Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XA110AZ
Sandy Loam Upland 16-20" p.z.
Last updated: 4/09/2021
Accessed: 11/21/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 041X–Madrean Archipelago
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 41 represents the most northern extent of the Sierra Madre Occidental, or in English, the “mother mountains of the west.” The Sierra Madre Occidental is a massive, rugged mountain system that runs northwest from the Rio Grande de Santiago, in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, through the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, and ending in Arizona and New Mexico. Through Mexico, this mountain system runs parallel to the Pacific coast and, as it crosses into the United States and confronts the tectonic folding and rifting of the Basin and Range Physiographic Province, the land mass geographically breaks into smaller, isolated mountain ranges, called “sky islands.” The centralizing theme for this MLRA can be summed up as a series of inland islands extending from their mainland, the Sierra Madre Occidental, surrounded by a sea of desert grassland. To the west, the Madrean Archipelago bounds the Sonoran Basin and Range where several sky islands in southern Arizona grade into Sonoran Desert basins; to the north it bounds the contiguous mountains and geology of the Mogollon Transition area; and to the east, in New Mexico, it bounds the geology of the Rio Grande Rift. MLRA 41 is primarily a rangeland subdivision with small amounts of irrigated cropland. It encompasses approximately 13M acres.
LRU notes
Land Resource Unit 41-1, 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.
Classification relationships
USDA-NRCS Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin: Western Range and Irrigated Region D; Major Land Resource Area 41, Southeastern Arizona Basin and Range; Land Resource Unit 41-1, Semi-Desert Grassland; Ecological Site Loamy Upland, 16"-20" p.z.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ecological Regions of North America: Level I, Region 12, Southern Semi-Arid Highlands; Level II, 12.1 Western Sierra Madre Piedmont, Level III, Ecoregion 79 Madrean Archipelago, 79a, Apachian Valleys and Low Hills.
USDA-USFS Ecological Subregions: Sections of the Conterminous United States: Section 321 Basin and Range; Section 321A, Basin and Range Section.
Ecological site concept
Sandy Loam Upland, 16”-20” p.z., ecological site is found on gently sloping uplands with deep soils. An argillic or clay cambic horizon is below 4 or more inches of sandy loam textured soils.
Associated sites
| F041XA112AZ |
Sandy Wash 16-20" p.z. woodland |
|---|---|
| F041XA113AZ |
Sandy Bottom 16-20" p.z. woodland |
| R041XA102AZ |
Shallow Hills 16-20" p.z. |
| R041XA114AZ |
Loamy Bottom 16-20" p.z. |
| R041XA115AZ |
Loamy Swale 16-20" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R041XC319AZ |
Sandy Loam Upland 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| F041XA122AZ |
Sandy Loam Upland 20-23" p.z. |
| R041XC318AZ |
Sandy Loam 12-16" p.z. Deep |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) baccharis pteronioides |
| Herbaceous |
(1) bouteloua curtipendula |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the middle elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range Province. It occurs on fan terraces, old stream terraces and valley plains.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Fan piedmont
(2) Plain (3) Terrace |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 4,700 – 5,500 ft |
| Slope | 1 – 10% |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
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.
Species like plains lovegrass, yerba de pasmo, shrubby buckwheat and ratany begin growth in late March to April. Warm season grasses begin growth in July or August with receipt of the first summer rains.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 200 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | |
| Precipitation total (average) | 20 in |
Figure 2. Monthly precipitation range
Figure 3. Monthly average minimum and maximum temperature
Influencing water features
There are no water features associated with this site.
Soil features
These are deep soils which have formed in loamy alluvium of mixed origin. Surface textures range from sandy loam to cobbly sandy loams. Course textured surfaces must be at least four inches thick (eight inches for CBV-SL). These soils have clayey textured argillic horizons at shallow depths. Soil surfaces are dark colored. Although several soil series are correlated in map unit components to this ecological site, Terrarosa soil series is most representative of Loamy Upland, 16-20” p.z.. Plant-soil moisture relationships are very good.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Alluvium
–
igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock
|
|---|---|
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderate |
| Soil depth | 60 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 5 – 15% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 5% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
7.2 – 9.6 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
5% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
6.1 – 7.8 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
3 – 10% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
5% |
Ecological dynamics
The historic native state includes the native plant communities that occur on the site, including historic climax plant community. This state includes other plant communities that naturally occupy the site following fire, drought, flooding, herbivores, and other natural disturbances. The historic plant community represents the natural climax community that eventually reoccupies the site with proper management.
