Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R040XA129AZ
Limy Hills 10"-13" p.z.
Accessed: 11/23/2024
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. |
| R040XA123AZ |
Volcanic Hills 10"-13" P.Z. |
Similar sites
| R040XB219AZ |
Schist Hills 7"-10" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R038XA118AZ |
Basalt / Sandstone Hills 12-16" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
(1) Parkinsonia microphylla |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Encelia farinosa |
| Herbaceous |
(1) Aristida purpurea |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the upper elevations of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona. Slope aspect is site differentiating at elevations near common resource area boundaries. It occurs on moderately steep hill-slopes and ridge-tops.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Hill
(2) Ridge |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 671 – 1,128 m |
| Slope | 15 – 45% |
| Aspect | N, E, S |
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) | 330 mm |
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 are shallow soils formed on metamorphic and volcanic rock, breccia and agglomerates. Bedrock is cracked and weathered offering good opportunity for root growth. Soils are calcareous and have lime accumulations in the fractures of the bedrock material. Soil surfaces have very well developed covers of gravels and cobbles. Areas of rock outcrop range from 1 to 10%. Talus areas or rock slides can make up 5 to 10% of the area. Plant-soil moisture relationships are fair.
Soils mapped on this site include:
SSA-661 Eastern Pinal and Southern Gila Counties MU's 48 & 74 Pantano.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Surface texture |
(1) Gravelly sandy loam (2) Very gravelly sandy loam (3) Channery sandy loam |
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Excessively drained to well drained |
| Permeability class | Rapid to moderately rapid |
| Soil depth | 13 – 51 cm |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 40 – 80% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 5 – 20% |
| Available water capacity (0-101.6cm) |
1.02 – 3.81 cm |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-101.6cm) |
5 – 15% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-101.6cm) |
0 – 2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-101.6cm) |
7.8 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
35 – 60% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
0 – 10% |
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 model, Limy Hills 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 1
Historical Climax Plant Community
Community 1.1
Historical Climax Plant Community
The potential plant community is a diverse mixture of desert shrubs, trees, cacti, and perennial grasses and forbs. The aspect is shrubland. With continuous, heavy grazing, herbaceous forage species and palatable half shrubs are removed from the plant community and replaced by increases in shrubby species like littleleaf paloverde, white brittlebush, creosotebush, ocotillo, triangle bursage, and cholla. Gravel and cobble covers are continuous but lack the size necessary to prevent erosion on steep slopes if the plant cover has been depleted. This site lacks stone or large cobble covers to protect forage speices from heavy utilization. Plant populations of major shrubs range from 50 to 100 per acre for littleaf paloverde, 10 to 100 for ocotillo, 50 to 150 for creosotebush, 75 to 150 for large shrubs including jojoba and wolfberry, 10 to 50 for mormon tea, and 50 to 200 plants per acre for the brittlebush and bursage group. North exposures have a higher percentage cover of perennial grasses and suffrutescent forbs than warm exposures. Grass canopy cover ranges from 0-5% on north slopes and 0-1% on south slopes. Forb cover ranges from 1-15% on north slopes and 0-2% on south slopes. Warm exposures have a higher percentage of trees and succulents than north slopes. The half shrub community on north slopes is dominated by species like calliandra, goldeneye, flatop buckwheat and mormon tea while on south slopes brittlebush, white ratany and bursage are dominant. Jojoba will have its higher cover on north aspects while southern aspects will have more ocotillo, creosotebush, whitethorn and wolfberry. The percent of annual forbs and grasses in the plant community can range from 1% in dry years to nearly 50% in very wet winters or summers. The yearly production of annuals ranges from 2 lbs per acre to over 400 lbs. per acre (from dry year to wet year). Severe drought can reduce the cover of perennial grasses and suffrutescent forbs to less than 1%. Drought can also reduce the cover of sub-shrubs like brittlebush and bursage. The dynamics of Saguaro on this site is unlike the 200-300 year cycle found on deep upland sites in the Upper Sonoran desert. Saguaro recruitment can occur in any favorable year due to numerous rocky habitats favorable for establishment. Saguaro populations tend to be multi-aged and persistent on this site although very favorable years for establishment may result in very heavy stands on some slopes many years later.
