Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R038XB215AZ
Clayey Hills 16-20" p.z.
Accessed: 12/21/2024
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 38.2 - Middle Mogollon Transition
Elevations range from 4000 to 5500 feet and precipitation averages 16 to 20 inches per year. Vegetation includes turbinella oak, Wright silktassel, hollyleaf buckthorn, desert buckbrush, one-seed juniper, alligator juniper, pinyon, algerita, sugar sumac, prairie junegrass, blue grama, curly mesquite, bottlebrush squirreltail, muttongrass, cane beardgrass, plains lovegrass and bullgrass. The soil temperature regime ranges from thermic to mesic and the soil moisture regime is aridic ustic. 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
Similar site to TES (Terrestrial Ecosystem site)map unit numbers 430, 441, 462, 464 and 465, on the Prescott national Forest in Yavapai county in central Arizona.
Associated sites
| R038XB202AZ |
Clayey Upland 16-20" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R038XB203AZ |
Clay Loam Upland 16-20" p.z. |
| R038XB209AZ |
Loamy Upland 16-20" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R041XC301AZ |
Basalt Hills 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R038XA117AZ |
Volcanic Hills 12-16" p.z. Clayey |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
(1) Juniperus |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) eriogonum wrightii |
| Herbaceous |
(1) bouteloua curtipendula |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the middle to upper elevations of the Mogollon Transition zone, south of the Rim in central Arizona. It occurs on rugged mountain slopes, ridge-tops and mesa sides.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Hill
(2) Mountain slope (3) Ridge |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 4,000 – 5,900 ft |
| Slope | 15 – 70% |
| Aspect | N, E, S |
Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area averages 16 to 20 inches annually. The winter-summer rainfall ratio ranges from about 60/40% in the western part of the area to 45/55% in the eastern part. Summer rains fall July through September; and 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 5 to 35 inches per year and can occur from November through April. Snow seldom persists for more than a week. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is moderate to low all year. Average annual air temperatures range from 51 to 60 degrees F (thermic temperature regime). Daytime temperatures in the summer are commonly in the low 90’s. Freezing temperatures are common from October through April. 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) | 180 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 240 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 20 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 clayey throughout (smectitic) and well drained. They have formed in residuum and slope alluvium from basalt, andesite, related volcanic tuffs and ash, and quartzite. The surface textures are clayloam to clay. Surfaces are well covered by dark colored; gravels, cobbles and stones. The effective rooting depth is limited by hard bedrock at 10 to 20 inches. Runoff is moderate to high on moist soils. The erosion hazard is slight due to gravel, cobble and rock covers.
The soils mapped on this site include: SSA663 Gila-Duncan area MU's 13 Cabezon & 34 Luzena and SSA675 San Carlos IR area MU's 9 Beaumain, 16 Beaumain & Budlamp, 44 Beaumain & Kuykendall, 47 Beaumain & Limpia family, 69 Magoffin & Beaumain, 22 Cherrycow family, 27 Coppercan, 43 Hurds family & Brunopeak, 46 Kuykendall & Woodcutter, 67 Ustorthents & Haplustolls, 68 Argiustolls & Haplustepts, 88 Turist family.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Residuum
–
basalt
(2) Slope alluvium – andesite |
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Very cobbly clay (2) Cobbly clay loam (3) Stony clay loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Clayey |
| Drainage class | Moderately well drained to well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderately slow to slow |
| Soil depth | 10 – 20 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 25 – 50% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 5 – 15% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
0.8 – 2.4 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
5% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7 – 8.2 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
15 – 45% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
1 – 10% |
Ecological dynamics
The historic native plant community is a mixed grassland with lesser amounts of trees, shrubs, succulents, forbs and grasses. Southern exposures have a grassland aspect. Northern exposures have a mixed shrub, tree and grassland community. The plant community includes a diverse flora of native annual grasses and forbs of both the winter and summer seasons. Periodic wildfires occured at moderate intervals (10 to 15 years) and helped maintain a balance between herbaceous plants and shrubs. In the absence of fire for longer periods, shrubby species, trees and cacti can become dominant. The interactions of drought, fire and continuous livestock grazing can, over time, result in the loss of palatable perennial grasses and half shrubs. In "El Nino" years following summer drought, annual forbs like; goldeneye, bitterweed and sunflower can dominate the plant community for a short time, especially on warm exposures, until perennial grasses can recover their basal cover. 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