The potential plant community on this site is dominated by warm-season, perennial midgrasses. The major perennial species are well dispersed throughout the plant community. Perennial forbs, several species of low shrubs and succulents are well represented in the plant community. The aspect is open grassland to oak-grass savannah.
Mesquite and Lehmann lovegrass are at the upper limits of their elevation range, but can increase to dominance on this site, especially with climatic warming. Naturally occurring fires in Jun-Aug are an important factor in shaping this plant community. Fire-free intervals range from 10-20 years.
Periodic drought can occur in this LRA and cause significant grass mortality. Droughts in the early 30s, mid-50s, 1975-76 and 1988-89 resulted in the loss of much of the perennial grass cover on this site. This site recovers very rapidly, however, due to the favorable climate prevailing in this sub-resource area and thick, coarse textured soil surfaces.
State and transition model
Figure 4. Sandyloam Upland 41-1 STM diagram
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 4 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Reference
Community 1.1
Grassland-Oak Savannah (HCPC)
Figure 5. Sandy Loam Upland 16-20" pz. HCPC
The historic native state includes the native plant communities that occur on the site, including historic climax plant community. This state includes other plant communities that naturally occupy the site following fire, drought, flooding, herbivores, and other natural disturbances. The historic plant community represents the natural climax community that eventually reoccupies the site with proper management. The potential plant community on this site is dominated by warm-season, perennial midgrasses. The major perennial species are well dispersed throughout the plant community. Perennial forbs, several species of low shrubs and succulents are well represented in the plant community. The aspect is open grassland to oak-grass savannah. Mesquite and Lehmann lovegrass are at the upper limits of their elevation range, but can increase to dominance on this site, especially with climatic warming. Naturally occurring fires in Jun-Aug are an important factor in shaping this plant community. Fire-free intervals range from 10-20 years. Periodic drought can occur in this LRA and cause significant grass mortality. Droughts in the early 30s, mid-50s, 1975-76 and 1988-89 resulted in the loss of much of the perennial grass cover on this site. This site recovers very rapidly, however, due to the favorable climate prevailing in this sub-resource area and thick, coarse textured soil surfaces.
Figure 6. Annual production by plant type (representative values) or group (midpoint values)
Table 5. Annual production by plant type
| Plant type | Low (lb/acre) |
Representative value (lb/acre) |
High (lb/acre) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass/Grasslike | 1065 | 1600 | 2112 |
| Forb | 17 | 30 | 205 |
| Tree | 0 | 5 | 30 |
| Shrub/Vine | 2 | 10 | 27 |
| Total | 1084 | 1645 | 2374 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 0-1% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 10-20% |
| Forb basal cover | 0-1% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0-1% |
| Biological crusts | 1-5% |
| Litter | 25-65% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 5-15% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0-5% |
| Bedrock | 0% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 10-40% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | 0-1% | 1-5% | 0-5% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 0-1% | 10-20% | 1-5% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 0-3% | 20-40% | 0-10% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 0-1% | 5-15% | 0-1% |
| >4.5 <= 13 | 0-1% | – | 0-1% | – |
| >13 <= 40 | 0-5% | – | – | – |
| >40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
| >80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
| >120 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 7. 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
Annual Forbs
Annual forbs like camphorweed, annual goldeneye, gumweed and sorrel buckwheat dominate the plant community with marked reduction in mid-grass canopies. Short grasses are somewhat reduced.
Community 1.3
Short Grasses
Continuous, unmanaged grazing at high utilization levels removes midgrasses from the plant community. Midgrasses are replaced by a sod-bound form of blue grama and annual grasses and forbs. With severe deterioration, shrubby species like burroweed, wooly groundsel and yerba-de-pasmo can increase to dominate the plant community.
Pathway 1.1a
Community 1.1 to 1.2
Extended periods with no disturbance (fire or grazing) allow the build-up of perennial grass biomass that result in plant decadence. Periodic drought also causes significant grass mortality.
Pathway 1.1b
Community 1.1 to 1.3
Continuous, unmanaged, grazing with heavy to severe utilization removes perennial mid-grasses and affects natural fire cycles.
Pathway 1.2a
Community 1.2 to 1.1
With managed grazing, this site recovers moderately well in 2 to 3 years due to the favorable climate prevailing in this sub-resource area.
Pathway 1.2b
Community 1.2 to 1.3
Unmanaged grazing during a favorable precipitation period inhibits perennial midgrass recruitment.
