50 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–20 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 0–20 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 1–20 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–20 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 0–10 | – | ||
| 2 | Cool season grasses | 1–50 | ||||
| desert needlegrass | ACSP12 | Achnatherum speciosum | 1–50 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 0–10 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–10 | – | ||
| Indian ricegrass | ACHY | Achnatherum hymenoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| 3 | Misc. perennial grasses | 1–60 | ||||
| slender grama | BORE2 | Bouteloua repens | 0–30 | – | ||
| big galleta | PLRI3 | Pleuraphis rigida | 0–25 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 0–20 | – | ||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 0–10 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 0–10 | – | ||
| red grama | BOTR2 | Bouteloua trifida | 0–5 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 0–5 | – | ||
| southwestern bristlegrass | SESC2 | Setaria scheelei | 0–5 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–5 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–5 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 0–5 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 0–2 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 0–1 | – | ||
| vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 0–1 | – | ||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 0–1 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 0–1 | – | ||
| 4 | Annual grasses | 5–150 | ||||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 1–30 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 1–25 | – | ||
| small fescue | VUMI | Vulpia microstachys | 1–20 | – | ||
| Eastwood fescue | VUMIC | Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata | 1–20 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 1–20 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–20 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 1–20 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–15 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–1 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–1 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–1 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–1 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–1 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 5 | Perennial forbs | 20–100 | ||||
| shrubby deervetch | LORI3 | Lotus rigidus | 1–20 | – | ||
| longflower tube tongue | JULO3 | Justicia longii | 0–10 | – | ||
| slender janusia | JAGR | Janusia gracilis | 1–10 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 0–10 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 1–10 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 1–10 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 1–10 | – | ||
| Parry's false prairie-clover | MAPA7 | Marina parryi | 0–5 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 0–5 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 1–5 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLUM2 | Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana | 1–5 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–5 | – | ||
| plains blackfoot | MELE2 | Melampodium leucanthum | 0–5 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 1–5 | – | ||
| cliffbrake | PELLA | Pellaea | 0–5 | – | ||
| Parry's beardtongue | PEPA24 | Penstemon parryi | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert penstemon | PEPS | Penstemon pseudospectabilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coues' cassia | SECO10 | Senna covesii | 1–5 | – | ||
| climbing wartclub | BOSC | Boerhavia scandens | 0–5 | – | ||
| lipfern | CHEIL | Cheilanthes | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert trumpet | ERIN4 | Eriogonum inflatum | 1–5 | – | ||
| Mojave spurge | EUSC6 | Euphorbia schizoloba | 0–2 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert rosemallow | HICO | Hibiscus coulteri | 0–2 | – | ||
| sego lily | CANU3 | Calochortus nuttallii | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico groundsel | PANE7 | Packera neomexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| Oak Creek ragwort | PAQU8 | Packera quercetorum | 0–1 | – | ||
| toadflax penstemon | PELI2 | Penstemon linarioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| turpentinebroom | THMO | Thamnosma montana | 0–1 | – | ||
| branched noseburn | TRRA5 | Tragia ramosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Louisiana vetch | VILUL2 | Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana | 0–1 | – | ||
| Wright's deervetch | LOWR | Lotus wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| wavyleaf Indian paintbrush | CAAPM | Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona wrightwort | CAAR7 | Carlowrightia arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| ragged nettlespurge | JAMA | Jatropha macrorhiza | 0–1 | – | ||
| paleface | HIDE | Hibiscus denudatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Indian rushpea | HOGL2 | Hoffmannseggia glauca | 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 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| fleabane | ERIGE2 | Erigeron | 0–1 | – | ||
| spikemoss | SELAG | Selaginella | 0–1 | – | ||
| Lemmon's ragwort | SELE8 | Senecio lemmonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 0–1 | – | ||
| glandleaf milkwort | POMA7 | Polygala macradenia | 0–1 | – | ||
| scurfpea | PSORA2 | Psoralidium | 0–1 | – | ||
