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Ecological site R041XA103AZ

Limestone Hills 16-20 p.z.

Last updated: 4/09/2021
Accessed: 11/21/2024

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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.

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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): 041X–Madrean Archipelago

Land Resource Unit: 41-1AZ Mexican Oak-Pine Forest and Oak Savannah

Elevations range from 4500 to 5500 feet and precipitation ranges from 16 to 20 inches. Vegetation includes Emory oak, Mexican blue oak, Arizona white oak, one-seed juniper, alligator juniper, sacahuista, California bricklebush, skunkbush sumac, Arizona rosewood, wait-a-bit mimosa, sideoats grama, blue grama, purple grama, wooly bunchgrass, plains lovegrass, squirreltail, and pinyon ricegrass. The soil temperature regime is thermic; the soil moisture regime is aridic ustic. This unit occurs within the Basin and Range Physiographic Province. It 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 their sediments fill the basins with representive combinations of fluvial, lacustrine, colluvial and alluvial deposits.

Ecological site concept

Limestone Hills ecological site occurs on steep uplands, all moisture is received from precipitation without additional moisture inputs from on-site surface flow.
Slopes are steep, exceeding 15 percent. The calcareous soils are shallow, less than 20 inches deep. Parent material and bedrock consist of calcareous sedimentary rock that includes limestone, marble, and calcareous sandstone.

Associated sites

R041XA102AZ	Shallow Hills 16-20" p.z.
R041XA104AZ	Limy Slopes 16-20" p.z.
R041XA105AZ	Limy Upland 16-20" p.z.

R041XA102AZ

Shallow Hills 16-20" p.z.

R041XA104AZ

Limy Slopes 16-20" p.z.

R041XA105AZ

Limy Upland 16-20" p.z.

Similar sites

R041XC307AZ	Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z.
F041XA121AZ	Limestone Hills 20-23" p.z. (PIDI3, JUDE2)

R041XC307AZ

Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z.

F041XA121AZ

Limestone Hills 20-23" p.z. (PIDI3, JUDE2)

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Tree	(1) vauquelinia californica
Shrub	(1) agave palmeri (2) cercocarpus montanus
Herbaceous	(1) bouteloua curtipendula (2) tridens muticus

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Physiographic features

This site occurs in the middle elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on hill-slopes, pediments, and ridge-tops. Slope aspect is differentiating at elevations near common resource area boundaries.

Table 2. Representative physiographic features

Landforms	(1) Hill (2) Pediment (3) Mountain
Flooding frequency	None
Ponding frequency	None
Elevation	1,372 – 1,676 m
Slope	15 – 70%
Aspect	N, E, S

Climatic features

Precipitation in this zone of the common resource area ranges from 16-20 inches per year with elevations from 4700-5500 feet. Approximately 40% of this moisture comes as gentle rain or snow during the winter-spring (Oct-Apr) season, originates in the north Pacific and Gulf of California and comes as frontal storms with long duration and low intensity. The remaining 60% falls in the summer season (May-Sep), originates in the Gulf of Mexico and are convective, usually brief, intense thunderstorms. Snow is common Dec-Mar, averaging 5-15 inches per year, but rarely lasts more than a week. May and June are the driest months. Humidity is low.

Temperatures are mild. Freezing temperatures are common at night from Oct-May, but daytime temperatures are almost always over 40 F. Below 0 F temperatures can occur Dec-Feb. Daytime summer highs rarely exceed 95 F.

Table 3. Representative climatic features

Frost-free period (average)	221 days
Freeze-free period (average)	255 days
Precipitation total (average)	508 mm

Bar

Line

Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range

Bar

Line

Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature

Soil features

These are shallow, calcareous soils formed on limestone bedrock, calcareous sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Parent material is high in carbonates. Soil surface textures range from cobbly loam to very gravelly sandy loam. Surface soil is dark colored and well protected by rocks, cobbles and gravels. Plant-soil moisture relationships are fair. Numerous areas of rock outcrop occur intermingled with soil areas. Bedrock is usually hard and unweathered. The soil series characteristic of this site is Yarbam.

Table 4. Representative soil features

Parent material	(1) Slope alluvium – limestone (2) Colluvium – marble
Surface texture	(1) Very gravelly sandy loam (2) Cobbly sandy loam (3) Cobbly loam
Family particle size	(1) Loamy
Drainage class	Well drained
Permeability class	Moderately rapid
Soil depth	25 – 51 cm
Surface fragment cover <=3"	20 – 55%
Surface fragment cover >3"	5 – 15%
Available water capacity (0-101.6cm)	2.29 – 6.1 cm
Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-101.6cm)	20 – 40%
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)	7.4 – 8.4
Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified)	35 – 45%
Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified)	5 – 15%

Ecological dynamics

The Reference Plant Community (RPC, see State and Transition Model below) of the 41-1AZ Limestone Hills ecological site is a diverse mixture of warm and cool perennial grasses, perennial forbs, succulents and large and small shrubs. Most perennial herbaceous species are well-dispersed throughout the plant community. This ecological site is a principle habitat for Parry and Palmer agave species with population within stands ranging from 20 to more than 1000 plants per acre. These two agave species are important food sources for nectar feeding birds, insects and bats in this region. The aspect is a grassy shrub-land.

Seasonal rainfall amounts affect amounts and composition of plant productivity. After a wet winter, cool season plants like New Mexico feathergrass, southwestern stipa, cliffrose, shrubby dalea and mountain mahogany begin active growth in late March to April. The months of May and June present a period of little to no active plant growth. Warm season species, mostly perennial grasses, begin active growth after the onset of the summer rainy season usually in July or August; peak annual production occurs in October. Fire, short-term drought and herbivory (insects and mammals) are recurring disturbances to this ecological site. These disturbances interact to shape the plant community phases within the Reference State. Re-occurring fires shaped the RPC by periodically reducing shrub cover and killing many shrub seedlings. Natural fire-free periods are 10-20 years in length. Between fires, shrub growth continues unimpeded. Drought can extend the fire-free period by impairing perennial grass productivity and vigor. In the absence of fire, shrubs and succulents can attain dominance of the plant community. When average rainfall resumes, annual forbs can flourish and perennial grasses recover allowing a build-up of adequate fine fuels to carry fire. Subsequent fires remove the shrub dominance. Periodic drought has caused significant grass mortality. Droughts in the early 30s, mid 50s, 75-76, 88-89, 95-96 and 2002-present resulted in the loss of much of the grass cover on the site. The site recovers rapidly with its prevalence of gravel, and rock outcrop. The gravel and cobbles protect soil surface from erosion while rock outcrop areas act as micro-watersheds providing runoff water to soil areas

Steep slopes and shallow soils make this ecological site somewhat vulnerable to disturbance. As disturbances increase in intensity, repetition and duration, the effects they have on the site are compounded by slope. The site’s hydrology, biotic integrity and soil stability are impacted. The changes, especially to the plant community, can become long-lasting. If non-native perennial bunchgrass seed is present or brought onto this ecological site, any intense disturbance (fire, drought or grazing) may result in a monoculture of non-native lovegrass (Exotic Grass State). The aspect remains a grassy shrub-land, similar to RPC; however, this plant community does not offer adequate wildlife food and cover.