Pathway 1.3a
Community 1.3 to 1.1
With managed grazing, midgrasses regain their dominance of the plant communities.
Pathway 1.3b
Community 1.3 to 1.2
Natural fire cycles are interrupted from lack of fine fuels caused by continuous, unmanaged grazing at high utilization levels.
State 2
Exotic Grasses
Community 2.1
Exotic Grassland
Figure 8. Sandy Loam Upland 16-20" pz. Lehmann lovegrass
This state occurs where African lovegrass species either have invaded from established stands or from direct seeding of these areas. Lehmann, Boer, weeping lovegrass, and in some places the yellow bluestems, are dominant and native perennial grasses and forbs exist only in trace amounts. Cover and production of these species is very high and site stability and hydrologic function are good.
State 3
Mesquite, Juniper Invaded
Community 3.1
Mesquite and Juniper
Figure 9. Sandy Loam Upland 16-20" pz. Mesquite
With continuous grazing, a nearby seed source, and in the absence of fire for long periods of time; velvet mesquite, western honey mesquite, alligator juniper and / or one seed juniper can invade and increase to dominate the site. Canopy cover ranges from 1 to 30%. Sheet and rill erosion can begin to accelerate at the higher canopy levels.
State 4
Eroded
Community 4.1
Loamy Upland Community
This state occurs where accelerated sheet and rill erosion has removed the soil surface (A horizon). This can be due to the interactions of fire, continuous grazing and drought; resulting in compaction and loss of grass cover. On those soils with argillic horizons; erosion that removes all but 3 inches of the surface has reduced the site potential to something similar to that of Loamy Upland ecological site (R041XA108AZ). On those soils with sandyloam textures throughout; erosion has left a patterns of rills that change the hydrology of the site and reduce production and cover.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Non-native bunchgrass seed is purposely planted or inadvertently introduced into the plant community (wind-blown or mechanical transport). Disturbances such as fire or drought can disrupt the native perennials allowing the non-native grasses an opportunity to expand their range from disturbed or planted areas. Long term events such as continuous unmanaged grazing or community phase pathway 1.1a (shift to the Annual Forbs community phase 1.2) allow non-native bunchgrasses a competitive advantage over natives.
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3
Continuous unmanaged grazing with heavy to severe utilization results in persistently low perennial grass cover and extended fire free periods. Mesquite and juniper increase in size and number. Remnant native perennial grasses cannot re-colonize areas with shrub competition.
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4
Long-term, continuous, unmanaged grazing with heavy to severe utilization affects soil site stability and hydrologic functioning. Reduced soil cover, compaction, and A Horizon loss compound the effect of plant community changes (increased shrub/decreased perennial grass community) to increase surface water run-off rather than infiltration. Drought conditions accelerate this transition. Persistent reduced infiltration severely limits perennial grass recruitment.
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.
Transition T2A
State 2 to 3
Continuous unmanaged grazing with heavy to severe utilization results in persistently low perennial grass cover and extended fire free periods. Mesquite and juniper increase in size and number. Remnant native perennial grasses cannot re-colonize areas with shrub competition.
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1
Woody species control, native species seeding (as needed) supported by managed grazing. Shrub control maintained with herbicide and/or prescribed burning.
Restoration pathway R3B
State 3 to 2
Restoration activities conducted when a non-native seed bank is present on site (African lovegrasses or yellow bluestem present along trails, roads or in disturbed areas) can result in an exotic grassland community. Native species seeding may enhance the native grass component. Restoration practices are woody species control and native species seeding (as needed) supported by managed grazing. Shrub control maintained with herbicide may favor the native grasses while prescribed burning may favor non-natives. Burning the mixed shrub community with a non-native grass seed source present can result in an exotic grassland co-dominant with shrubs.
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4
Long-term, continuous, unmanaged grazing with heavy to severe utilization affects soil site stability and hydrologic functioning. Reduced soil cover, compaction, and A Horizon loss compound the effect of plant community changes (increased shrub/decreased perennial grass community) to increase surface water run-off rather than infiltration. Drought conditions accelerate this transition. Persistent reduced infiltration severely limits perennial grass recruitment.