Figure 5. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (kg/hectare) |
Representative value (kg/hectare) |
High (kg/hectare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrub/Vine | 135 | 291 | 426 |
| Forb | 22 | 112 | 303 |
| Grass/Grasslike | 8 | 84 | 224 |
| Tree | 45 | 112 | 168 |
| Total | 210 | 599 | 1121 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0-1% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-2% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 0-1% |
| Forb basal cover | 0-1% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0% |
| Biological crusts | 0-5% |
| Litter | 5-45% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 40-60% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 5-20% |
| Bedrock | 1-10% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 5-20% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (m) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.15 | – | 0-1% | 0-10% | 1-5% |
| >0.15 <= 0.3 | – | 1-5% | 1-10% | 1-10% |
| >0.3 <= 0.6 | – | 1-5% | 0-2% | 0-5% |
| >0.6 <= 1.4 | 0-1% | 1-5% | 0-1% | 0-1% |
| >1.4 <= 4 | 5-10% | – | – | – |
| >4 <= 12 | – | – | – | – |
| >12 <= 24 | – | – | – | – |
| >24 <= 37 | – | – | – | – |
| >37 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ4011, 40.1 10-13" p.z. hill 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 | 15 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
State 2
Native trees, cacti, shrubs and fire
Community 2.1
Native trees, cacti, shrubs and fire
This plant community occurs as a result of a single hot season fire. Paloverde, ironwood 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, wolfberry and whitethorn 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 3
Exotic perennial grasses with natives
Community 3.1
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 desert zinnia, brittlebush, paperflower and grasses like red grama, purple threeawn and slim tridens.
State 4
Exotic perennial grasses and fire
Community 4.1
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 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 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.
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (kg/hectare) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Dominant perennial grasses | 6–78 | ||||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 6–34 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMU | Tridens muticus | 6–22 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 1–22 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–22 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 1–17 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 0–11 | – | ||
| desert needlegrass | ACSP12 | Achnatherum speciosum | 0–11 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 0–6 | – | ||
| 2 | Miscellaneous perennial grasses | 0–34 | ||||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 0–11 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 0–11 | – | ||
| slender grama | BORE2 | Bouteloua repens | 0–6 | – | ||
| red grama | BOTR2 | Bouteloua trifida | 0–6 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 0–6 | – | ||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 0–6 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 0–6 | – | ||
| Wright's threeawn | ARPUW | Aristida purpurea var. wrightii | 0–2 | – | ||
| big galleta | PLRI3 | Pleuraphis rigida | 0–2 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–2 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–2 | – | ||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 0–2 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 0–1 | – | ||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 0–1 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELELE | Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| 3 | Annual grasses | 2–112 | ||||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 1–22 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 1–22 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 1–22 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–17 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 0–11 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 0–6 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–6 | – | ||
| Eastwood fescue | VUMIC | Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata | 0–6 | – | ||
| Pacific fescue | VUMIP | Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora | 0–6 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–2 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–2 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–2 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–2 | – | ||
| Madagascar dropseed | SPPY2 | Sporobolus pyramidatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| canyon cupgrass | ERLE7 | Eriochloa lemmonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–1 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPEP2 | Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 4 | Ferns and fern allies | 2–17 | ||||
| cliffbrake | PELLA | Pellaea | 1–6 | – | ||
| Arizona spikemoss | SEAR2 | Selaginella arizonica | 0–6 | – | ||
| lipfern | CHEIL | Cheilanthes | 1–6 | – | ||
| cloak fern | NOTHO | Notholaena | 0–1 | – | ||
| 5 | Perennial forbs | 17–84 | ||||
| slender janusia | JAGR | Janusia gracilis | 6–11 | – | ||
| Coues' cassia | SECO10 | Senna covesii | 1–11 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 1–11 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPIP4 | Machaeranthera pinnatifida ssp. pinnatifida var. pinnatifida | 6–11 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 0–11 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 0–6 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–6 | – | ||
| Parry's false prairie-clover | MAPA7 | Marina parryi | 1–6 | – | ||
| San Felipe dogweed | ADPO | Adenophyllum porophylloides | 0–6 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 0–6 | – | ||
