Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XA126AZ
Clayey Upland 16-20" p.z.
Last updated: 4/09/2021
Accessed: 11/13/2024
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
AZ 41.1 – Mexican Oak-Pine Forest and Oak Savannah
Elevations range from 4500 to 10,700 feet and precipitation ranges from 16 to 30 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 ranges from thermic to mesic and the soil moisture regime ranges from aridic ustic to typic ustic. This unit occurs within the Basin and Range Physiographic Province and is characterized by numerous mountain ranges that rise abruptly from broad, plain-like valleys and basins. Igneous and metamorphic rock classes dominate the mountain ranges and sediments filling the basins represent combinations of fluvial, lacustrine, colluvial and alluvial deposits.
Associated sites
| R041XA108AZ |
Loamy Upland 16-20" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XA109AZ |
Clay Loam Upland 16-20" p.z. |
| R041XA111AZ |
Volcanic Hills 16-20" p.z. |
| R041XA114AZ |
Loamy Bottom 16-20" p.z. |
| R041XA115AZ |
Loamy Swale 16-20" p.z. |
Similar sites
| R041XC304AZ |
Clayey Upland 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R038XB202AZ |
Clayey Upland 16-20" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
Not specified |
| Herbaceous |
(1) pleuraphis mutica |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the upper elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range Province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on fan terraces, basalt flows and valley plains.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Fan piedmont
(2) Terrace (3) Plain |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 4,700 – 5,500 ft |
| Slope | 1 – 15% |
| 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.-March, 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, bottlebrush squirreltail and shrubby buckwheat 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 that have formed in clayey alluvium. Surfaces are silty clayloam to clay and sticky when wet. Dense clay horizons occur at or near the surface. These horizons consist of smectitic clay materials and exhibit severe soil cracking and churning. Soil surfaces are dark colored. Plant-soil moisture relationships are good.
Soils mapped on this site include: SSA-666 Cochise county Northwest part MU 21 Phantom (Cazador).
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Family particle size |
(1) Clayey |
|---|---|
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Slow to very slow |
| Soil depth | 30 – 60 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 15% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 5% |
| 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) |
10% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
5% |
Ecological dynamics
The plant communities found on an ecological site are naturally variable. Composition and production will vary with yearly conditions, location, aspect, and the natural variability of the soils. The Historical Climax Plant Community represents the natural potential plant communities found on relict or relatively undisturbed sites. Other plant communities described here represent plant communities that are known to occur when the site is disturbed by factors such as fire, grazing, or drought.
Production data provided in this site description is standardized to air dry weight at the end of the summer growing season. The plant communities described in this site description are based on near normal rainfall years.
NRCS uses a Similarity Index to compare existing plant communities to the plant communities described here. Similarity index is determined by comparing the production and composition of a plant community to the production and composition of a plant community described in this site description. To determine Similarity index, compare the production (air dry weight) of each species to that shown in the plant community description. For each species, count no more than the maximum amount shown for the species, and for each group, count no more than the maximum amount shown for each group. Divide the resulting total by the total normal year production shown in the plant community description. If the rainfall has been significantly above or below normal, use the total production shown for above or below normal years. If field data is not collected at the end of the summer growing season, then the field data must be corrected to the end of the year production before comparing it to the site description. The growth curve can be used as a guide for estimating production at the end of the summer growing season.
State and transition model
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
Native Grassland
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
The historic native state includes the native plant communities that occur on the site, including the historic climax plant community. This state includes other plant communities that naturally occupy the site following drought, fire, flooding, herbivores, and other natural disturbances. The historic climax 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 grasses. The major perennial species are tobosa and vine mesquite with lesser amounts of species like curly mesquite, blue grama and sideoats grama. Perennial and annual forbs, as well as a few species of low shrubs and succulents, are represented in the plant community. The aspect is grassland. Species like bottlebrush squirreltail and shrubby buckwheat begin growth in April. Warm season grasses begin growth in July or August, with the receipt of the first summer rains.