Additional community tables
Table 8. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Dominant mid-grasses | 800–1300 | ||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 200–600 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 200–600 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 100–300 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 50–300 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 25–200 | – | ||
| spiked crinkleawn | TRSP12 | Trachypogon spicatus | 0–200 | – | ||
| 2 | Dominant short grasses | 250–500 | ||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 100–400 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 10–200 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 0–50 | – | ||
| fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 10–50 | – | ||
| common wolfstail | LYPH | Lycurus phleoides | 5–50 | – | ||
| 3 | Perennial threeawns | 10–80 | ||||
| Orcutt's threeawn | ARSCO | Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana | 0–50 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 5–40 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–20 | – | ||
| Santa Rita threeawn | ARCAG | Aristida californica var. glabrata | 0–5 | – | ||
| poverty threeawn | ARDI5 | Aristida divaricata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Havard's threeawn | ARHA3 | Aristida havardii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–5 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 0–5 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wright's threeawn | ARPUW | Aristida purpurea var. wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| 4 | Annual Grasses | 5–100 | ||||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 1–15 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 0–15 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 1–10 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–10 | – | ||
| tapertip cupgrass | ERACA | Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata | 0–10 | – | ||
| pitscale grass | HAGR3 | Hackelochloa granularis | 1–10 | – | ||
| sweet tanglehead | HEME | Heteropogon melanocarpus | 0–10 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 0–10 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 1–10 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 0–5 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPEP2 | Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea | 0–5 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–5 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–5 | – | ||
| little grapefern | BOSI | Botrychium simplex | 0–2 | – | ||
| matted grama | BOSI2 | Bouteloua simplex | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 0–2 | – | ||
| Mexican lovegrass | ERME | Eragrostis mexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–2 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–1 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–1 | – | ||
| poverty dropseed | SPVA | Sporobolus vaginiflorus | 0–1 | – | ||
| prairie false oat | TRIN5 | Trisetum interruptum | 0–1 | – | ||
| 5 | Cool season grasses | 2–50 | ||||
| squirreltail | ELELE | Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides | 1–30 | – | ||
| pinyon ricegrass | PIFI | Piptochaetium fimbriatum | 0–25 | – | ||
| sedge | CAREX | Carex | 1–10 | – | ||
| flatsedge | CYPER | Cyperus | 0–10 | – | ||
| densetuft hairsedge | BUCA2 | Bulbostylis capillaris | 0–2 | – | ||
| 6 | Miscellaneous perennial grasses | 5–100 | ||||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 1–50 | – | ||
| silver bluestem | BOSA | Bothriochloa saccharoides | 0–50 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 1–50 | – | ||
| spike dropseed | SPCO4 | Sporobolus contractus | 1–50 | – | ||
| slender grama | BORE2 | Bouteloua repens | 0–25 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 1–20 | – | ||
| sprucetop grama | BOCH | Bouteloua chondrosioides | 0–15 | – | ||
| purple grama | BORA | Bouteloua radicosa | 0–15 | – | ||
| woolyspike balsamscale | ELBA | Elionurus barbiculmis | 0–10 | – | ||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 0–10 | – | ||
| bullgrass | MUEM | Muhlenbergia emersleyi | 0–10 | – | ||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 1–10 | – | ||
| creeping muhly | MURE | Muhlenbergia repens | 0–10 | – | ||
| purple muhly | MURI3 | Muhlenbergia rigida | 0–10 | – | ||
| bulb panicgrass | PABU | Panicum bulbosum | 0–10 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 0–10 | – | ||
| big sacaton | SPWR2 | Sporobolus wrightii | 0–10 | – | ||
| Texas bluestem | SCCI2 | Schizachyrium cirratum | 0–10 | – | ||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 0–10 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–10 | – | ||
| Arizona muhly | MUAR3 | Muhlenbergia arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Porter's melicgrass | MEPO | Melica porteri | 0–2 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 7 | Perennial forbs | 15–55 | ||||
| Cooley's bundleflower | DECO2 | Desmanthus cooleyi | 1–10 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 1–10 | – | ||
| orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–10 | – | ||
| wild dwarf morning-glory | EVAR | Evolvulus arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| spreading snakeherb | DYSCD | Dyschoriste schiedeana var. decumbens | 0–5 | – | ||