| narrowleaf silverbush | ARLA12 | Argythamnia lanceolata | 0–6 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| 6 | Annual forbs and minor perennials | 3–202 | ||||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–45 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–45 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–34 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 0–28 | – | ||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–28 | – | ||
| exserted Indian paintbrush | CAEXE | Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta | 0–22 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–17 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–11 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSAB | Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus | 0–11 | – | ||
| thelypody | THELY | Thelypodium | 0–11 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–11 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–11 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–6 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–6 | – | ||
| lyreleaf jewelflower | STCA5 | Streptanthus carinatus | 0–6 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–6 | – | ||
| plains blackfoot | MELE2 | Melampodium leucanthum | 0–6 | – | ||
| flatcrown buckwheat | ERDE6 | Eriogonum deflexum | 1–2 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 1–2 | – | ||
| largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 0–1 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–1 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| bigseed alfalfa dodder | CUIN | Cuscuta indecora | 0–1 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitemargin sandmat | CHAL11 | Chamaesyce albomarginata | 0–1 | – | ||
| brittle spineflower | CHBR | Chorizanthe brevicornu | 0–1 | – | ||
| lipfern | CHEIL | Cheilanthes | 0–1 | – | ||
| goosefoot | CHENO | Chenopodium | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 0–1 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–1 | – | ||
| Tucson Mountain spiderling | BOME | Boerhavia megaptera | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona wrightwort | CAAR7 | Carlowrightia arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| fringed redmaids | CACI2 | Calandrinia ciliata | 0–1 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico silverbush | ARNE2 | Argythamnia neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 0–1 | – | ||
| aster | ASTER | Aster | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 0–1 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 0–1 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert trumpet | ERIN4 | Eriogonum inflatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| buckwheat | ERIOG | Eriogonum | 0–1 | – | ||
| tall mountain larkspur | DESC | Delphinium scaposum | 0–1 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–1 | – | ||
| bristly nama | NAHI | Nama hispidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| glandular threadplant | NEGL | Nemacladus glanduliferus | 0–1 | – | ||
| evening primrose | OENOT | Oenothera | 0–1 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–1 | – | ||
| shrubby deervetch | LORI3 | Lotus rigidus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coulter's globemallow | SPCO2 | Sphaeralcea coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| glandleaf milkwort | POMA7 | Polygala macradenia | 0–1 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coulter's lyrepod | LYCO4 | Lyrocarpa coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| woollyhead neststraw | STMI2 | Stylocline micropoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–1 | – | ||
| noseburn | TRAGI | Tragia | 0–1 | – | ||
| vervain | VERBE | Verbena | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Dominant half shrubs | 34–112 | ||||
| triangle bur ragweed | AMDE4 | Ambrosia deltoidea | 11–56 | – | ||
| brittlebush | ENFA | Encelia farinosa | 11–56 | – | ||
| desert zinnia | ZIAC | Zinnia acerosa | 6–28 | – | ||
| whitestem paperflower | PSCO2 | Psilostrophe cooperi | 1–17 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 1–11 | – | ||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 0–11 | – | ||
| white ratany | KRGR | Krameria grayi | 1–6 | – | ||
| sangre de cristo | JACA2 | Jatropha cardiophylla | 1–6 | – | ||
| 8 | Dominant large shrubs | 73–179 | ||||
| ocotillo | FOSP2 | Fouquieria splendens | 28–56 | – | ||
| creosote bush | LATRT | Larrea tridentata var. tridentata | 28–56 | – | ||
| jojoba | SICH | Simmondsia chinensis | 1–56 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 6–22 | – | ||
| Nevada jointfir | EPNE | Ephedra nevadensis | 0–11 | – | ||
| Berlandier's wolfberry | LYBE | Lycium berlandieri | 1–11 | – | ||
| water jacket | LYAN | Lycium andersonii | 0–6 | – | ||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 0–6 | – | ||
| 9 | Miscellaneous shrubs | 1–22 | ||||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–6 | – | ||
| Warnock's snakewood | COWA | Condalia warnockii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Sonoran croton | CRSO | Croton sonorae | 0–1 | – | ||
| Eastern Mojave buckwheat | ERFA2 | Eriogonum fasciculatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| starry bedstraw | GAST | Galium stellatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert lavender | HYEM | Hyptis emoryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| crown of thorns | KOSP | Koeberlinia spinosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona desert-thorn | LYEX | Lycium exsertum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona mimosa | MIDIL | Mimosa distachya var. laxiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| mariola | PAIN2 | Parthenium incanum | 0–1 | – | ||
| arrow poision plant | SEBI9 | Sebastiania bilocularis | 0–1 | – | ||