Figure 4. State and Transition, Volcanic Hills, fine 16-20"
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 text
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Grassland State
Community 1.1
Historic Native Plant Community
Figure 5. Volcanic Hills, clayey 16-20" pz. photos
The historic, native, plant community is a grassland dominated by sideoats and blue grama, green sprangletop, plains lovegrass and cane beardgrass and dotted with trees and shrubs. Cool season grasses like prairie junegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail and muttongrass are important in the plant community. A rich flora of native annual forbs and grasses, of both the winter and summer seasons, exist in the plant community. Periodic, naturally occuring, wildfires were important in maintaining the potential plant community. Northern exposures have a higher percentage of cool season grasses and trees and shrubs than will occur on south slopes. Grass cover on north aspects will range from 10-30% with 20-35% cover of trees and shrubs. North slopes will also be more likely to experience tree increases especially singleleaf pinon and oak species. Southern exposures will have a higher percentage of perennial grasses and half shrubs in the plant community. Grass cover on south aspects will range from 25-45% with 10-15% cover of shrubs. Shrubs like prickly pear, wait a bit mimosa, mesquite and juniper can increase to dominate southern exposures. At elevations near precipitation zone upper boundaries the northern slopes will look more like the woodland plant community of the 20 inch precip zone in MLRA 39. At lower precipitaion zone boundaries southern exposures will look more like the plant community of the site in the 12 to 16 inch precip zone of MLRA 38.
Figure 6. 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 | 610 | 800 | 1100 |
| Shrub/Vine | 150 | 400 | 800 |
| Forb | 35 | 150 | 450 |
| Tree | 10 | 50 | 150 |
| Total | 805 | 1400 | 2500 |
Table 6. Ground cover
| Tree foliar cover | 0-1% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana foliar cover | 2-8% |
| Grass/grasslike foliar cover | 4-8% |
| Forb foliar cover | 0-1% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0-1% |
| Biological crusts | 0-1% |
| Litter | 15-55% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 25-50% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 5-15% |
| Bedrock | 5-15% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 3-15% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | – | 0-5% | 0-1% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 0-2% | 2-10% | 1-5% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 1-5% | 10-20% | 1-15% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 1-10% | 0-10% | – |
| >4.5 <= 13 | 0-10% | 5-20% | – | – |
| >13 <= 40 | 0-10% | – | – | – |
| >40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
| >80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
| >120 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 7. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ3812, 38.2 16-20" p.z. all sites. Growth begins in the spring and continues into the summer and 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 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
State 2
Juniper and Shrub Dominated State
Community 2.1
Juniper and Shrub Dominated Plant Community
Perennial grass canopy cover is reduced due to the interactions of drought, grazing and / or fire. Juniper, turbinella oak and cacti can increase to dominate the overstory plant community. Juniper increases from areas of rock outcrop, that are protected from severe fire due to lack of fuel. When juniper cover exceeds 30%, and size class exceeds 6-8 ft., fire may no longer be effective in restoring a balance to the plant community. Annuals , both native and non-native, can dominate the understory. 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
Shrubs like, whitethorn acacia, mesquite, wait a bit mimosa and turbinella oak; succulents like, prickley pear and cane cholla and trees like, juniper species and singleleaf pinyon can increase to dominate the site in the absence of fire for very long periods of time. Under these circumstances, northern aspects can resemble woodlands. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses can dominate the understory. The major woody plants are fire resistant once established. Catastrophic fires would remove less tolerant species like pinyon and 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.
State 4
Exotic - Invaded state
Community 4.1
Exotic Forb and Grass Invaded Plant Community
Non-native annual grasses and forbs like; red brome, cheatgrass, and wild oats, can invade and dominate areas of the site with very low perennial grass cover. 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.