| rose heath | CHER2 | Chaetopappa ericoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| leatherweed | CRPO5 | Croton pottsii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Texas snoutbean | RHSET | Rhynchosia senna var. texana | 0–5 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 0–2 | – | ||
| shrubby purslane | POSU3 | Portulaca suffrutescens | 0–2 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| Missouri goldenrod | SOMI2 | Solidago missouriensis | 0–2 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain zinnia | ZIGR | Zinnia grandiflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| Missouri gourd | CUFO | Cucurbita foetidissima | 0–2 | – | ||
| largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 0–2 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–2 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 0–2 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–2 | – | ||
| trailing fleabane | ERFL | Erigeron flagellaris | 0–2 | – | ||
| small matweed | GUDE | Guilleminea densa | 0–2 | – | ||
| Rutter's false goldenaster | HERU3 | Heterotheca rutteri | 0–2 | – | ||
| Wright's deervetch | LOWR | Lotus wrightii | 0–2 | – | ||
| silver dwarf morning-glory | EVSE | Evolvulus sericeus | 0–2 | – | ||
| tufted evening primrose | OECA10 | Oenothera caespitosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| locoweed | OXYTR | Oxytropis | 0–1 | – | ||
| beardlip penstemon | PEBA2 | Penstemon barbatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Cochise beardtongue | PEDA | Penstemon dasyphyllus | 0–1 | – | ||
| longstalk chinchweed | PELO | Pectis longipes | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parry's beardtongue | PEPA24 | Penstemon parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| slimleaf bean | PHAN3 | Phaseolus angustissimus | 0–1 | – | ||
| ivyleaf groundcherry | PHHE4 | Physalis hederifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| white milkwort | POAL4 | Polygala alba | 0–1 | – | ||
| velvetseed milkwort | POOB | Polygala obscura | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona snakecotton | FRAR2 | Froelichia arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| scarlet beeblossom | GACO5 | Gaura coccinea | 0–1 | – | ||
| pearly globe amaranth | GONI | Gomphrena nitida | 0–1 | – | ||
| variableleaf bushbean | MAGI2 | Macroptilium gibbosifolium | 0–1 | – | ||
| shaggy dwarf morning-glory | EVNU | Evolvulus nuttallianus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Indian rushpea | HOGL2 | Hoffmannseggia glauca | 0–1 | – | ||
| red bluet | HORU | Houstonia rubra | 0–1 | – | ||
| babyslippers | HYVE | Hybanthus verticillatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| ragged nettlespurge | JAMA | Jatropha macrorhiza | 0–1 | – | ||
| San Pedro daisy | LAPO4 | Lasianthaea podocephala | 0–1 | – | ||
| Fendler's bladderpod | LEFE | Lesquerella fendleri | 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 | – | ||
| Mexican fireplant | EUHE4 | Euphorbia heterophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| sun spurge | EURA2 | Euphorbia radians | 0–1 | – | ||
| Torrey's craglily | ECFL | Echeandia flavescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 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 | – | ||
| chaparral asphead | ASHI3 | Aspicarpa hirtella | 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 | – | ||
| horsetail milkweed | ASSU2 | Asclepias subverticillata | 0–1 | – | ||
| dense ayenia | AYMI | Ayenia microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| hairyseed bahia | BAAB | Bahia absinthifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| lyreleaf greeneyes | BELY | Berlandiera lyrata | 0–1 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 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 | – | ||
| Mexican yellowshow | AMPA3 | Amoreuxia palmatifida | 0–1 | – | ||
| Cuman ragweed | AMPS | Ambrosia psilostachya | 0–1 | – | ||
| birdbill dayflower | CODI4 | Commelina dianthifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| Texas bindweed | COEQ | Convolvulus equitans | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitemouth dayflower | COER | Commelina erecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| coyote gourd | CUPA | Cucurbita palmata | 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 | – | ||
| melon loco | APUN | Apodanthera undulata | 0–1 | – | ||
| fingerleaf gourd | CUDI | Cucurbita digitata | 0–1 | – | ||
| copper globemallow | SPAN3 | Sphaeralcea angustifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| gooseberryleaf globemallow | SPGR2 | Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia | 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 | – | ||
| slimflower scurfpea | PSTE5 | Psoralidium tenuiflorum | 0–1 | – | ||
| buffpetal | RHPH2 | Rhynchosida physocalyx | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mexican star | MIBI2 | Milla biflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| lemon beebalm | MOCIA | Monarda citriodora ssp. austromontana | 0–1 | – | ||
