Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R040XA106AZ
Limy Upland, Deep 10"-13" p.z.
Accessed: 12/03/2024
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): 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
| R040XA110AZ |
Limy Slopes 10"-13" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R040XA111AZ |
Limy Upland 10"-13" p.z. |
| R040XA114AZ |
Loamy Upland 10"-13" p.z. |
| R040XA115AZ |
Sandy Wash 10"-13" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R040XB208AZ |
Limy Upland, Deep 7"-10" p.z. |
|---|
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
(1) Parkinsonia microphylla |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Larrea tridentata |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Dasyochloa pulchella |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the upper elevations of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona. It occurs on fan terraces, old stream terraces and ridge-tops.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Fan piedmont
(2) Terrace |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 2,200 – 3,600 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) | 265 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 0 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 13 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 deep and moderately deep soils formed in limy and gravelly loamy alluvium or colluvium of mixed origin. They are calcareous throughout. Some soil series have lime cemented layers at moderate depths (20-40 inches). Soil surfaces are well covered with rocks and gravels. Plant-soil moisture relationships are fair.
Soils mapped on this site include: SSA-661 Eastern Pinal-Southern Gila Counties MU' Stagecoach-490 & 665; SSA-666 Northwest Cochise County MU's Stagecoach-423 & Rillino-423; SSA669 Eastern Pima County MU's Stagecoach-22, 49, 60 & 78; SSA-703 Tohono O'odham area MU's Stagecoach-16 & 45, Vado-31 & 60.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Gravelly sandy loam (2) Very gravelly sandy loam (3) Cobbly sandy loam |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Somewhat excessively drained to well drained |
| Permeability class | Rapid to moderately rapid |
| Soil depth | 20 – 60 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 20 – 85% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 15% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
2.1 – 5 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
5 – 30% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.8 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
15 – 65% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
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
Figure 4. State and Transition, Limy Upland, deep 10-13" pz.
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 5 submodel, plant communities
State 6 submodel, plant communities
State 7 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Historical Climax Plant Community
Community 1.1
Historical Climax Plant Community
The potential plant community is a diverse community of desert trees, shrubs, cacti, and perennial forbs and grasses. With continuous heavy grazing, herbaceous and suffrutescent forage species are replaced by increases in shrubs, cacti and trees. Well developed gravel covers help protect the soil from erosion. This site has a cycle of dominance by saguaro, alternating with large shrubs and trees that act as nurse plants for the giant cacti. This cycle takes approximately 300 years and starts from exceptionally wet years (El Nino) where saguaro establishes in large numbers.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrub/Vine | 80 | 250 | 375 |
| Grass/Grasslike | 11 | 50 | 220 |
| Forb | 3 | 50 | 125 |
| Tree | 5 | 50 | 100 |
| Total | 99 | 400 | 820 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0-1% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-3% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 0-1% |
| Forb basal cover | 0-1% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 5-25% |
| Litter | 5-45% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 20-85% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0-15% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 5-45% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | 0-1% | 0-10% | 0-10% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 0-2% | 1-10% | 1-10% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 1-5% | 0-2% | 0-5% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | 0-1% | 1-15% | 0-1% | 0-1% |
| >4.5 <= 13 | 1-10% | 0-2% | – | – |
| >13 <= 40 | 0-1% | – | – | – |
| >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
Exotic perennial grasses with natives
Community 2.1
Exotic perennial grasses with natives
This community occurs where bufflegrass and / or fountain grass invade the native plant community. These species occupy the niches of low shrubs like ratany, desert zinnia, brittlebush and grasses like black grama, red grama and slim tridens.
State 3
Exotic perennial grasses and fire
Community 3.1
Exotic perennial grasses and fire
This community occurs where a native plant community that has been invaded by bufflegrass or fountain grass has burned one or more times. Increasing amounts of bufflegrass leads to more uniform fine fuels. In areas adjacent to roads and urban areas the risk of repeated fires will increase. As fire frequency increases the dominance of the exotic grasses increase.
State 4
Native trees, cacti, shrubs and fire
Community 4.1
Native trees, cacti, shrubs and fire
This plant community occurs as a result of a single hot season fire. Creosotebush, whitethorn, paloverde and saguaro can be severely impacted and may take long periods of time (30-50 years) to recover to pre-fire levels. Perennial and annual grasses and forbs dominate the community for some time until shrubs like ocotillo, whitethorn and jojoba can recover. This plant community can produce enough herbaceous fuel from native species of grasses and / or forbs to carry fire in El Nino years or after unusually wet summers. The natural incidence of fire in this MLRA is very low and fires are much more common from man-made ignitions. Areas of the site close to urban zones or along heavily travelled roads and highways will experience a higher rate of fires.