| canaigre dock | RUHY | Rumex hymenosepalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert tobacco | NIOB | Nicotiana obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| narrowleaf silverbush | ARLA12 | Argythamnia lanceolata | 0–1 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 0–1 | – | ||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 0–1 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| San Felipe dogweed | ADPO | Adenophyllum porophylloides | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico silverbush | ARNE2 | Argythamnia neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 0–1 | – | ||
| dense ayenia | AYMI | Ayenia microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 0–1 | – | ||
| 6 | Annual forbs | 5–150 | ||||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–25 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–25 | – | ||
| fivewing spiderling | BOIN | Boerhavia intermedia | 0–25 | – | ||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–25 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–20 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–20 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–15 | – | ||
| exserted Indian paintbrush | CAEXE | Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta | 0–15 | – | ||
| pitseed goosefoot | CHBE4 | Chenopodium berlandieri | 0–10 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 0–10 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–10 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–5 | – | ||
| desertparsley | LOMAT | Lomatium | 0–5 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSA | Lotus salsuginosus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–5 | – | ||
| lyreleaf jewelflower | STCA5 | Streptanthus carinatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 1–5 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–5 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–5 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–5 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| flatcrown buckwheat | ERDE6 | Eriogonum deflexum | 0–5 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–5 | – | ||
| thelypody | THELY | Thelypodium | 0–5 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–2 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–2 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–2 | – | ||
| spurge | EUPHO | Euphorbia | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 0–2 | – | ||
| miner's lettuce | CLPEP | Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata | 0–2 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| annual agoseris | AGHE2 | Agoseris heterophylla | 0–2 | – | ||
| purslane | PORTU | Portulaca | 0–2 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–2 | – | ||
| creamcups | PLCA5 | Platystemon californicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| miniature lupine | LUBI | Lupinus bicolor | 0–2 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–2 | – | ||
| Thurber's pepperweed | LETH2 | Lepidium thurberi | 0–2 | – | ||
| hollowleaf annual lupine | LUSU3 | Lupinus succulentus | 0–2 | – | ||
| Fendler's desertdandelion | MAFE | Malacothrix fendleri | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–1 | – | ||
| redstar | IPCO3 | Ipomoea coccinea | 0–1 | – | ||
| ivyleaf morning-glory | IPHE | Ipomoea hederacea | 0–1 | – | ||
| California goldfields | LACA7 | Lasthenia californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| woollyhead neststraw | STMI2 | Stylocline micropoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–1 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–1 | – | ||
| ragwort | SENEC | Senecio | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert unicorn-plant | PRAL4 | Proboscidea althaeifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–1 | – | ||
| brittle spineflower | CHBR | Chorizanthe brevicornu | 0–1 | – | ||
| Esteve's pincushion | CHST | Chaenactis stevioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| yellow tackstem | CAPA7 | Calycoseris parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| white tackstem | CAWR | Calycoseris wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| sacred thorn-apple | DAWR2 | Datura wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–1 | – | ||
| hairy prairie clover | DAMO | Dalea mollis | 0–1 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–1 | – | ||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 0–1 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Evergreen shrubs | 5–80 | ||||
| Sonoran scrub oak | QUTU2 | Quercus turbinella | 0–50 | – | ||
| narrowleaf yerba santa | ERAN2 | Eriodictyon angustifolium | 0–25 | – | ||
| desert ceanothus | CEGR | Ceanothus greggii | 0–20 | – | ||
| sugar sumac | RHOV | Rhus ovata | 0–5 | – | ||
| algerita | MATR3 | Mahonia trifoliolata | 0–5 | – | ||
| snapdragon penstemon | KEANM | Keckiella antirrhinoides ssp. microphylla | 0–2 | – | ||
| 8 | Large shrubs | 30–150 | ||||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 10–80 | – | ||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 5–50 | – | ||
| desert lavender | HYEM | Hyptis emoryi | 1–45 | – | ||
| ocotillo | FOSP2 | Fouquieria splendens | 5–20 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 0–10 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Berlandier's wolfberry | LYBE | Lycium berlandieri | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona desert-thorn | LYEX | Lycium exsertum | 0–5 | – | ||
| ambrosia leaf bur ragweed | AMAM2 | Ambrosia ambrosioides | 0–5 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–5 | – | ||
| Mexican bladdersage | SAME | Salazaria mexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona necklacepod | SOAR3 | Sophora arizonica | 0–2 | – | ||