| slimleaf plainsmustard | SCLI12 | Schoenocrambe linearifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| Lemmon's ragwort | SELE8 | Senecio lemmonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| salt spring checkerbloom | SINE3 | Sidalcea neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 0–1 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 0–1 | – | ||
| 8 | Annual Forbs | 2–150 | ||||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 1–50 | – | ||
| camphorweed | HESU3 | Heterotheca subaxillaris | 1–50 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–25 | – | ||
| warty caltrop | KAPA | Kallstroemia parviflora | 0–10 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 0–10 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 1–10 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–10 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–10 | – | ||
| sweet four o'clock | MILO2 | Mirabilis longiflora | 0–10 | – | ||
| pitseed goosefoot | CHBE4 | Chenopodium berlandieri | 0–10 | – | ||
| New Mexico goosefoot | CHNE3 | Chenopodium neomexicanum | 0–10 | – | ||
| sensitive partridge pea | CHNI2 | Chamaecrista nictitans | 0–10 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 0–10 | – | ||
| smallflowered milkvetch | ASNU4 | Astragalus nuttallianus | 0–10 | – | ||
| Thurber's milkvetch | ASTH | Astragalus thurberi | 0–10 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–5 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Abert's buckwheat | ERAB2 | Eriogonum abertianum | 0–5 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| Thurber's morning-glory | IPTH | Ipomoea thurberi | 0–2 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–2 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| Fendler's desertdandelion | MAFE | Malacothrix fendleri | 0–2 | – | ||
| golden crownbeard | VEEN | Verbesina encelioides | 0–2 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| redstar | IPCO3 | Ipomoea coccinea | 0–2 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico copperleaf | ACNE | Acalypha neomexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| crested anoda | ANCR2 | Anoda cristata | 0–1 | – | ||
| southwestern pricklypoppy | ARPL3 | Argemone pleiacantha | 0–1 | – | ||
| halfmoon milkvetch | ASAL6 | Astragalus allochrous | 0–1 | – | ||
| wheelscale saltbush | ATEL | Atriplex elegans | 0–1 | – | ||
| fewflower beggarticks | BILE | Bidens leptocephala | 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 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| poorjoe | DITE2 | Diodia teres | 0–1 | – | ||
| miner's lettuce | CLPEP | Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata | 0–1 | – | ||
| threadstem sandmat | CHRE4 | Chamaesyce revoluta | 0–1 | – | ||
| thymeleaf sandmat | CHSE6 | Chamaesyce serpyllifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| slimseed sandmat | CHST8 | Chamaesyce stictospora | 0–1 | – | ||
| royal sandmat | CHDI5 | Chamaesyce dioica | 0–1 | – | ||
| pillpod sandmat | CHHI3 | Chamaesyce hirta | 0–1 | – | ||
| hyssopleaf sandmat | CHHY3 | Chamaesyce hyssopifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| flaxflowered ipomopsis | IPLOL | Ipomopsis longiflora ssp. longiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–1 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 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 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–1 | – | ||
| El Paso skyrocket | IPTH2 | Ipomopsis thurberi | 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 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| broadleaved pepperweed | LELA2 | Lepidium latifolium | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 9 | Dominant half shrubs | 2–20 | ||||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 1–20 | – | ||
| dwarf milkweed | ASIN14 | Asclepias involucrata | 1–15 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 1–15 | – | ||
| lyreleaf greeneyes | BELY | Berlandiera lyrata | 1–15 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 1–15 | – | ||
| fringed redmaids | CACI2 | Calandrinia ciliata | 1–15 | – | ||
| Indian paintbrush | CASTI2 | Castilleja | 1–15 | – | ||
| lambsquarters | CHAL7 | Chenopodium album | 1–15 | – | ||
| hyssopleaf sandmat | CHHY3 | Chamaesyce hyssopifolia | 1–15 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 1–15 | – | ||
| smooth babybonnets | COGL7 | Coursetia glabella | 1–15 | – | ||
| leatherweed | CRPOP | Croton pottsii var. pottsii | 1–15 | – | ||
| fingerleaf gourd | CUDI | Cucurbita digitata | 1–15 | – | ||
| coyote gourd | CUPA | Cucurbita palmata | 1–15 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 1–15 | – | ||
| New Mexico ticktrefoil | DENE | Desmodium neomexicanum | 1–15 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 1–15 | – | ||
| Torrey's craglily | ECFL | Echeandia flavescens | 1–15 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 1–15 | – | ||
| Bessey's stickseed | HABE3 | Hackelia besseyi | 1–15 | – | ||
| Indian rushpea | HOGL2 | Hoffmannseggia glauca | 1–15 | – | ||
| rubberweed | HYMEN7 | Hymenoxys | 1–15 | – | ||
| ragged nettlespurge | JAMA | Jatropha macrorhiza | 1–15 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 1–15 | – | ||
| Coulter's horseweed | LACO13 | Laennecia coulteri | 1–15 | – | ||
| Fendler's bladderpod | LEFE | Lesquerella fendleri | 1–15 | – | ||