State 5
Native plant community with exotic annuals
Community 5.1
Native plant community with exotic annuals
This plant community occurs where the native community has been invaded by species like red brome and / or schismus. Red brome occupies the niche of the native winter annual forbs and grasses. This exotic annual grass will fluctuate from nearly nothing in a dry winter to dominance of the understory plant community in a El Nino winter.
State 6
Exotic annuals and fire
Community 6.1
Exotic annuals and fire
This plant community occurs where a native plant community which has been invaded by red brome and / or schismus, and has burned repeatedly. As fires become more frequent the native trees, shrubs and succulents are removed from the plant community and red brome becomes dominant. In areas of the site near urban areas and along heavily travelled roads this will be a more common occurence due to an increased source of ignitions.
State 7
HCPC 2 - Saguaro state
Community 7.1
HCPC 2 - Saguaro state
There is a 300 year cycle on this site that swings between dominance of native trees and large shrubs (that serve as nurse plants) and mature saguaro forest. Saguaro establishes wholesale in very favorable years (El Nino years like 1979 and 1983) only in the presence of plentiful nurse plants like paloverde, mesquite, whitethorn and creosote. As saguaro plants top their nurse plants (40-60 years) the trees and shrubs begin to die. Saguaro stands reach maturity at 150 to 200 years and begin to diminish over the next 100 years as the large shrubs and trees come back into the plant community.
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 | Suffrutescent grasses | 5–50 | ||||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 5–50 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 0–15 | – | ||
| 2 | Subdominant perennial grasses | 5–50 | ||||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 1–25 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 0–20 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 0–20 | – | ||
| big galleta | PLRI3 | Pleuraphis rigida | 0–15 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMU | Tridens muticus | 0–10 | – | ||
| red grama | BOTR2 | Bouteloua trifida | 0–10 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 0–10 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 0–5 | – | ||
| 3 | Misc. perennial grasses | 0–20 | ||||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 0–20 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–15 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–10 | – | ||
| desert needlegrass | ACSP12 | Achnatherum speciosum | 0–7 | – | ||
| hairy woollygrass | ERPI5 | Erioneuron pilosum | 0–7 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 0–1 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–1 | – | ||
| spike dropseed | SPCO4 | Sporobolus contractus | 0–1 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–1 | – | ||
| mesa dropseed | SPFL2 | Sporobolus flexuosus | 0–1 | – | ||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| 4 | Annual grasses | 1–100 | ||||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 1–50 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–15 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 0–15 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 0–15 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–15 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 0–10 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–5 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–5 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPEP2 | Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea | 0–2 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–1 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 5 | Perennial forbs | 2–25 | ||||
| paleface | HIDE | Hibiscus denudatus | 0–10 | – | ||
| slender janusia | JAGR | Janusia gracilis | 0–10 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPIP4 | Machaeranthera pinnatifida ssp. pinnatifida var. pinnatifida | 1–10 | – | ||
| Coues' cassia | SECO10 | Senna covesii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Parry's false prairie-clover | MAPA7 | Marina parryi | 0–5 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 1–5 | – | ||
| dense ayenia | AYMI | Ayenia microphylla | 0–5 | – | ||
| hairyseed bahia | BAAB | Bahia absinthifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 0–5 | – | ||
| leatherweed | CRPOP | Croton pottsii var. pottsii | 0–5 | – | ||
| red-gland spurge | CHME5 | Chamaesyce melanadenia | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 0–5 | – | ||
| Mojave woodyaster | XYTOT | Xylorhiza tortifolia var. tortifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| hairy five eyes | CHSO | Chamaesaracha sordida | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert trumpet | ERIN4 | Eriogonum inflatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 0–2 | – | ||
| California fagonbush | FALA | Fagonia laevis | 0–2 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 0–2 | – | ||
| plains blackfoot | MELE2 | Melampodium leucanthum | 0–2 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert tobacco | NIOBO | Nicotiana obtusifolia var. obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parry's beardtongue | PEPA24 | Penstemon parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–1 | – | ||