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 | mid grasses | 400–500 | ||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 100–350 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 50–200 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 10–150 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 20–100 | – | ||
| 2 | cool season grasses | 50–100 | ||||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 10–75 | – | ||
| muttongrass | POFE | Poa fendleriana | 0–50 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 5–50 | – | ||
| muttongrass | POFEL | Poa fendleriana ssp. longiligula | 0–25 | – | ||
| bluebunch wheatgrass | PSSP6 | Pseudoroegneria spicata | 0–25 | – | ||
| desert needlegrass | ACSP12 | Achnatherum speciosum | 0–20 | – | ||
| 3 | misc. perennial grasses | 50–200 | ||||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 10–50 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 10–50 | – | ||
| vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 0–50 | – | ||
| Texas bluestem | SCCI2 | Schizachyrium cirratum | 0–50 | – | ||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 0–50 | – | ||
| James' galleta | PLJA | Pleuraphis jamesii | 0–25 | – | ||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 0–25 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–25 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMUE | Tridens muticus var. elongatus | 0–25 | – | ||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 0–25 | – | ||
| deergrass | MURI2 | Muhlenbergia rigens | 0–25 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–25 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPUP6 | Aristida purpurea var. purpurea | 0–25 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–20 | – | ||
| southwestern bristlegrass | SESC2 | Setaria scheelei | 0–20 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–15 | – | ||
| New Mexico muhly | MUPA2 | Muhlenbergia pauciflora | 0–15 | – | ||
| bullgrass | MUEM | Muhlenbergia emersleyi | 0–10 | – | ||
| slender muhly | MUTE4 | Muhlenbergia tenuifolia | 0–10 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 0–10 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–10 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–5 | – | ||
| 4 | annual grasses | 10–100 | ||||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 0–100 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 0–100 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–100 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 20–100 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 20–100 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–100 | – | ||
| sticky sprangletop | LEVI5 | Leptochloa viscida | 0–50 | – | ||
| small fescue | VUMI | Vulpia microstachys | 0–50 | – | ||
| Eastwood fescue | VUMIC | Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata | 0–50 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 0–50 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–50 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–50 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–50 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–50 | – | ||
| little barley | HOPU | Hordeum pusillum | 0–30 | – | ||
| canyon cupgrass | ERLE7 | Eriochloa lemmonii | 0–25 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPE | Eragrostis pectinacea | 0–25 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–25 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–25 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–25 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–25 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–25 | – | ||
| 5 | short grasses | 100–200 | ||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 5–50 | – | ||
| purple grama | BORA | Bouteloua radicosa | 5–50 | – | ||
| slender grama | BORE2 | Bouteloua repens | 5–50 | – | ||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 5–50 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 1–50 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMU | Tridens muticus | 0–25 | – | ||
| common wolfstail | LYPH | Lycurus phleoides | 0–25 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 0–25 | – | ||
| sprucetop grama | BOCH | Bouteloua chondrosioides | 0–10 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 6 | perennial forbs | 25–150 | ||||
| white sagebrush | ARLUM2 | Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. mexicana | 5–50 | – | ||
| Wright's thimblehead | HYWR | Hymenothrix wrightii | 1–50 | – | ||
| tarragon | ARDR4 | Artemisia dracunculus | 1–25 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 1–15 | – | ||
| Indian rushpea | HOGL2 | Hoffmannseggia glauca | 1–15 | – | ||
| largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 0–15 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–15 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 2–15 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 1–15 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–15 | – | ||
| prairie spiderwort | TROC | Tradescantia occidentalis | 0–10 | – | ||