| Goodding's bladderpod | LEGO2 | Lesquerella gooddingii | 1–15 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 1–15 | – | ||
| Lewis flax | LILE3 | Linum lewisii | 1–15 | – | ||
| plains flax | LIPU4 | Linum puberulum | 1–15 | – | ||
| woodland-star | LITHO2 | Lithophragma | 1–15 | – | ||
| Greene's bird's-foot trefoil | LOGR4 | Lotus greenei | 1–15 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 1–15 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSAB | Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus | 1–15 | – | ||
| lupine | LUPIN | Lupinus | 1–15 | – | ||
| hoary tansyaster | MACA2 | Machaeranthera canescens | 1–15 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 1–15 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 1–15 | – | ||
| lemon beebalm | MOCIA | Monarda citriodora ssp. austromontana | 1–15 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 1–15 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 1–15 | – | ||
| Drummond's woodsorrel | OXDR | Oxalis drummondii | 1–15 | – | ||
| palafox | PALAF | Palafoxia | 1–15 | – | ||
| longstalk chinchweed | PELO | Pectis longipes | 1–15 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 1–15 | – | ||
| ivyleaf groundcherry | PHHE4 | Physalis hederifolia | 1–15 | – | ||
| phlox | PHLOX | Phlox | 1–15 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 1–15 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 1–15 | – | ||
| little hogweed | POOL | Portulaca oleracea | 1–15 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 1–15 | – | ||
| slimflower scurfpea | PSTE5 | Psoralidium tenuiflorum | 1–15 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 1–15 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 1–15 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 1–15 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 1–15 | – | ||
| Missouri goldenrod | SOMI2 | Solidago missouriensis | 1–15 | – | ||
| jewels of Opar | TAPA2 | Talinum paniculatum | 1–15 | – | ||
| Hopi tea greenthread | THME | Thelesperma megapotamicum | 1–15 | – | ||
| Palmer's crinklemat | TIPA | Tiquilia palmeri | 1–15 | – | ||
| pinewoods spiderwort | TRPI | Tradescantia pinetorum | 1–15 | – | ||
| branched noseburn | TRRA5 | Tragia ramosa | 1–15 | – | ||
| Fort Huachuca vervain | VEGR2 | Verbena gracilis | 1–15 | – | ||
| American vetch | VIAM | Vicia americana | 1–15 | – | ||
| Louisiana vetch | VILUL2 | Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana | 1–15 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain zinnia | ZIGR | Zinnia grandiflora | 1–15 | – | ||
| yerba de pasmo | BAPT | Baccharis pteronioides | 1–10 | – | ||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 0–10 | – | ||
| prairie acacia | ACAN | Acacia angustissima | 0–5 | – | ||
| 10 | Miscellanous shrubs | 0–5 | ||||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Apache plume | FAPA | Fallugia paradoxa | 0–2 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| trailing krameria | KRLA | Krameria lanceolata | 0–1 | – | ||
| pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–1 | – | ||
| velvetpod mimosa | MIDY | Mimosa dysocarpa | 0–1 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–1 | – | ||
| threadleaf ragwort | SEFL3 | Senecio flaccidus | 0–1 | – | ||
| pointleaf manzanita | ARPU5 | Arctostaphylos pungens | 0–1 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 0–1 | – | ||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNAC3 | Ericameria nauseosa ssp. consimilis var. ceruminosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| 11 | Succulents | 0–2 | ||||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 0–2 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 0–1 | – | ||
| twistspine pricklypear | OPMA2 | Opuntia macrorhiza | 0–1 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 0–1 | – | ||
| Palmer's century plant | AGPA3 | Agave palmeri | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parry's agave | AGPA4 | Agave parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–1 | – | ||
| pinkflower hedgehog cactus | ECFEF3 | Echinocereus fendleri ssp. fendleri | 0–1 | – | ||
| white fishhook cactus | ECIN2 | Echinomastus intertextus | 0–1 | – | ||
| rainbow hedgehog cactus | ECRI3 | Echinocereus rigidissimus | 0–1 | – | ||
| spinystar | ESVI2 | Escobaria vivipara | 0–1 | – | ||
| Macdougal's nipple cactus | MAHEM | Mammillaria heyderi var. macdougalii | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 12 | Trees | 0–30 | ||||
| Arizona white oak | QUAR | Quercus arizonica | 0–30 | – | ||
| Emory oak | QUEM | Quercus emoryi | 0–30 | – | ||
| alligator juniper | JUDE2 | Juniperus deppeana | 0–1 | – | ||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–1 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
The plant community on this site is suitable for grazing by all classes of livestock at any season. The plant community will be low in digestable protein in the winter. Phosphorous may be deficient throughout the year. Grazing should be managed to maintain a vigorous stand of midgrasses to keep Lehmann lovegrass out of the community and to prevent forbs like camphorweed and annual buckwheat from becoming dominant in the plant community. Annual goldeneye can cause problems in the fall after unusually wet winter-spring season.