| mesquite mistletoe | PHCA8 | Phoradendron californicum | 0–1 | – | ||
| glandleaf milkwort | POMA7 | Polygala macradenia | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| fringed twinevine | FUCYC | Funastrum cynanchoides ssp. cynanchoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| Davis Mountain mock vervain | GLBIC | Glandularia bipinnatifida var. ciliata | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert rosemallow | HICO | Hibiscus coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| spearleaf | MAPA9 | Matelea parvifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| San Felipe dogweed | ADPO | Adenophyllum porophylloides | 0–1 | – | ||
| narrowleaf silverbush | ARLA12 | Argythamnia lanceolata | 0–1 | – | ||
| climbing wartclub | BOSC | Boerhavia scandens | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert mariposa lily | CAKE | Calochortus kennedyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| naked mariposa lily | CANU2 | Calochortus nudus | 0–1 | – | ||
| wild dwarf morning-glory | EVAR | Evolvulus arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| tall mountain larkspur | DESC | Delphinium scaposum | 0–1 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–1 | – | ||
| caliche globemallow | SPLA | Sphaeralcea laxa | 0–1 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coulter's wrinklefruit | TECO | Tetraclea coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| rue of the mountains | THTE2 | Thamnosma texana | 0–1 | – | ||
| 6 | Annual forbs | 1–100 | ||||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–25 | – | ||
| cleftleaf wildheliotrope | PHCR | Phacelia crenulata | 0–25 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 1–25 | – | ||
| lyreleaf jewelflower | STCAA | Streptanthus carinatus ssp. arizonicus | 0–25 | – | ||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–25 | – | ||
| Arizona phacelia | PHAR13 | Phacelia arizonica | 0–25 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–20 | – | ||
| thelypody | THELY | Thelypodium | 0–15 | – | ||
| exserted Indian paintbrush | CAEXE | Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta | 0–15 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–15 | – | ||
| flatcrown buckwheat | ERDE6 | Eriogonum deflexum | 0–15 | – | ||
| Sonoran sandmat | CHMI7 | Chamaesyce micromera | 0–10 | – | ||
| smallflowered milkvetch | ASNU4 | Astragalus nuttallianus | 0–10 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–10 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–10 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–10 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–10 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–10 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–10 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSAB | Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| California goldfields | LACAC2 | Lasthenia californica ssp. californica | 0–5 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–5 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–5 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| mesa tansyaster | MATA | Machaeranthera tagetina | 0–5 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–5 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| wheelscale saltbush | ATEL | Atriplex elegans | 0–5 | – | ||
| pincushion flower | CHFR | Chaenactis fremontii | 0–5 | – | ||
| pitseed goosefoot | CHBE4 | Chenopodium berlandieri | 0–5 | – | ||
| brittle spineflower | CHBR | Chorizanthe brevicornu | 0–5 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–5 | – | ||
| buckwheat | ERIOG | Eriogonum | 0–2 | – | ||
| hyssopleaf sandmat | CHHY3 | Chamaesyce hyssopifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–2 | – | ||
| glandular threadplant | NEGL | Nemacladus glanduliferus | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–1 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–1 | – | ||
| California desertdandelion | MACA6 | Malacothrix californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| mesquite mistletoe | PHCA8 | Phoradendron californicum | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| Lindley's silverpuffs | MILI5 | Microseris lindleyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mojave desertstar | MOBE2 | Monoptilon bellioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| Nuttall's povertyweed | MONU | Monolepis nuttalliana | 0–1 | – | ||
| bristly nama | NAHI | Nama hispidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| flatspine stickseed | LAOCO | Lappula occidentalis var. occidentalis | 0–1 | – | ||
| Thurber's buckwheat | ERTH3 | Eriogonum thurberi | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona cottonrose | LOAR12 | Logfia arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mexican fireplant | EUHE4 | Euphorbia heterophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| dainty desert hideseed | EUMI2 | Eucrypta micrantha | 0–1 | – | ||
| spring pygmycudweed | EVVE | Evax verna | 0–1 | – | ||
| hairy desertsunflower | GECA2 | Geraea canescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–1 | – | ||
| California mustard | GULA4 | Guillenia lasiophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| Palmer's grapplinghook | HAPA7 | Harpagonella palmeri | 0–1 | – | ||