If the disturbance is not managed, the productivity of the site ultimately declines as hydrology, soil stability and the biotic community all function differently from that in the Reference State. Continuous, unmanaged grazing on either grassy shrub-land community (Reference or Exotic Grasses States) removes fire fuel and reduces perennial bunchgrass vigor. The resulting plant community is dominated by shrubs with less perennial grass cover (Shrub Dominated State). Run-off and erosion is much higher in this state than the Reference State.

Extended continuous, unmanaged grazing occurring over long periods (50+ years) can severely impact soil and plant community functioning from the Reference or Shrub Dominated State. The resulting state has severe erosion, fires seldom occur and potential productivity is permanently reduced.

State and transition model

Custom diagram

Standard diagram

Figure 4. 41-1 Limestone Hills State and Transition Model

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
Reference

Community 1.1
Reference Community (RPC)

The potential plant community on this site is dominated by a diverse mixture of warm and cool perennial grasses, perennial forbs, succulents and large and small shrubs. Most perennial herbaceous species are well dispersed throughout the plant community. Hydrologic functioning is dynamic with diversity in root systems, herbaceous and woody plant roots, and rock outcrops providing additional runoff. With continuous, selective grazing, needlegrasses, crinkleawn and sideoats grama are removed from the perennial grass community and less palatable species like blue threeawn and tanglehead increase. Shrubby species like wait-a-bit, mesquite, juniper, ocotillo, sumac and sotol can increase to dominate the plant community with severe deterioration or in the absence of fire. The frequency of natural fires on this site was perhaps greater than on other hill sites in this precipitation zone due to very low live fuel moisture values of the plant community in June and early July. Well-developed gravel and cobble covers protect the soil from erosion and sometimes protect forage plants from heavy utilization.

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)
Grass/Grasslike	521	1009	1143
Shrub/Vine	106	224	359
Forb	12	56	118
Tree	6	17	39
Total	645	1306	1659

Table 6. Soil surface cover

Tree basal cover	0-1%
Shrub/vine/liana basal cover	1-10%
Grass/grasslike basal cover	4-8%
Forb basal cover	0-1%
Non-vascular plants	0-1%
Biological crusts	0-1%
Litter	20-50%
Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3"	20-50%
Surface fragments >3"	5-15%
Bedrock	1-10%
Water	0%
Bare ground	2-10%

Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)

Height Above Ground (m)	Tree	Shrub/Vine	Grass/ Grasslike	Forb
<0.15	–	1-5%	1-5%	0-5%
>0.15 <= 0.3	–	1-10%	5-10%	1-5%
>0.3 <= 0.6	–	5-10%	10-20%	1-5%
>0.6 <= 1.4	–	1-10%	0-10%	0-2%
>1.4 <= 4	0-5%	1-5%	–	–
>4 <= 12	1-5%	–	–	–
>12 <= 24	–	–	–	–
>24 <= 37	–	–	–	–
>37	–	–	–	–

Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ4111, 41.1 16-30. Growth begins in the spring, semi-dormancy occurs during the June drought, most growth occurs during the summer rainy season..

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
0	0	0	5	10	0	15	45	20	5	0	0

Community 1.2
Shrubs, Succulents & Grasses

Shrubs and succulents dominate the plant community with lesser amounts of perennial grasses. Forbs fluctuate with climate (drought/El Nino). Minor invasion of other woody plants.

Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2

Drought, absence of fire, continuous grazing.

Conservation practices

Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing

Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1

Natural fire, managed grazing, prescribed burning.

Conservation practices

Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing

State 2
Exotic Grass

Community 2.1
Exotic Grassland

This state occurs where non-native lovegrasses, namely Lehmann lovegrass, has increased from an adjacent seed source, usually along a roadway, to dominate the perennial grass community. Native perennial grasses and forbs are reduced to minor amounts. Shrubs and succulents may be unaffected unless the frequency of fire increases because of the presence of Lehmann lovegrass.

State 3
Shrub Dominated

Community 3.1
Mixed Shrub

Figure 7. Limestone hills 16-20" pz., Shrub Dominated State (one-seed juniper)

This plant community occurs where shrubs like catclaw mimosa, mesquite, one-seed juniper, ocotillo and sotol have invaded or increased to dominate the plant community. This happens in the absence of fire for long periods of time. Other shrubs like desert buckbrush, littleleaf and Mearns sumac may increase as well. Fine fuels may still exist for fires but many of the shrub species are well established and re-sprout quickly to assume dominance after fire.

State 4
Eroded

Community 4.1
Dense Shrub

This state occurs where sheet and rill erosion is accelerated due to severe trailing, compaction and lack of perennial grass cover. In some areas road construction has resulted in this condition. As the dark colored soil surface is lost and eroded down to bedrock, the site''s potential productivity is reduced.

Transition T1A
State 1 to 2

Non-native bunchgrass seed source (wind-blown or mechanical transport) paired with native perennial grass community disturbance such as fire or unmanaged grazing.

Transition T1B
State 1 to 3

Long-term unmanaged grazing with or without drought/fire interaction opens perennial grass canopy allowing shrubs to outcompete resources. Juniper, mimosa and other shrubs are likely to increase as well as yucca-like succulents. Remnant native perennial grasses cannot re-colonize areas with shrub competition.

Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1

No restoration pathway known at this time. Perhaps future development of herbicide or biological treatment to remove perennial exotics will occur.

Conservation practices

Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing

Transition T2A
State 2 to 3

Long-term unmanaged grazing with or without drought/fire interaction opens perennial grass canopy allowing shrubs to outcompete perennial grasses for resources. Juniper, mimosa and other shrubs are likely to increase as well as yucca-like succulents. Remnant native perennial grasses cannot re-colonize areas with shrub competition.

Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1

Brush management, native species seeding (as needed) supported by managed grazing. Shrub control maintained with herbicide and/or prescribed burning.

Conservation practices

Prescribed Burning
Range Planting
Prescribed Grazing

Restoration pathway R3B
State 3 to 2

Long-term unmanaged grazing affects soil site stability and hydrologic functioning. Animal trailing and soil surface compaction compound the effect of plant community changes (increased shrub/decreased perennial grass community) to increase surface water run-off rather than infiltration. Over time (50-100+ years) the mollic A horizon can be lost leaving the site with a reduction in potential productivity.