Figure 4. 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 | 560 | 1150 | 1500 |
| Forb | 6 | 40 | 130 |
| Shrub/Vine | 1 | 10 | 45 |
| Tree | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 567 | 1200 | 1680 |
Figure 5. 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 |
State 2
Annual forb and grass
Community 2.1
Annual forb and grass
Figure 6. Clayey Upland 16-20" pz., annuals
This state occurs where the cover of native perennial grasses like tobosa and vine mesquite has been removed due the interactions of drought, fire and continuous grazing. Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses dominate the plant community. Production is high due to soil cracking which breaks up soil compaction and results in high, initial, infiltration rates. Non-native annual species include filaree, wild oats, tumbleweed, kochia, yellow starthistle and tumble mustard. When tobosa has been reduced to less than 5% canopy cover on the site it may not be able to come back due to lack of seed in the soil seed-bank.
State 3
Juniper invaded
Community 3.1
Juniper invaded
This state occurs where Alligator juniper has invaded and increased to dominate the site in the absence of fire for long periods and in the presence of a seed source. The site will become unstable at higher levels of juniper canopy (over 25%).
State 4
Eroded state
Community 4.1
Eroded state
This state occurs where severe impacts by equipment or livestock trailing have caused soil compaction which has sealed the soil surface and resulted in accelerated sheet and rill erosion. Gullies may form in severe situations. Runoff is high and the soil profile is not getting wet and vertic soil properties are not in evidence. Usually a low production plant community of annuals is present.
Transition T1A
State 1 to 2
Interactions of drought, fire and continuous grazing; introduction of non-native annual species
Transition T1B
State 1 to 3
continuous heavy grazing, persistent low perennial grass cover, introduction of Alligator juniper, lack of fire
Transition T1C
State 1 to 4
continuous heavy grazing, loss of grass cover due to drought, fire, grazing; persistent reduced infiltration and limited recruitment of perennial grasses
Restoration pathway R2A
State 2 to 1
None known
Restoration pathway R3A
State 3 to 1
brush management, prescribed grazing/no grazing, range seeding, maintenance of juniper control
Transition T3A
State 3 to 4
continuous heavy grazing, loss of grass cover due to drought, fire, grazing; persistent reduced infiltration and limited recruitment of perennial grasses
Additional community tables
Table 6. Community 1.1 plant community composition
| Group | Common name | Symbol | Scientific name | Annual production (lb/acre) | Foliar cover (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Grass/Grasslike
|
||||||
| 1 | Dominant mid-grasses | 500–1100 | ||||
| tobosagrass | PLMU3 | Pleuraphis mutica | 450–900 | – | ||
| vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 25–200 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 0–50 | – | ||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 10–50 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 0–50 | – | ||
| 2 | Short perennial grasses | 50–300 | ||||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 25–200 | – | ||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 5–100 | – | ||
| sprucetop grama | BOCH | Bouteloua chondrosioides | 0–20 | – | ||
| purple grama | BORA | Bouteloua radicosa | 0–20 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 0–10 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 0–10 | – | ||
| 3 | Miscellaneous perennial grasses | 0–50 | ||||
| squirreltail | ELEL5 | Elymus elymoides | 0–15 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 0–10 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| slender grama | BORE2 | Bouteloua repens | 0–5 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–5 | – | ||
| silver bluestem | BOSA | Bothriochloa saccharoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 0–5 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 0–5 | – | ||
| poverty threeawn | ARDI5 | Aristida divaricata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–5 | – | ||
| fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 0–5 | – | ||
| bullgrass | MUEM | Muhlenbergia emersleyi | 0–5 | – | ||
| purple muhly | MURI3 | Muhlenbergia rigida | 0–5 | – | ||
| bulb panicgrass | PABU | Panicum bulbosum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 0–5 | – | ||
| pinyon ricegrass | PIFI | Piptochaetium fimbriatum | 0–5 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–5 | – | ||