| bristly scaleseed | SPEC2 | Spermolepis echinata | 0–1 | – | ||
| woollyhead neststraw | STMI2 | Stylocline micropoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–1 | – | ||
| Louisiana vetch | VILU | Vicia ludoviciana | 0–1 | – | ||
| false carrot | YAMI | Yabea microcarpa | 0–1 | – | ||
| distant phacelia | PHDI | Phacelia distans | 0–1 | – | ||
| slimjim bean | PHFI3 | Phaseolus filiformis | 0–1 | – | ||
| Lemmon's ragwort | SELE8 | Senecio lemmonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| lipfern | CHEIL | Cheilanthes | 0–1 | – | ||
| Chiricahua Mountain sandmat | CHFL3 | Chamaesyce florida | 0–1 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| Abert's buckwheat | ERAB2 | Eriogonum abertianum | 0–1 | – | ||
| devil's spineflower | CHRI | Chorizanthe rigida | 0–1 | – | ||
| Esteve's pincushion | CHST | Chaenactis stevioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 0–1 | – | ||
| sand pygmyweed | CRCOC | Crassula connata var. connata | 0–1 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–1 | – | ||
| hairy prairie clover | DAMO | Dalea mollis | 0–1 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–1 | – | ||
| California suncup | CACA32 | Camissonia californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| browneyes | CACL4 | Camissonia claviformis | 0–1 | – | ||
| yellow tackstem | CAPA7 | Calycoseris parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| white tackstem | CAWR | Calycoseris wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitemargin sandmat | CHAL11 | Chamaesyce albomarginata | 0–1 | – | ||
| white easterbonnets | ANLA7 | Antheropeas lanosum | 0–1 | – | ||
| fringed amaranth | AMFI | Amaranthus fimbriatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Dominant large shrubs | 50–200 | ||||
| creosote bush | LATRT | Larrea tridentata var. tridentata | 50–180 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 0–100 | – | ||
| ocotillo | FOSP2 | Fouquieria splendens | 0–25 | – | ||
| 8 | Dominant half shrubs | 25–100 | ||||
| desert zinnia | ZIAC | Zinnia acerosa | 20–50 | – | ||
| triangle bur ragweed | AMDE4 | Ambrosia deltoidea | 0–25 | – | ||
| brittlebush | ENFA | Encelia farinosa | 0–20 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 1–20 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 0–20 | – | ||
| whitestem paperflower | PSCO2 | Psilostrophe cooperi | 1–10 | – | ||
| woody crinklemat | TICAC | Tiquilia canescens var. canescens | 0–10 | – | ||
| white ratany | KRGR | Krameria grayi | 0–10 | – | ||
| button brittlebush | ENFR | Encelia frutescens | 0–10 | – | ||
| burrobush | AMDU2 | Ambrosia dumosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–5 | – | ||
| pricklyleaf dogweed | THAC | Thymophylla acerosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| threadleaf snakeweed | GUMI | Gutierrezia microcephala | 0–2 | – | ||
| 9 | Miscellaneous shrubs | 0–30 | ||||
| Warnock's snakewood | COWA | Condalia warnockii | 0–5 | – | ||
| mariola | PAIN2 | Parthenium incanum | 0–5 | – | ||
| jojoba | SICH | Simmondsia chinensis | 0–5 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–3 | – | ||
| Nevada jointfir | EPNE | Ephedra nevadensis | 0–3 | – | ||
| plains blackfoot | MELE2 | Melampodium leucanthum | 0–3 | – | ||
| common sotol | DAWH2 | Dasylirion wheeleri | 0–2 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–2 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 0–2 | – | ||
| Joshua tree | YUBR | Yucca brevifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| Eastern Mojave buckwheat | ERFA2 | Eriogonum fasciculatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| sangre de cristo | JACA2 | Jatropha cardiophylla | 0–2 | – | ||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 0–2 | – | ||
| rayless goldenhead | ACSP | Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| pelotazo | ABIN | Abutilon incanum | 0–1 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 0–1 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOB | Ziziphus obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coulter's brickellbush | BRCO | Brickellia coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| knifeleaf condalia | COSP3 | Condalia spathulata | 0–1 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 0–1 | – | ||
| water jacket | LYAN | Lycium andersonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Berlandier's wolfberry | LYBE | Lycium berlandieri | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona desert-thorn | LYEX | Lycium exsertum | 0–1 | – | ||
| American threefold | TRCA8 | Trixis californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parish's goldeneye | VIPA14 | Viguiera parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| 10 | Succulents | 5–45 | ||||
| saguaro | CAGI10 | Carnegiea gigantea | 0–20 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 1–10 | – | ||
| purple pricklypear | OPMA8 | Opuntia macrocentra | 0–5 | – | ||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 1–5 | – | ||
| teddybear cholla | CYBI9 | Cylindropuntia bigelovii | 0–5 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–5 | – | ||
| staghorn cholla | CYVE3 | Cylindropuntia versicolor | 1–5 | – | ||
| jumping cholla | CYFU10 | Cylindropuntia fulgida | 0–3 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–3 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–2 | – | ||