Conservation practices

Brush Management
Prescribed Burning
Range Planting
Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
Prescribed Grazing

Transition T3A
State 3 to 4

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 mid-grasses			336–504
	sideoats grama	BOCU	Bouteloua curtipendula	112–336	–
	plains lovegrass	ERIN	Eragrostis intermedia	112–336	–
	woolyspike balsamscale	ELBA	Elionurus barbiculmis	0–112	–
	cane bluestem	BOBA3	Bothriochloa barbinodis	22–112	–
	bullgrass	MUEM	Muhlenbergia emersleyi	11–56	–
	Texas bluestem	SCCI2	Schizachyrium cirratum	0–56	–
	spiked crinkleawn	TRSP12	Trachypogon spicatus	11–56	–
2	Dominant cool season grasses			56–336
	southwestern needlegrass	ACEM4	Achnatherum eminens	28–168	–
	New Mexico feathergrass	HENE5	Hesperostipa neomexicana	28–168	–
	squirreltail	ELELE	Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides	1–28	–
	prairie Junegrass	KOMA	Koeleria macrantha	0–22	–
	pinyon ricegrass	PIFI	Piptochaetium fimbriatum	0–22	–
	densetuft hairsedge	BUCA2	Bulbostylis capillaris	0–11	–
	sedge	CAREX	Carex	0–11	–
	flatsedge	CYPER	Cyperus	0–6	–
3	Short grasses			112–168
	black grama	BOER4	Bouteloua eriopoda	28–84	–
	slim tridens	TRMU	Tridens muticus	17–56	–
	Hall's panicgrass	PAHA	Panicum hallii	6–34	–
	hairy grama	BOHI2	Bouteloua hirsuta	6–34	–
	slim tridens	TRMUE	Tridens muticus var. elongatus	0–28	–
	shortleaf woollygrass	ERAV	Erioneuron avenaceum	1–17	–
	common wolfstail	LYPH	Lycurus phleoides	0–17	–
	desert muhly	MUGL2	Muhlenbergia glauca	0–17	–
	slender muhly	MUTE4	Muhlenbergia tenuifolia	0–11	–
	hairy woollygrass	ERPI5	Erioneuron pilosum	0–11	–
	purple grama	BORA	Bouteloua radicosa	0–11	–
	slender grama	BORE2	Bouteloua repens	0–11	–
	blue grama	BOGR2	Bouteloua gracilis	0–11	–
	sprucetop grama	BOCH	Bouteloua chondrosioides	0–11	–
4	Threeawns			11–56
	blue threeawn	ARPUN	Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi	11–56	–
	spidergrass	ARTE3	Aristida ternipes	1–17	–
	Wright's threeawn	ARPUW	Aristida purpurea var. wrightii	1–11	–
	Orcutt's threeawn	ARSCO	Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana	0–11	–
	Fendler threeawn	ARPUL	Aristida purpurea var. longiseta	1–11	–
	spidergrass	ARTEG	Aristida ternipes var. gentilis	0–6	–
	poverty threeawn	ARDI5	Aristida divaricata	0–2	–
5	Miscellaneous perennial grasses			6–56
	tanglehead	HECO10	Heteropogon contortus	1–28	–
	green sprangletop	LEDU	Leptochloa dubia	1–22	–
	plains bristlegrass	SEVU2	Setaria vulpiseta	1–22	–
	bush muhly	MUPO2	Muhlenbergia porteri	0–11	–
	little bluestem	SCSC	Schizachyrium scoparium	0–11	–
	southwestern bristlegrass	SESC2	Setaria scheelei	0–11	–
	silver bluestem	BOSA	Bothriochloa saccharoides	0–11	–
	Arizona cottontop	DICA8	Digitaria californica	0–11	–
	fall witchgrass	DICO6	Digitaria cognata	0–6	–
	low woollygrass	DAPU7	Dasyochloa pulchella	1–6	–
	curly-mesquite	HIBE	Hilaria belangeri	0–6	–
	purple muhly	MURI3	Muhlenbergia rigida	0–6	–
	maidencane	PAHE2	Panicum hemitomon	0–6	–
	vine mesquite	PAOB	Panicum obtusum	0–2	–
	tobosagrass	PLMU3	Pleuraphis mutica	0–2	–
	nineawn pappusgrass	ENDE	Enneapogon desvauxii	0–2	–
	Rothrock's grama	BORO2	Bouteloua rothrockii	0–2	–
6	Annual grasses			0–22
	witchgrass	PACA6	Panicum capillare	0–6	–
	Mexican panicgrass	PAHI5	Panicum hirticaule	0–6	–
	Arizona signalgrass	URAR	Urochloa arizonica	0–6	–
	Eastwood fescue	VUMIC	Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata	0–6	–
	Pacific fescue	VUMIP	Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora	0–6	–
	sixweeks fescue	VUOC	Vulpia octoflora	0–6	–
	Bigelow's bluegrass	POBI	Poa bigelovii	0–2	–
	Mexican sprangletop	LEFUU	Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia	0–2	–
	mucronate sprangeltop	LEPAB	Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata	0–2	–
	tapertip cupgrass	ERACA	Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata	0–2	–
	sixweeks threeawn	ARAD	Aristida adscensionis	0–2	–
	prairie threeawn	AROL	Aristida oligantha	0–2	–
	needle grama	BOAR	Bouteloua aristidoides	0–2	–
	sixweeks grama	BOBA2	Bouteloua barbata	0–1	–
	fragilegrass	AETE	Aegopogon tenellus	0–1	–
	tufted lovegrass	ERPEP2	Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea	0–1	–
	pitscale grass	HAGR3	Hackelochloa granularis	0–1	–
	sweet tanglehead	HEME	Heteropogon melanocarpus	0–1	–
	Arizona brome	BRAR4	Bromus arizonicus	0–1	–
	feather fingergrass	CHVI4	Chloris virgata	0–1	–
	delicate muhly	MUFR	Muhlenbergia fragilis	0–1	–
	littleseed muhly	MUMI	Muhlenbergia microsperma	0–1	–
	poverty dropseed	SPVA	Sporobolus vaginiflorus	0–1	–
	spiked bur grass	TRBE	Tragus berteronianus	0–1	–
	prairie false oat	TRIN5	Trisetum interruptum	0–1	–
Forb
7	Perennial forbs			11–62
	leatherweed	CRPO5	Croton pottsii	1–11	–
	trailing windmills	ALIN	Allionia incarnata	1–11	–
	shrubby copperleaf	ACPH3	Acalypha phleoides	1–6	–
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	1–6	–
	Cochise beardtongue	PEDA	Penstemon dasyphyllus	1–6	–
	bluedicks	DICA14	Dichelostemma capitatum	1–6	–