| woody crinklemat | TICAC | Tiquilia canescens var. canescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| American threefold | TRCA8 | Trixis californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parish's goldeneye | VIPA14 | Viguiera parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOB | Ziziphus obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| pelotazo | ABIN | Abutilon incanum | 0–1 | – | ||
| California copperleaf | ACCA3 | Acalypha californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| rayless goldenhead | ACSP | Acamptopappus sphaerocephalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| spiny hackberry | CEEH | Celtis ehrenbergiana | 0–1 | – | ||
| rosary babybonnets | COGL8 | Coursetia glandulosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| knifeleaf condalia | COSP3 | Condalia spathulata | 0–1 | – | ||
| 10 | Succulents | 28–112 | ||||
| saguaro | CAGI10 | Carnegiea gigantea | 6–45 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 11–34 | – | ||
| buck-horn cholla | CYAC8 | Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa | 11–22 | – | ||
| teddybear cholla | CYBI9 | Cylindropuntia bigelovii | 1–11 | – | ||
| jumping cholla | CYFU10 | Cylindropuntia fulgida | 1–11 | – | ||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 1–11 | – | ||
| organpipe cactus | STTH3 | Stenocereus thurberi | 0–11 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 0–6 | – | ||
| purple pricklypear | OPMA8 | Opuntia macrocentra | 0–6 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 1–6 | – | ||
| staghorn cholla | CYVE3 | Cylindropuntia versicolor | 0–6 | – | ||
| common sotol | DAWH2 | Dasylirion wheeleri | 0–2 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 1–2 | – | ||
| redspine fishhook cactus | ECER2 | Echinomastus erectocentrus | 0–2 | – | ||
| dollarjoint pricklypear | OPCH | Opuntia chlorotica | 0–2 | – | ||
| pinkflower hedgehog cactus | ECFE | Echinocereus fendleri | 0–1 | – | ||
| rainbow cactus | ECPE | Echinocereus pectinatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| spinystar | ESVIV | Escobaria vivipara var. vivipara | 0–1 | – | ||
| California barrel cactus | FECY | Ferocactus cylindraceus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Emory's barrel cactus | FEEM | Ferocactus emoryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| Graham's nipple cactus | MAGR9 | Mammillaria grahamii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Thornber's nipple cactus | MATH | Mammillaria thornberi | 0–1 | – | ||
| Scheer's beehive cactus | COROS | Coryphantha robustispina ssp. scheeri | 0–1 | – | ||
| Engelmann's hedgehog cactus | ECEN | Echinocereus engelmannii | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert agave | AGDE | Agave deserti | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 11 | Trees | 45–168 | ||||
| yellow paloverde | PAMI5 | Parkinsonia microphylla | 45–157 | – | ||
| desert ironwood | OLTE | Olneya tesota | 1–22 | – | ||
| crucifixion thorn | CAHO3 | Canotia holacantha | 0–17 | – | ||
| velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 0–17 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
Steep slopes and gravelly surfaces somewhat hinder livestock distribution, but this is the easiest of the hillsites for cattle to traverse and the hillslopes trail easily. The site is not well suited to grazing by cows in the hot season but in areas where ridges trend north-south, distribution will be good even in summer as the west aspects are shady in the morning and the eastern exposures shady in the afternoon. Stocker cattle are best suited to use areas of this site. South aspects are used more in the winter due to warm temperatures and early greenup. North exposures, being shady and cooler, are used more in the fall due to longer green season. The plant community has a good variety of evergreen browse species making it especially good for winter-spring grazing. This site tends to be very dry, even in winter-spring when other hillsites have canyon and seep water.
Water developments are very important to wildlife species on this site. Cover, forage diversity, and topography are good enough for a variety of desert wildlife including the large mammals.
Hydrological functions
This site is a fair producer of runoff due to moderately steep slopes and shallow soils. Very gravelly and cobbly soil surfaces tend to hold water on the site.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking, bird watching, photography, horseback riding, rock hounding.
Wood products
Some paloverde, ironwood and mesquite for camp-fires and branding fires.
Other products
Stones and cobbles; decomposed gravels. Saguaro ribs, cholla skeletons and ocotillo canes. Tradtional foods like saguaro fruits, prickly pear tunas, cactus flower buds and jojoba nuts. Traditional herbs like coyote tobacco, mint bush, limberbush and creosotebush.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Range 417s include 1 in good condition.
Type locality
| Location 1: Gila County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T5S R16E S13 |
| General legal description | San Carlos Field Office - Mineral Strip |
| Location 2: Pima County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T14S R12E S15 |
| General legal description | Saguaro Nat. Park, Gates Pass. elevation 3100 ft. |
| Location 3: Pima County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T16S R5E S5 |
| General legal description | 1 mile SE of Ko Vaya village on the Tohono O'odham Indian Nation. South Comobabi Mountains. |
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):
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Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
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Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
-
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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