| hillside vervain | VENE | Verbena neomexicana | 0–10 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 0–10 | – | ||
| fineleaf hymenopappus | HYFIL | Hymenopappus filifolius var. lugens | 0–10 | – | ||
| El Paso skyrocket | IPTH2 | Ipomopsis thurberi | 0–10 | – | ||
| gumhead | GYGL | Gymnosperma glutinosum | 0–10 | – | ||
| Wright's deervetch | LOWR | Lotus wrightii | 0–10 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 1–10 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| Colorado four o'clock | MIMU | Mirabilis multiflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| lemon beebalm | MOCIA | Monarda citriodora ssp. austromontana | 0–5 | – | ||
| pearly globe amaranth | GONI | Gomphrena nitida | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona wrightwort | CAAR7 | Carlowrightia arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| fleabane | ERIGE2 | Erigeron | 1–5 | – | ||
| Arizona snakecotton | FRAR2 | Froelichia arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| Cooley's bundleflower | DECO2 | Desmanthus cooleyi | 0–5 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| Braun's rockcress | ARPE3 | Arabis perstellata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Forb, perennial | 2FP | Forb, perennial | 0–5 | – | ||
| dwarf Indian mallow | ABPA3 | Abutilon parvulum | 0–5 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 0–5 | – | ||
| vetch | VICIA | Vicia | 0–5 | – | ||
| branched noseburn | TRRA5 | Tragia ramosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| Rusby's globemallow | SPRU2 | Sphaeralcea rusbyi | 0–5 | – | ||
| Parry's beardtongue | PEPA24 | Penstemon parryi | 0–5 | – | ||
| canaigre dock | RUHY | Rumex hymenosepalus | 0–5 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–5 | – | ||
| Lemmon's ragwort | SELE8 | Senecio lemmonii | 0–5 | – | ||
| longflower tube tongue | JULO3 | Justicia longii | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–2 | – | ||
| tall mountain larkspur | DESC | Delphinium scaposum | 0–2 | – | ||
| sego lily | CANU3 | Calochortus nuttallii | 0–2 | – | ||
| wavyleaf Indian paintbrush | CAAPM | Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii | 0–2 | – | ||
| ragged nettlespurge | JAMA | Jatropha macrorhiza | 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 | – | ||
| desert penstemon | PEPS | Penstemon pseudospectabilis | 0–1 | – | ||
| scurfpea | PSORA2 | Psoralidium | 0–1 | – | ||
| 7 | annual forbs | 10–300 | ||||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–75 | – | ||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–75 | – | ||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 0–50 | – | ||
| bitter rubberweed | HYOD | Hymenoxys odorata | 0–50 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–50 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–50 | – | ||
| Forb, annual | 2FA | Forb, annual | 0–50 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–50 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 5–50 | – | ||
| creamcups | PLCA5 | Platystemon californicus | 0–50 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 1–50 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 1–50 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–50 | – | ||
| trefoil | LOTUS | Lotus | 0–50 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–50 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–50 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 0–50 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–50 | – | ||
| hollowleaf annual lupine | LUSU3 | Lupinus succulentus | 0–25 | – | ||
| miniature lupine | LUBI | Lupinus bicolor | 0–25 | – | ||
| hairy caltrop | KAHI | Kallstroemia hirsutissima | 0–25 | – | ||
| California goldfields | LACA7 | Lasthenia californica | 0–25 | – | ||
| Goodding's bladderpod | LEGO2 | Lesquerella gooddingii | 0–25 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–25 | – | ||
| Thurber's pepperweed | LETH2 | Lepidium thurberi | 0–25 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–25 | – | ||
| purslane | PORTU | Portulaca | 0–25 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–25 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSA | Lotus salsuginosus | 0–25 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–25 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–25 | – | ||
| fivewing spiderling | BOIN | Boerhavia intermedia | 0–25 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–25 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 0–25 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–25 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–25 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–25 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–25 | – | ||
| spurge | EUPHO | Euphorbia | 0–25 | – | ||
| curlycup gumweed | GRSQ | Grindelia squarrosa | 0–25 | – | ||
| common sunflower | HEAN3 | Helianthus annuus | 0–25 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–15 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–15 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–15 | – | ||
| ragwort | SENEC | Senecio | 0–15 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–15 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–15 | – | ||