	spreading snakeherb	DYSCD	Dyschoriste schiedeana var. decumbens	0–2	–
	shrubby purslane	POSU3	Portulaca suffrutescens	0–2	–
	slimflower scurfpea	PSTE5	Psoralidium tenuiflorum	0–2	–
	Rocky Mountain zinnia	ZIGR	Zinnia grandiflora	0–2	–
	brownplume wirelettuce	STPA4	Stephanomeria pauciflora	0–2	–
	longstalk chinchweed	PELO	Pectis longipes	1–2	–
	Texas snoutbean	RHSET	Rhynchosia senna var. texana	0–2	–
	tuber anemone	ANTU	Anemone tuberosa	0–2	–
	weakleaf bur ragweed	AMCO3	Ambrosia confertiflora	1–2	–
	chaparral asphead	ASHI3	Aspicarpa hirtella	1–2	–
	Cooley's bundleflower	DECO2	Desmanthus cooleyi	0–2	–
	Fendler's bladderpod	LEFE	Lesquerella fendleri	1–2	–
	Wright's deervetch	LOWR	Lotus wrightii	0–2	–
	tufted evening primrose	OECA10	Oenothera caespitosa	0–2	–
	spreading fleabane	ERDI4	Erigeron divergens	0–2	–
	trailing fleabane	ERFL	Erigeron flagellaris	0–2	–
	pearly globe amaranth	GONI	Gomphrena nitida	1–2	–
	bastard toadflax	COUM	Comandra umbellata	0–2	–
	purplenerve springparsley	CYMU2	Cymopterus multinervatus	0–2	–
	rose heath	CHER2	Chaetopappa ericoides	0–2	–
	hairyseed bahia	BAAB	Bahia absinthifolia	1–2	–
	beardlip penstemon	PEBA2	Penstemon barbatus	1–2	–
	lyreleaf greeneyes	BELY	Berlandiera lyrata	0–1	–
	scarlet spiderling	BOCO	Boerhavia coccinea	0–1	–
	copper fern	BOHI	Bommeria hispida	0–1	–
	dwarf stickpea	CAHUR	Calliandra humilis var. reticulata	0–1	–
	wholeleaf Indian paintbrush	CAIN14	Castilleja integra	0–1	–
	desert mariposa lily	CAKE	Calochortus kennedyi	0–1	–
	sego lily	CANU3	Calochortus nuttallii	0–1	–
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	0–1	–
	whitemargin sandmat	CHAL11	Chamaesyce albomarginata	0–1	–
	Eaton's lipfern	CHEA	Cheilanthes eatonii	0–1	–
	Fendler's lipfern	CHFE2	Cheilanthes fendleri	0–1	–
	fairyswords	CHLI	Cheilanthes lindheimeri	0–1	–
	mala mujer	CNAN	Cnidoscolus angustidens	0–1	–
	birdbill dayflower	CODI4	Commelina dianthifolia	0–1	–
	Texas bindweed	COEQ	Convolvulus equitans	0–1	–
	whitemouth dayflower	COER	Commelina erecta	0–1	–
	horsetail milkweed	ASSU2	Asclepias subverticillata	0–1	–
	dense ayenia	AYMI	Ayenia microphylla	0–1	–
	whiteflower prairie clover	DAAL	Dalea albiflora	0–1	–
	James' prairie clover	DAJA	Dalea jamesii	0–1	–
	dwarf prairie clover	DANA	Dalea nana	0–1	–
	downy prairie clover	DANE	Dalea neomexicana	0–1	–
	Thurber's cotton	GOTH	Gossypium thurberi	0–1	–
	small matweed	GUDE	Guilleminea densa	0–1	–
	red bluet	HORU	Houstonia rubra	0–1	–
	fineleaf hymenopappus	HYFI	Hymenopappus filifolius	0–1	–
	babyslippers	HYVE	Hybanthus verticillatus	0–1	–
	iron ipomopsis	IPLA2	Ipomopsis laxiflora	0–1	–
	pinkthroat morning-glory	IPLO	Ipomoea longifolia	0–1	–
	Macomb's ipomopsis	IPMA2	Ipomopsis macombii	0–1	–
	El Paso skyrocket	IPTH2	Ipomopsis thurberi	0–1	–
	ragged nettlespurge	JAMA	Jatropha macrorhiza	0–1	–
	San Pedro daisy	LAPO4	Lasianthaea podocephala	0–1	–
	Mexican fireplant	EUHE4	Euphorbia heterophylla	0–1	–
	sun spurge	EURA2	Euphorbia radians	0–1	–
	wild dwarf morning-glory	EVAR	Evolvulus arizonicus	0–1	–
	shaggy dwarf morning-glory	EVNU	Evolvulus nuttallianus	0–1	–
	silver dwarf morning-glory	EVSE	Evolvulus sericeus	0–1	–
	Arizona snakecotton	FRAR2	Froelichia arizonica	0–1	–
	scarlet beeblossom	GACO5	Gaura coccinea	0–1	–
	radishroot woodsorrel	OXAL	Oxalis albicans	0–1	–
	Drummond's woodsorrel	OXDR	Oxalis drummondii	0–1	–
	locoweed	OXYTR	Oxytropis	0–1	–
	variableleaf bushbean	MAGI2	Macroptilium gibbosifolium	0–1	–
	lacy tansyaster	MAPI	Machaeranthera pinnatifida	0–1	–
	Mexican star	MIBI2	Milla biflora	0–1	–
	narrowleaf four o'clock	MILI3	Mirabilis linearis	0–1	–
	lemon beebalm	MOCIA	Monarda citriodora ssp. austromontana	0–1	–
	narrowleaf stoneseed	LIIN2	Lithospermum incisum	0–1	–
	Lewis flax	LILE3	Linum lewisii	0–1	–
	Greene's bird's-foot trefoil	LOGR4	Lotus greenei	0–1	–
	desert larkspur	DEPA	Delphinium parishii	0–1	–
	fingerleaf gourd	CUDI	Cucurbita digitata	0–1	–
	coyote gourd	CUPA	Cucurbita palmata	0–1	–
	hybrid cloakfern	ASIN19	Astrolepis integerrima	0–1	–
	broadleaf milkweed	ASLA4	Asclepias latifolia	0–1	–
	woolly locoweed	ASMOB	Astragalus mollissimus var. bigelovii	0–1	–
	sheep milkvetch	ASNO3	Astragalus nothoxys	0–1	–
	wavy scaly cloakfern	ASSI9	Astrolepis sinuata	0–1	–
	Mexican yellowshow	AMPA3	Amoreuxia palmatifida	0–1	–
	Cuman ragweed	AMPS	Ambrosia psilostachya	0–1	–
	crested anoda	ANCR2	Anoda cristata	0–1	–
	Indianhemp	APCA	Apocynum cannabinum	0–1	–
	largeflower onion	ALMA4	Allium macropetalum	0–1	–
	perennial rockcress	ARPE2	Arabis perennans	0–1	–
	southwestern pricklypoppy	ARPL3	Argemone pleiacantha	0–1	–
	Watson's dutchman's pipe	ARWA	Aristolochia watsonii	0–1	–
	Arizona milkvetch	ASAR6	Astragalus arizonicus	0–1	–
	spider milkweed	ASAS	Asclepias asperula	0–1	–
	Cochise scaly cloakfern	ASCO42	Astrolepis cochisensis	0–1	–
	slimleaf plainsmustard	SCLI12	Schoenocrambe linearifolia	0–1	–
	Arizona spikemoss	SEAR2	Selaginella arizonica	0–1	–
	twinleaf senna	SEBA3	Senna bauhinioides	0–1	–