| creosote bush | LATR2 | Larrea tridentata | 0–2 | – | ||
| pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Thurber's desert honeysuckle | ANTH2 | Anisacanthus thurberi | 0–1 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| desertbroom | BASA2 | Baccharis sarothroides | 0–1 | – | ||
| spiny hackberry | CEEH | Celtis ehrenbergiana | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert sweet | CHMI2 | Chamaebatiaria millefolium | 0–1 | – | ||
| Warnock's snakewood | COWA | Condalia warnockii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Florida hopbush | DOVI | Dodonaea viscosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOBC | Ziziphus obtusifolia var. canescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| jojoba | SICH | Simmondsia chinensis | 0–1 | – | ||
| mariola | PAIN2 | Parthenium incanum | 0–1 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–1 | – | ||
| 9 | Dominant half shrubs | 35–120 | ||||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 20–70 | – | ||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 5–25 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 1–15 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 0–10 | – | ||
| Parish's goldeneye | VIPA14 | Viguiera parishii | 0–10 | – | ||
| Eastern Mojave buckwheat | ERFA2 | Eriogonum fasciculatum | 0–10 | – | ||
| longleaf phlox | PHLO2 | Phlox longifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| American threefold | TRCA8 | Trixis californica | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's brickellbush | BRCO | Brickellia coulteri | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert zinnia | ZIAC | Zinnia acerosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| starry bedstraw | GAST | Galium stellatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| 10 | Succulents | 20–80 | ||||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 5–40 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 1–20 | – | ||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 1–10 | – | ||
| common sotol | DAWH2 | Dasylirion wheeleri | 1–10 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–5 | – | ||
| saguaro | CAGI10 | Carnegiea gigantea | 0–5 | – | ||
| buck-horn cholla | CYAC8 | Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa | 0–5 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–2 | – | ||
| Graham's nipple cactus | MAGR9 | Mammillaria grahamii | 0–1 | – | ||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 0–1 | – | ||
| dollarjoint pricklypear | OPCH | Opuntia chlorotica | 0–1 | – | ||
| teddybear cholla | CYBI9 | Cylindropuntia bigelovii | 0–1 | – | ||
| jumping cholla | CYFU10 | Cylindropuntia fulgida | 0–1 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| goldenflower century plant | AGCH2 | Agave chrysantha | 0–1 | – | ||
| Schott's century plant | AGSC3 | Agave schottii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Whipple cholla | CYWH | Cylindropuntia whipplei | 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 | – | ||
| 11 | Increaser half-shrubs | 5–50 | ||||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 1–30 | – | ||
| brittlebush | ENFA | Encelia farinosa | 0–15 | – | ||
| button brittlebush | ENFR | Encelia frutescens | 0–15 | – | ||
| turpentine bush | ERLA12 | Ericameria laricifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| narrowleaf goldenbush | ERLI6 | Ericameria linearifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| threadleaf snakeweed | GUMI | Gutierrezia microcephala | 0–1 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 12 | Trees | 15–100 | ||||
| blue paloverde | PAFL6 | Parkinsonia florida | 10–50 | – | ||
| crucifixion thorn | CAHO3 | Canotia holacantha | 0–40 | – | ||
| yellow paloverde | PAMI5 | Parkinsonia microphylla | 1–15 | – | ||
| western honey mesquite | PRGLT | Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | 0–5 | – | ||
| velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 0–5 | – | ||
| redberry juniper | JUCO11 | Juniperus coahuilensis | 0–5 | – | ||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–5 | – | ||
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 very susceptible to erosion in overgrazed areas like bed-grounds, livestock trails and lower slopes adjacent to water, because gravel size is inadequate in preventing soil loss.
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 smooth surfaces, due to a high cover of fine gravels with some cobbles and stone. When the soils are dry, it produces limited runoff. It produces significant runoff when heavy rain falls on snow or moist soils.
Recreational uses
Hunting, camping, horseback riding, backpacking, rock hounding, photography.
Wood products
Limited harvest of fuel-wood, fence posts and stays from mesquite, juniper and saguaro.
Other products
There is some native harvest of food plants like thistle, prickly pear tunas and mescal. There is limited harvest of herbs like herbaceous sage, yerba santa and mormon tea.
Supporting information
Type locality
| Location 1: Pinal County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T7S R18E S31 |
| General legal description | Miller Dry Camp Allotment, below Table Mountain |
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott
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 | |
| 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):
-
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):
-
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:
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The 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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