| New Mexico fanpetals | SINE | Sida neomexicana | 0–15 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–15 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–15 | – | ||
| evening primrose | OENOT | Oenothera | 0–15 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–15 | – | ||
| desert unicorn-plant | PRAL4 | Proboscidea althaeifolia | 0–15 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–15 | – | ||
| sweet four o'clock | MILO2 | Mirabilis longiflora | 0–10 | – | ||
| annual agoseris | AGHE2 | Agoseris heterophylla | 0–10 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–5 | – | ||
| desertparsley | LOMAT | Lomatium | 0–5 | – | ||
| grassleaf lettuce | LAGRA | Lactuca graminifolia var. arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 8 | deciduous shrubs | 25–100 | ||||
| Texas mulberry | MOMI | Morus microphylla | 0–25 | – | ||
| cliff fendlerbush | FERU | Fendlera rupicola | 0–25 | – | ||
| singleleaf ash | FRAN2 | Fraxinus anomala | 0–15 | – | ||
| singleleaf ash | FRANL | Fraxinus anomala var. lowellii | 0–15 | – | ||
| common hoptree | PTTRA | Ptelea trifoliata ssp. angustifolia | 0–15 | – | ||
| desert sweet | CHMI2 | Chamaebatiaria millefolium | 0–15 | – | ||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 0–15 | – | ||
| New Mexico locust | RONE | Robinia neomexicana | 0–15 | – | ||
| Arizona necklacepod | SOAR3 | Sophora arizonica | 0–10 | – | ||
| currant | RIBES | Ribes | 0–10 | – | ||
| ambrosia leaf bur ragweed | AMAM2 | Ambrosia ambrosioides | 0–10 | – | ||
| Thurber's desert honeysuckle | ANTH2 | Anisacanthus thurberi | 0–10 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 0–10 | – | ||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 0–10 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–5 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–5 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–5 | – | ||
| pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 0–2 | – | ||
| 9 | half shrubs | 20–150 | ||||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 0–50 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 2–50 | – | ||
| Wright's snakeroot | AGWR2 | Ageratina wrightii | 0–25 | – | ||
| California brickellbush | BRCA3 | Brickellia californica | 0–20 | – | ||
| Coulter's brickellbush | BRCO | Brickellia coulteri | 0–15 | – | ||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 0–10 | – | ||
| yerba de pasmo | BAPT | Baccharis pteronioides | 0–10 | – | ||
| starry bedstraw | GAST | Galium stellatum | 0–10 | – | ||
| longleaf phlox | PHLO2 | Phlox longifolia | 0–10 | – | ||
| heartleaf goldeneye | VICO | Viguiera cordifolia | 0–10 | – | ||
| toothleaf goldeneye | VIDEL2 | Viguiera dentata var. lancifolia | 0–10 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 0–5 | – | ||
| spiny menodora | MESP2 | Menodora spinescens | 0–5 | – | ||
| 10 | succulents | 20–150 | ||||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 10–100 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 5–50 | – | ||
| goldenflower century plant | AGCH2 | Agave chrysantha | 0–35 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–25 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 1–20 | – | ||
| common sotol | DAWH2 | Dasylirion wheeleri | 0–15 | – | ||
| Palmer's century plant | AGPA3 | Agave palmeri | 0–15 | – | ||
| Parry's agave | AGPA4 | Agave parryi | 0–15 | – | ||
| Schott's century plant | AGSC3 | Agave schottii | 0–15 | – | ||
| Whipple cholla | CYWH | Cylindropuntia whipplei | 0–10 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 0–10 | – | ||
| twistspine pricklypear | OPMA2 | Opuntia macrorhiza | 0–10 | – | ||
| dollarjoint pricklypear | OPCH | Opuntia chlorotica | 0–10 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–5 | – | ||
| Graham's nipple cactus | MAGR9 | Mammillaria grahamii | 1–5 | – | ||
| Arizona hedgehog cactus | ECCOA | Echinocereus coccineus var. arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Engelmann's hedgehog cactus | ECEN | Echinocereus engelmannii | 0–2 | – | ||
| pinkflower hedgehog cactus | ECFE | Echinocereus fendleri | 0–2 | – | ||
| spinystar | ESVI2 | Escobaria vivipara | 0–1 | – | ||
| 11 | increaser half-shrubs | 0–50 | ||||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 1–30 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–15 | – | ||
| turpentine bush | ERLA12 | Ericameria laricifolia | 0–15 | – | ||
| narrowleaf goldenbush | ERLI6 | Ericameria linearifolia | 0–10 | – | ||
| 12 | evergreen shrubs | 50–300 | ||||
| Sonoran scrub oak | QUTU2 | Quercus turbinella | 10–200 | – | ||
| desert ceanothus | CEGR | Ceanothus greggii | 5–100 | – | ||
| redberry buckthorn | RHCRC | Rhamnus crocea ssp. crocea | 0–25 | – | ||
| canyon live oak | QUCH2 | Quercus chrysolepis | 0–15 | – | ||
| Palmer oak | QUPA10 | Quercus palmeri | 0–15 | – | ||
| California buckthorn | FRCA12 | Frangula californica | 0–15 | – | ||
| Wright's silktassel | GAWR3 | Garrya wrightii | 0–15 | – | ||
| red barberry | MAHA4 | Mahonia haematocarpa | 0–15 | – | ||
| algerita | MATR3 | Mahonia trifoliolata | 0–15 | – | ||