	Lemmon's ragwort	SELE8	Senecio lemmonii	0–1	–
	New Mexico fanpetals	SINE	Sida neomexicana	0–1	–
	silverleaf nightshade	SOEL	Solanum elaeagnifolium	0–1	–
	copper globemallow	SPAN3	Sphaeralcea angustifolia	0–1	–
	gooseberryleaf globemallow	SPGR2	Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia	0–1	–
	Parry's beardtongue	PEPA24	Penstemon parryi	0–1	–
	slimleaf bean	PHAN3	Phaseolus angustissimus	0–1	–
	orange fameflower	PHAU13	Phemeranthus aurantiacus	0–1	–
	Cory's mistletoe	PHCO14	Phoradendron coryae	0–1	–
	ivyleaf groundcherry	PHHE4	Physalis hederifolia	0–1	–
	white milkwort	POAL4	Polygala alba	0–1	–
	velvetseed milkwort	POOB	Polygala obscura	0–1	–
	jewels of Opar	TAPA2	Talinum paniculatum	0–1	–
	Coulter's wrinklefruit	TECO	Tetraclea coulteri	0–1	–
	hairy fournwort	TENE	Tetramerium nervosum	0–1	–
	longstalk greenthread	THLO	Thelesperma longipes	0–1	–
	Hopi tea greenthread	THME	Thelesperma megapotamicum	0–1	–
	pinewoods spiderwort	TRPI	Tradescantia pinetorum	0–1	–
	branched noseburn	TRRA5	Tragia ramosa	0–1	–
	Fort Huachuca vervain	VEGR2	Verbena gracilis	0–1	–
	American vetch	VIAM	Vicia americana	0–1	–
	Louisiana vetch	VILUL2	Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana	0–1	–
	copper zephyrlily	ZELO	Zephyranthes longifolia	0–1	–
	buffpetal	RHPH2	Rhynchosida physocalyx	0–1	–
	Torrey's craglily	ECFL	Echeandia flavescens	0–1	–
8	Annual Forbs			1–56
	pitseed goosefoot	CHBE4	Chenopodium berlandieri	0–11	–
	fewflower beggarticks	BILE	Bidens leptocephala	0–6	–
	longleaf false goldeneye	HELOA2	Heliomeris longifolia var. annua	0–6	–
	New Mexico goosefoot	CHNE3	Chenopodium neomexicanum	0–3	–
	sensitive partridge pea	CHNI2	Chamaecrista nictitans	0–3	–
	New Mexico thistle	CINE	Cirsium neomexicanum	0–2	–
	Wright's bird's beak	COWR2	Cordylanthus wrightii	0–2	–
	New Mexico copperleaf	ACNE	Acalypha neomexicana	0–2	–
	smallflowered milkvetch	ASNU4	Astragalus nuttallianus	0–2	–
	Thurber's milkvetch	ASTH	Astragalus thurberi	0–2	–
	slender goldenweed	MAGR10	Machaeranthera gracilis	0–2	–
	Arizona poppy	KAGR	Kallstroemia grandiflora	0–2	–
	tanseyleaf tansyaster	MATA2	Machaeranthera tanacetifolia	0–2	–
	whitestem blazingstar	MEAL6	Mentzelia albicaulis	0–1	–
	sweet four o'clock	MILO2	Mirabilis longiflora	0–1	–
	desert evening primrose	OEPR	Oenothera primiveris	0–1	–
	Arizona phacelia	PHAR13	Phacelia arizonica	0–1	–
	Mangas Spring phacelia	PHBO4	Phacelia bombycina	0–1	–
	Arizona popcornflower	PLAR	Plagiobothrys arizonicus	0–1	–
	woolly plantain	PLPA2	Plantago patagonica	0–1	–
	purslane	PORTU	Portulaca	0–1	–
	yerba porosa	PORU6	Porophyllum ruderale	0–1	–
	desert unicorn-plant	PRAL4	Proboscidea althaeifolia	0–1	–
	doubleclaw	PRPA2	Proboscidea parviflora	0–1	–
	Wright's cudweed	PSCAC2	Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp. canescens	0–1	–
	Abert's creeping zinnia	SAAB	Sanvitalia abertii	0–1	–
	sawtooth sage	SASU7	Salvia subincisa	0–1	–
	spreading fanpetals	SIAB	Sida abutifolia	0–1	–
	sleepy silene	SIAN2	Silene antirrhina	0–1	–
	hillside vervain	VENE	Verbena neomexicana	0–1	–
	warty caltrop	KAPA	Kallstroemia parviflora	0–1	–
	Gordon's bladderpod	LEGO	Lesquerella gordonii	0–1	–
	broadleaved pepperweed	LELA2	Lepidium latifolium	0–1	–
	intermediate pepperweed	LEVIM	Lepidium virginicum var. medium	0–1	–
	dotted blazing star	LIPU	Liatris punctata	0–1	–
	plains flax	LIPU4	Linum puberulum	0–1	–
	foothill deervetch	LOHU2	Lotus humistratus	0–1	–
	coastal bird's-foot trefoil	LOSAB	Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus	0–1	–
	shortstem lupine	LUBR2	Lupinus brevicaulis	0–1	–
	bajada lupine	LUCOC	Lupinus concinnus ssp. concinnus	0–1	–
	Fendler's desertdandelion	MAFE	Malacothrix fendleri	0–1	–
	mesa tansyaster	MATA	Machaeranthera tagetina	0–1	–
	wheelscale saltbush	ATEL	Atriplex elegans	0–1	–
	camphorweed	HESU3	Heterotheca subaxillaris	0–1	–
	crestrib morning-glory	IPCO2	Ipomoea costellata	0–1	–
	redstar	IPCO3	Ipomoea coccinea	0–1	–
	ivyleaf morning-glory	IPHE	Ipomoea hederacea	0–1	–
	flaxflowered ipomopsis	IPLOL	Ipomopsis longiflora ssp. longiflora	0–1	–
	Thurber's morning-glory	IPTH	Ipomoea thurberi	0–1	–
	carelessweed	AMPA	Amaranthus palmeri	0–1	–
	crested anoda	ANCR2	Anoda cristata	0–1	–
	southwestern pricklypoppy	ARPL3	Argemone pleiacantha	0–1	–
	halfmoon milkvetch	ASAL6	Astragalus allochrous	0–1	–
	cryptantha	CRYPT	Cryptantha	0–1	–
	Chihuahuan prairie clover	DAEX2	Dalea exigua	0–1	–
	American wild carrot	DAPU3	Daucus pusillus	0–1	–
	sacred thorn-apple	DAWR2	Datura wrightii	0–1	–
	New Mexico ticktrefoil	DENE	Desmodium neomexicanum	0–1	–
	western tansymustard	DEPI	Descurainia pinnata	0–1	–
	western trailing ticktrefoil	DEPR2	Desmodium procumbens	0–1	–
	poorjoe	DITE2	Diodia teres	0–1	–
	wedgeleaf draba	DRCU	Draba cuneifolia	0–1	–
	Abert's buckwheat	ERAB2	Eriogonum abertianum	0–1	–
	sanddune wallflower	ERCA14	Erysimum capitatum	0–1	–
	miniature woollystar	ERDI2	Eriastrum diffusum	0–1	–
	spreading fleabane	ERDI4	Erigeron divergens	0–1	–