The site is a primary habitat for pronghorn antelope in southeastern Arizona. Water developments are very important to both large and small wildlife species on the site. The site is open grassland and rich in both grass and forb species, making it home to a great variety of insect, bird, small mammal and reptile species.
In areas adjacent to woodlands, this site is heavily used as a forage area for large mammals like mule deer and whitetail deer. Natural water is lacking on this site.
Hydrological functions
Due to thick, coarse textured soil surfaces this site is a poor producer of runoff.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking, horseback riding, camping, bird watching, photography.
Wood products
None unless the area has been invaded by mesquite or juniper.
Other products
Grass seed, medicinal herbs like yerba de pasmo and mormon tea.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Range 417s include 1 in excellent condition and 2 in good condition.
Type locality
| Location 1: Cochise County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T22S R20E S28 |
| General legal description | NE 1/2 of section. Douglas FO - Ft. Huachuca - South Range |
| Location 2: Pima County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T20S R17E S11 |
| General legal description | SE 1/2 of section. Tucson - Empire Ranch |
| Location 3: Santa Cruz County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T21S R18E S23 |
| General legal description | Audubon Research Ranch |
Other references
Griffith, G.E., Omernik, J.M., Johnson, C.B., and Turner, D.S., 2014, Ecoregions of Arizona (poster): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014-1141, with map, scale 1:1,325,000, https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141141. ISSN 2331-1258 (online)
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2006. Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook 296.
McNab, W.H.; Cleland, D.T.; Freeouf, J.A.; Keys, Jr., J.E.; Nowacki, G.J.; Carpenter, C.A., comps. 2007.
Contributors
Steve Barker
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) | Wilma Renken, Dan Robinett, Larry Humphrey, Scott Stratton, Linda Kennedy |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | USDA-NRCS Tucson MLRA Soil Survey Office |
| Date | 05/01/2014 |
| Approved by | Curtis Talbot |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None -
Presence of water flow patterns:
No water flow patterns evident. Reference site is nearly flat terrain (1-2% slope) lending to sheet flow across site. Expect waterflow pattern presence to increase in length and continuity with increasing slope; at the steepest slopes (10-15% slope), short, discontinuous water flow patterns may occupy up to 15% of the area. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals (<1") common on perennial grasses; no terracettes. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
Bare ground after fire was 55% and decreased to 30% within 4 years. Bare (unvegetated) areas are uncommon and small (3-5 ft diameter) -
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):
Most litter stays in place with some fine litter moving off bare areas. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Highly stable soil surface with cryptobiotic crust. Soil slake test value was "6" for all samples. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Soil surface horizon was a gravelly sandy loam, 0-4" depth, color 5YR 6/4 dry, 5YR 3/3 moist, granular structure immediately below a platy surface. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Perennial grass basal cover (7-15%) is evenly distributed across site. Low perennial grass basal cover is expected after fire or drought. Well-dispersed perennial grasses slow rainfall run-off allowing infiltration. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
No compaction. Average depth of penetration from an ARS field penetrometer with a 2.2 kg. sliding hammer was 4.2 cm. Argillic horizon at 4" depth may be mistaken for compaction. -
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:
Mid-grasses > short-grassesSub-dominant:
Perennial forbs > low shrubsOther:
few succulentsAdditional:
annual grasses and annual forbs fluctuate with rainfall -
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
Very little mortality during periods between fire and drought. Mortality from fire depends upon season and intensity of burn. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
30-50% litter cover with fire dynamic from 10 years of monitoring data encompassing 2 burns. Litter cover on the low end of the range is expected immmediately post-burn and increases with favorable weather and time. -
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
1084 lbs/ac. in a below average year; 1645 lbs/ac. in an average year; 2374 lbs/ac. in an above average year. -
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:
Lehmann lovegrass, Boer lovegrass, yellow bluestem, velvet mesquite -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Not impaired.
Print Options
Sections
Font
Other
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.
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.