| curl-leaf mountain mahogany | CELE3 | Cercocarpus ledifolius | 0–15 | – | ||
| alderleaf mountain mahogany | CEMO2 | Cercocarpus montanus | 0–15 | – | ||
| birchleaf mountain mahogany | CEMOG | Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber | 0–15 | – | ||
| Pringle manzanita | ARPRP | Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. pringlei | 0–15 | – | ||
| pointleaf manzanita | ARPU5 | Arctostaphylos pungens | 0–15 | – | ||
| Mexican cliffrose | PUME | Purshia mexicana | 0–10 | – | ||
| stretchberry | FOPUP | Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens | 0–10 | – | ||
| Apache plume | FAPA | Fallugia paradoxa | 0–5 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 13 | trees | 20–150 | ||||
| redberry juniper | JUCO11 | Juniperus coahuilensis | 0–50 | – | ||
| alligator juniper | JUDE2 | Juniperus deppeana | 0–50 | – | ||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–50 | – | ||
| Arizona white oak | QUAR | Quercus arizonica | 0–25 | – | ||
| Emory oak | QUEM | Quercus emoryi | 0–25 | – | ||
| gray oak | QUGR3 | Quercus grisea | 0–25 | – | ||
| Utah juniper | JUOS | Juniperus osteosperma | 0–25 | – | ||
| netleaf hackberry | CELAR | Celtis laevigata var. reticulata | 0–15 | – | ||
| blue paloverde | PAFL6 | Parkinsonia florida | 0–10 | – | ||
| velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 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 ridgetops. North slopes are little used. Slopes greater than 50% and areas with very cobbly surfaces limit grazing use by cattle. Areas of rock outcrop and rock slides 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 mountain and grassland wildlife species. It is a foraging area for elk.
Hydrological functions
This site has very rough surfaces, due to a high cover of gravels, cobbles and stones, which act to hold water on the site. 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, photography.
Wood products
Limited harvest of fuel-wood, fence posts and stays from pinyon, juniper and oak species.
Other products
There is some native harvest of food plants like; acorns, juniper berries, pinyon nuts, mulberries, wild onions, grass nuts, thistle, prickley pear tunas and mescal.
There is some harvest of beargrass and skunkbush sumac as fiber for basket making.
There is some harvest of pinyon pine, pitch for waterproofing baskets.
There is some harvest of herbaceous sage for a variety of uses.
Supporting information
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) | Dave Womack, Emilio Carrillo |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | USDA NRCS Tucson Area Office |
| Date | 05/09/2008 |
| Approved by | |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
Rills are very uncommon due to the high rock fragment cover and perennial grass plant density on this site. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are 1-2 feet in length and broken by rock fragments and frequent perennial grass plant bases. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
High rock fragments and perennial grass plant cover reduce the incidence of erosional pedestals. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
3-15% -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
None present on this site. -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
None present on this site. -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Litter moves 1-2 feet before being trapped by rock fragments or perennial grass plant bases. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface stability values range from 5-6. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Weak granular to moderate fine subangular blocky. 5YR 4/2 to 10YR 5/2 dry, 5YR 3/3 to 10YR 3/3 moist. Thickness to 2 inches. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial grasses are the dominant in the plant community and contribute the most towards infiltration. Plants are well distributed across site with average spacing of 1-2 feet between perennial grass plants. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None present 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:
warm season mid grasses >> other warm season grasses = cool season grasses = evergreen shrubsSub-dominant:
short grasses = perennial forbs = annual grasses = annual forbs. (In el nino years annual forbs and grasses >= warm season mid grasses).Other:
deciduous shrubs = half shrubs = succulentsAdditional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Some. Approximately 30-40% of basal cover of perennial grasses is lost in prolonged drought. 10-15% of shrub canopy is lost during prolonged drought. Desert ceanothus may experience 50-90% mortality in prolonged drought. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
1400 -
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:
one seed juniper, red berry juniper, turbinella oak (north slopes). Prickly pear, mesquite, catclaw and white thorn acacia (south slopes). -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Not affected following several years of prolonged regional drought.
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