	sorrel buckwheat	ERPO4	Eriogonum polycladon	0–1	–
	California poppy	ESCAM	Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana	0–1	–
	Arizona blanketflower	GAAR2	Gaillardia arizonica	0–1	–
	red dome blanketflower	GAPI	Gaillardia pinnatifida	0–1	–
	lesser yellowthroat gilia	GIFL	Gilia flavocincta	0–1	–
	El Paso gilia	GIME	Gilia mexicana	0–1	–
	Dakota mock vervain	GLBIB	Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida	0–1	–
	curlytop gumweed	GRNUA	Grindelia nuda var. aphanactis	0–1	–
	miner's lettuce	CLPEP	Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata	0–1	–
	scrambled eggs	COAU2	Corydalis aurea	0–1	–
	southwestern cosmos	COPA12	Cosmos parviflorus	0–1	–
	threadstem sandmat	CHRE4	Chamaesyce revoluta	0–1	–
	thymeleaf sandmat	CHSE6	Chamaesyce serpyllifolia	0–1	–
	slimseed sandmat	CHST8	Chamaesyce stictospora	0–1	–
	Coulter's spiderling	BOCO2	Boerhavia coulteri	0–1	–
	erect spiderling	BOER	Boerhavia erecta	0–1	–
	hoary bowlesia	BOIN3	Bowlesia incana	0–1	–
	purple spiderling	BOPU	Boerhavia purpurascens	0–1	–
	fringed redmaids	CACI2	Calandrinia ciliata	0–1	–
	royal sandmat	CHDI5	Chamaesyce dioica	0–1	–
	pillpod sandmat	CHHI3	Chamaesyce hirta	0–1	–
	hyssopleaf sandmat	CHHY3	Chamaesyce hyssopifolia	0–1	–
Shrub/Vine
9	Half shrubs			22–78
	James' buckwheat	ERJA	Eriogonum jamesii	0–22	–
	fairyduster	CAER	Calliandra eriophylla	1–17	–
	featherplume	DAFO	Dalea formosa	1–11	–
	tarragon	ARDR4	Artemisia dracunculus	0–11	–
	yerba de pasmo	BAPT	Baccharis pteronioides	1–6	–
	California brickellbush	BRCA3	Brickellia californica	0–6	–
	Utah fendlerbush	FEUTC	Fendlerella utahensis var. cymosa	0–6	–
	heartleaf goldeneye	VICO	Viguiera cordifolia	0–6	–
	desert zinnia	ZIAC	Zinnia acerosa	0–6	–
	rough menodora	MESC	Menodora scabra	0–6	–
	trailing krameria	KRLA	Krameria lanceolata	1–6	–
	winterfat	KRLA2	Krascheninnikovia lanata	0–2	–
	littleleaf ratany	KRER	Krameria erecta	0–2	–
	bastardsage	ERWR	Eriogonum wrightii	0–2	–
	Gregg's prairie clover	DAGR2	Dalea greggii	0–2	–
	cliff goldenbush	ERCUC	Ericameria cuneata var. cuneata	0–2	–
	false boneset	BREU	Brickellia eupatorioides	0–2	–
	prairie acacia	ACAN	Acacia angustissima	0–2	–
	mariola	PAIN2	Parthenium incanum	0–1	–
	woody crinklemat	TICAC	Tiquilia canescens var. canescens	0–1	–
	American threefold	TRCA8	Trixis californica	0–1	–
10	Evergreen shrubs			56–112
	Mexican cliffrose	PUME	Purshia mexicana	0–56	–
	desert ceanothus	CEGR	Ceanothus greggii	1–56	–
	hairy mountain mahogany	CEMOP	Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus	1–56	–
	cliffbrake	PELLA	Pellaea	7–40	–
	pungent oak	QUPU	Quercus pungens	0–28	–
	evergreen sumac	RHVIC	Rhus virens var. choriophylla	1–28	–
	longstalk chinchweed	PELO	Pectis longipes	7–22	–
	Parry's beardtongue	PEPA24	Penstemon parryi	7–22	–
	Palmer's penstemon	PEPA8	Penstemon palmeri	7–22	–
	white milkwort	POAL4	Polygala alba	7–22	–
	Wright's cudweed	PSCAC2	Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp. canescens	7–22	–
	Texas snoutbean	RHSET	Rhynchosia senna var. texana	7–22	–
	twinleaf senna	SEBA3	Senna bauhinioides	7–22	–
	spreading fanpetals	SIAB	Sida abutifolia	7–22	–
	scarlet globemallow	SPCO	Sphaeralcea coccinea	7–22	–
	caliche globemallow	SPLA	Sphaeralcea laxa	7–22	–
	brownplume wirelettuce	STPA4	Stephanomeria pauciflora	7–22	–
	pricklyleaf dogweed	THAC	Thymophylla acerosa	7–22	–
	Hopi tea greenthread	THME	Thelesperma megapotamicum	7–22	–
	rue of the mountains	THTE2	Thamnosma texana	7–22	–
	Arizona bluecurls	TRAR	Trichostema arizonicum	7–22	–
	pinewoods spiderwort	TRPI	Tradescantia pinetorum	7–22	–
	branched noseburn	TRRA5	Tragia ramosa	7–22	–
	Fort Huachuca vervain	VEGR2	Verbena gracilis	7–22	–
	mariposa lily	CALOC	Calochortus	7–22	–
	Indian paintbrush	CASTI2	Castilleja	7–22	–
	field bindweed	COAR4	Convolvulus arvensis	7–22	–
	whitemouth dayflower	COER	Commelina erecta	7–22	–
	pale bastard toadflax	COUMP	Comandra umbellata ssp. pallida	7–22	–
	leatherweed	CRPOP	Croton pottsii var. pottsii	7–22	–
	spreading fleabane	ERDI4	Erigeron divergens	7–22	–
	trailing fleabane	ERFL	Erigeron flagellaris	7–22	–
	New Mexico fleabane	ERNE3	Erigeron neomexicanus	7–22	–
	wild dwarf morning-glory	EVAR	Evolvulus arizonicus	7–22	–
	shaggy dwarf morning-glory	EVNU	Evolvulus nuttallianus	7–22	–
	beeblossom	GAURA	Gaura	7–22	–
	pineywoods geranium	GECA3	Geranium caespitosum	7–22	–
	hairy false goldenaster	HEVI4	Heterotheca villosa	7–22	–
	fineleaf hymenopappus	HYFIL	Hymenopappus filifolius var. lugens	7–22	–
	El Paso skyrocket	IPTH2	Ipomopsis thurberi	7–22	–
	Lewis flax	LILE3	Linum lewisii	7–22	–
	plains flax	LIPU4	Linum puberulum	7–22	–
	variableleaf bushbean	MAGI2	Macroptilium gibbosifolium	7–22	–
	Organ Mountain blazingstar	MEAS2	Mentzelia asperula	7–22	–
	rough menodora	MESC	Menodora scabra	7–22	–
	alpine woodsorrel	OXAL2	Oxalis alpina	7–22	–
	brownfoot	ACWR5	Acourtia wrightii	7–22	–
	trailing windmills	ALIN	Allionia incarnata	7–22	–
	weakleaf bur ragweed	AMCO3	Ambrosia confertiflora	7–22	–