| buck-horn cholla | CYAC8 | Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona pencil cholla | CYAR14 | Cylindropuntia arbuscula | 0–2 | – | ||
| candle cholla | CYKL | Cylindropuntia kleiniae | 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 | – | ||
| Nichol's echinocactus | ECHON | Echinocactus horizonthalonius var. nicholii | 0–1 | – | ||
| spinystar | ESVIV | Escobaria vivipara var. vivipara | 0–1 | – | ||
| Scheer's beehive cactus | COROS | Coryphantha robustispina ssp. scheeri | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert agave | AGDE | Agave deserti | 0–1 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 11 | Trees | 5–100 | ||||
| yellow paloverde | PAMI5 | Parkinsonia microphylla | 5–100 | – | ||
| velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 0–20 | – | ||
| desert ironwood | OLTE | Olneya tesota | 0–20 | – | ||
| crucifixion thorn | CAHO3 | Canotia holacantha | 0–10 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
The plant community on this site is suitable for grazing by cattle primarily in the spring and / or summer growing seasons when annual forbs and grasses are avialable. Forage species can grow year-round with available moisture. High pH due to lime may tie up soil nutrients and influence forage species palatability.
Water developments are very important to wildlife species on this site. Vegetative cover and forage diversity are suitable for a variety of small desert mammals and birds and their predators.
Hydrological functions
This site has deep coarse textured soils and moderate to gentle slopes making it a poor producer of runoff.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking, horseback riding, camping, photography, birdwatching
Wood products
Limited firewood from whitethorn and paloverde for camp fires and branding fires.
Other products
Cactus fruits from saguaro, prickly pear and cholla. Saguaro ribs and ocotillo canes.
Creosote used medicinally.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Range 417s include 4 in good condition.
Type locality
| Location 1: Pima County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T18S R14E S30 |
| General legal description | Santa Rita Experimental Range, Gravelly Ridge enclosure. Northern end of fenced area. Fence built in 1937. |
| Location 2: Pima County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T14S R10E S34 |
| General legal description | La Tortuga Ranch, Yodi Pasture at transect # 37. Concrete dam nearby in canyon. Was ungrazed for 20 years. |
| Location 3: Pima County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T14S R13E S16 |
| General legal description | Tumamoc Hill Reserve, Desert Laboratory UA, Northwest corner. |
Other references
The Changing Mile - Revisited. Ray Turner, Robert Webb, University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona, 2003. Photo Station 81
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, Dan Robinett, Emilio Carrillo |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | NRCS Tucson Area Office |
| Date | 03/08/2005 |
| Approved by | S. Cassady |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
Rills are common and continuous in absence of high gravel cover. -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Water flow patterns are common, continuous, occupy 15-20% of area. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Accumulated pedestals on most perennial plants, not so much so in high gravel cover areas, 2-5 inches high. Erosional pedestals not present on most perennial plants. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
10-60% (low values in high gravel cover areas and/or El Nino years. -
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
none -
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
none -
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Woody litter mostly stays under plant canopy, herbaceous litter can travel long distances. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface resistance to erosion is good under shrub canopies to moderate in interspaces due to crusts formed by raindrop inpact. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Weak thin platy to weak granular; color is 7.5-10YR6-2-4 dry, 7.5-10YR4/4 moist; thickness to 4 inches -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Canopy 20-25%; basal 1-2%; 50-60% canopy cover is shrubs, 15-20% trees, and 15-20% succulents. Cover is well dispersed throughout the site. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
none -
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:
shrubs > sub shrubs > trees > succulents > forbs = perennial grasses (In ''''El Nino'''' years, the production of winter annuals can exceed all other plants.Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
10-50% canopy mortality. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
99 lbs/ac unfavorable precipitation; 400 lbs/ac normal precipitation; 820 lbs/ac favorable precipitation -
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:
schismus, filaree, malta starthistle -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Not impaired for shrubs, drought impaired for perennial grasses and forbs.
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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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