	tuber anemone	ANTU	Anemone tuberosa	7–22	–
	rockcress	ARABI2	Arabis	7–22	–
	white sagebrush	ARLU	Artemisia ludoviciana	7–22	–
	chaparral asphead	ASHI3	Aspicarpa hirtella	7–22	–
	dense ayenia	AYMI	Ayenia microphylla	7–22	–
	hairyseed bahia	BAAB	Bahia absinthifolia	7–22	–
	firecrackerbush	BOTE2	Bouvardia ternifolia	7–22	–
	Warnock's snakewood	COWA	Condalia warnockii	0–6	–
	Kearney's snakewood	COWAK	Condalia warnockii var. kearneyana	0–6	–
	Wright's silktassel	GAWR3	Garrya wrightii	0–6	–
	Arizona water-willow	JUCA9	Justicia candicans	0–2	–
11	Deciduous shrubs			17–56
	Mexican copperleaf	ACME7	Acalypha mexicana	6–40	–
	carelessweed	AMPA	Amaranthus palmeri	6–40	–
	milkvetch	ASTRA	Astragalus	6–40	–
	hoary bowlesia	BOIN3	Bowlesia incana	6–40	–
	exserted Indian paintbrush	CAEXE	Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta	6–40	–
	lambsquarters	CHAL7	Chenopodium album	6–40	–
	sensitive partridge pea	CHNIL	Chamaecrista nictitans ssp. nictitans var. leptadenia	6–40	–
	nodding bird's-beak	COLA4	Cordylanthus laxiflorus	6–40	–
	American wild carrot	DAPU3	Daucus pusillus	6–40	–
	New Mexico ticktrefoil	DENE	Desmodium neomexicanum	6–40	–
	western tansymustard	DEPI	Descurainia pinnata	6–40	–
	miniature woollystar	ERDI2	Eriastrum diffusum	6–40	–
	leafy spurge	EUESE	Euphorbia esula var. esula	6–40	–
	blanketflower	GAILL	Gaillardia	6–40	–
	Parry's dwarf-sunflower	HEPA	Helianthella parryi	6–40	–
	Arizona poppy	KAGR	Kallstroemia grandiflora	6–40	–
	intermediate pepperweed	LEVIM	Lepidium virginicum var. medium	6–40	–
	hoary tansyaster	MACA2	Machaeranthera canescens	6–40	–
	whitestem blazingstar	MEAL6	Mentzelia albicaulis	6–40	–
	green carpetweed	MOVE	Mollugo verticillata	6–40	–
	Florida pellitory	PAFL3	Parietaria floridana	6–40	–
	lakeshore panicgrass	PALA	Panicum lacustre	6–40	–
	phacelia	PHACE	Phacelia	6–40	–
	phlox	PHLOX	Phlox	6–40	–
	sweetscent	PLODO	Pluchea odorata var. odorata	6–40	–
	desert Indianwheat	PLOV	Plantago ovata	6–40	–
	slimflower scurfpea	PSTE5	Psoralidium tenuiflorum	6–40	–
	chia	SACO6	Salvia columbariae	6–40	–
	sleepy silene	SIAN2	Silene antirrhina	6–40	–
	staggerweed	STAR	Stachys arvensis	6–40	–
	garden vetch	VISAN2	Vicia sativa ssp. nigra	6–40	–
	Tahitian kidneywood	EYOR	Eysenhardtia orthocarpa	1–28	–
	ocotillo	FOSP2	Fouquieria splendens	6–28	–
	Arizona necklacepod	SOAR3	Sophora arizonica	0–11	–
	littleleaf sumac	RHMI3	Rhus microphylla	0–11	–
	skunkbush sumac	RHTR	Rhus trilobata	0–6	–
	Wright's mock buckthorn	SAWR	Sageretia wrightii	0–6	–
	catclaw acacia	ACGR	Acacia greggii	1–6	–
	Wright's beebrush	ALWR	Aloysia wrightii	1–6	–
	catclaw mimosa	MIACB	Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera	0–6	–
	Rio Grande saddlebush	MOSC	Mortonia scabrella	0–6	–
	western honey mesquite	PRGLT	Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana	0–2	–
	velvet mesquite	PRVE	Prosopis velutina	0–2	–
	spiny hackberry	CEEH	Celtis ehrenbergiana	0–2	–
	javelina bush	COER5	Condalia ericoides	0–2	–
	knifeleaf condalia	COSP3	Condalia spathulata	0–2	–
	whitethorn acacia	ACCO2	Acacia constricta	0–2	–
	longleaf jointfir	EPTR	Ephedra trifurca	0–1	–
	broom snakeweed	GUSA2	Gutierrezia sarothrae	0–1	–
12	Succulents			11–112
	sacahuista	NOMI	Nolina microcarpa	6–56	–
	Palmer's century plant	AGPA3	Agave palmeri	1–22	–
	Parry's agave	AGPA4	Agave parryi	1–22	–
	common sotol	DAWH2	Dasylirion wheeleri	6–22	–
	Parry's agave	AGPAP5	Agave parryi ssp. parryi	1–11	–
	Schott's century plant	AGSC3	Agave schottii	0–11	–
	dollarjoint pricklypear	OPCH	Opuntia chlorotica	0–6	–
	cactus apple	OPEN3	Opuntia engelmannii	0–6	–
	Schott's yucca	YUSC	Yucca ×schottii	0–6	–
	banana yucca	YUBA	Yucca baccata	0–6	–
	purple pricklypear	OPMA8	Opuntia macrocentra	0–2	–
	tulip pricklypear	OPPH	Opuntia phaeacantha	0–2	–
	candy barrelcactus	FEWI	Ferocactus wislizeni	0–2	–
	Graham's nipple cactus	MAGR9	Mammillaria grahamii	0–1	–
	Macdougal's nipple cactus	MAHEM	Mammillaria heyderi var. macdougalii	0–1	–
	soaptree yucca	YUEL	Yucca elata	0–1	–
	Scheer's beehive cactus	COROS	Coryphantha robustispina ssp. scheeri	0–1	–
	walkingstick cactus	CYSP8	Cylindropuntia spinosior	0–1	–
	pinkflower hedgehog cactus	ECBO2	Echinocereus bonkerae	0–1	–
	scarlet hedgehog cactus	ECCOC	Echinocereus coccineus var. coccineus	0–1	–
	pinkflower hedgehog cactus	ECFEF3	Echinocereus fendleri ssp. fendleri	0–1	–
	white fishhook cactus	ECIN2	Echinomastus intertextus	0–1	–
	Leding's hedgehog cactus	ECLE2	Echinocereus ledingii	0–1	–
	rainbow hedgehog cactus	ECRI3	Echinocereus rigidissimus	0–1	–
	Bisbee spinystar	ESVIB	Escobaria vivipara var. bisbeeana	0–1	–
Tree
13	Trees			6–39
	Arizona rosewood	VACA5	Vauquelinia californica	6–28	–
	Arizona white oak	QUAR	Quercus arizonica	0–22	–
	Emory oak	QUEM	Quercus emoryi	0–22	–
	Mexican blue oak	QUOB	Quercus oblongifolia	0–11	–
	alligator juniper	JUDE2	Juniperus deppeana	0–11	–
	oneseed juniper	JUMO	Juniperus monosperma	0–11	–
	Mexican pinyon	PICE	Pinus cembroides	0–6	–

Interpretations

Animal community

The plant community on this site is suitable for grazing by all classes of livestock at any season. High soil pH can limit the availability of some essential plant nutrients reducing forage quality especially compared to adjacent non-limy sites. Due to the abundance of cool season grasses and many species of palatable evergreen browse, this site is especially well suited for winter-spring grazing when nearby upland areas are deficient in protein. Steep slopes, very cobbly surfaces and large areas of rock outcrop limit grazing distribution on this site. Fencing large areas of this site separately from non-limy hills and uplands and grazing during the cool season will allow effective management of the forage resource it has. This site is very dry, but springs will be found at the lower end areas of this site where it contacts with more impervious metamorphic rocks like slate, mudstone, and quartzite. Canyons throughout areas of this site tend to be dry even in winter due to the extreme porosity of the limestone parent material. Mountain mahogany and Wright eupatorium can cause cyanide poisoning in the fall. Cattle should not be turned into areas of the site until after several frosts have occurred in late fall or early winter. Mountain lion predation on calves can be severe on this site. Grazing dry cows and/or yearlings in the cool season and moving cows off as they calve will help avoid predation.

This site provides excellent habitat for both whitetail and mule deer. Large amounts of palatable evergreen browse species on this site gives it a high carrying capacity for deer. Periodic fires will help keep species like desert ceanothus, cliffrose and mahogany from growing out of reach of deer. The potential plant community is rich in grass and forb species making the site home to a variety of insect, bird, small mammal and reptile species. Extensive stands of Agave Palmeri and Parryi are a primary food source for the Mexican long-tongue bat, as well as several other bird and insect species. Numerous caverns in the porous limestone bedrock are habitat for a variety of species, including summertime roosts for the endangered lesser long-nosed bat. Natural water is limited on this site unless contact springs occur where more impervious rock like slate or mudstone block the gravitational flow of water through the limestone and allow surface flow to occur. Water developments are very important to large mammals, as well as several bird and small mammal species that use this habitat.

Hydrological functions

This site is a poor producer of runoff due to the porous nature of the limestone parent material.

Recreational uses

Hunting, hiking, bird watching, camping, picnicking, fossil hunting, photography, horseback riding.

Wood products

Limited fuel-wood from juniper. Limited hobby wood from Arizona rosewood.

Other products

Beargrass and yucca for fibers, agave for tequila and mescal making, medicinal plants like yerba de pasmo, herbaceous sage and terragon, fossils, limestone for cement making.

Supporting information

Inventory data references

Range 417s include 1 in excellent condition.

Type locality

Location 1: Cochise County, AZ
Township/Range/Section	T23S R19E S32
General legal description	NE 1//4 of section - Ft. Huachuca - West range by Pyeatt Cave
Location 2: Cochise County, AZ
Township/Range/Section	T23S R24E S1
General legal description	Douglas FO - Miller Ranch, Mule Mtns., Mexican Canyon
Location 3: Cochise County, AZ
Township/Range/Section	T15S R22E S22
General legal description	Willcox FO - Little Dragoon Mtns., Johnson Mine
Location 4: Pinal County, AZ
Township/Range/Section	T10S R16E S19
General legal description	Tucson FO - Three C Ranch, Catalina Mtns.
Location 5: Santa Cruz County, AZ
Township/Range/Section	T21S R17E S9
General legal description	Babocomari Ranch, Encinos Pasture at KA #5.

Other references

Conservation Technical Assistance Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Range and Pasture Conservation Technical Resources. Site includes links to the National Range and Pasture Handbook. Available online at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/landuse/rangepasture. Accessed 9/18/2013.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. Agricultural Handbook 296 digital maps and attributes. Available online at http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/mlra/index.html. Accessed 9/18/2013.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Official Soil Series Descriptions. Available online at http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/osd/index.html. Accessed 9/18/2013.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Soil Survey. Available online at http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/. Accessed 9/18/2013.

Contributors

Steve Barker
WGN
Wilma J. Renken
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott

Approval

Curtis Talbot, 4/09/2021

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	11/21/2024
Approved by	Curtis Talbot
Approval date
Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on	Annual Production

Indicators

Number and extent of rills:
Presence of water flow patterns:
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Number of gullies and erosion associated with gullies:
Extent of wind scoured, blowouts and/or depositional areas:
Amount of litter movement (describe size and distance expected to travel):
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
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:
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Perennial plant reproductive capability:

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Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Ecological site R041XA103AZ

Limestone Hills 16-20 p.z.

Last updated: 4/09/2021 Accessed: 11/21/2024

General information

Figure 1. Mapped extent

MLRA notes

Ecological site concept

Associated sites

Similar sites

Table 1. Dominant plant species

Ecosystem states

State 1 submodel, plant communities

State 2 submodel, plant communities

State 3 submodel, plant communities

State 4 submodel, plant communities

Natural Resources
Conservation Service

Last updated: 4/09/2021
Accessed: 11/21/2024