| big sacaton | SPWR2 | Sporobolus wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| spiked crinkleawn | TRSP12 | Trachypogon spicatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| burrograss | SCBR2 | Scleropogon brevifolius | 0–2 | – | ||
| densetuft hairsedge | BUCA2 | Bulbostylis capillaris | 0–2 | – | ||
| sedge | CAREX | Carex | 0–2 | – | ||
| flatsedge | CYPER | Cyperus | 0–2 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 0–2 | – | ||
| woolyspike balsamscale | ELBA | Elionurus barbiculmis | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona muhly | MUAR3 | Muhlenbergia arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Texas bluestem | SCCI2 | Schizachyrium cirratum | 0–1 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–1 | – | ||
| 4 | Annual grasses | 10–100 | ||||
| little barley | HOPU | Hordeum pusillum | 1–80 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 1–50 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–25 | – | ||
| sticky sprangletop | LEVI5 | Leptochloa viscida | 0–20 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 0–20 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 0–20 | – | ||
| pitscale grass | HAGR3 | Hackelochloa granularis | 0–10 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–10 | – | ||
| tapertip cupgrass | ERACA | Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata | 0–10 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–10 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–10 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Mexican lovegrass | ERME | Eragrostis mexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPEP2 | Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea | 0–5 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 0–5 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| Eastwood fescue | VUMIC | Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata | 0–2 | – | ||
| Pacific fescue | VUMIP | Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| poverty dropseed | SPVA | Sporobolus vaginiflorus | 0–2 | – | ||
| prairie false oat | TRIN5 | Trisetum interruptum | 0–2 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–2 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–2 | – | ||
| matted grama | BOSI2 | Bouteloua simplex | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| fragilegrass | AETE | Aegopogon tenellus | 0–2 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 5 | Perennial Forbs | 5–30 | ||||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–10 | – | ||
| trailing fleabane | ERFL | Erigeron flagellaris | 0–10 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 1–10 | – | ||
| Indian rushpea | HOGL2 | Hoffmannseggia glauca | 1–5 | – | ||
| largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 0–5 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| sheep milkvetch | ASNO3 | Astragalus nothoxys | 0–5 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Louisiana vetch | VILUL2 | Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana | 0–5 | – | ||
| gooseberryleaf globemallow | SPGR2 | Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia | 0–3 | – | ||
| fingerleaf gourd | CUDI | Cucurbita digitata | 0–3 | – | ||
| chaparral asphead | ASHI3 | Aspicarpa hirtella | 0–3 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 0–3 | – | ||
| wild dwarf morning-glory | EVAR | Evolvulus arizonicus | 1–3 | – | ||
| Cooley's bundleflower | DECO2 | Desmanthus cooleyi | 1–3 | – | ||
| dwarf prairie clover | DANA | Dalea nana | 0–2 | – | ||
| pearly globe amaranth | GONI | Gomphrena nitida | 0–2 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 0–2 | – | ||
| whiteflower prairie clover | DAAL | Dalea albiflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| Texas bindweed | COEQ | Convolvulus equitans | 0–2 | – | ||
| whitemouth dayflower | COER | Commelina erecta | 0–2 | – | ||
| leatherweed | CRPO5 | Croton pottsii | 0–2 | – | ||
| American vetch | VIAM | Vicia americana | 0–2 | – | ||
| winged buckwheat | ERAL4 | Eriogonum alatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| variableleaf bushbean | MAGI2 | Macroptilium gibbosifolium | 0–2 | – | ||
| Texas snoutbean | RHSET | Rhynchosia senna var. texana | 0–2 | – | ||
| slimleaf plainsmustard | SCLI12 | Schoenocrambe linearifolia | 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 | – | ||
| Missouri goldenrod | SOMI2 | Solidago missouriensis | 0–1 | – | ||
| copper globemallow | SPAN3 | Sphaeralcea angustifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| white prairie aster | SYFAC | Symphyotrichum falcatum var. commutatum | 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 | – | ||
| ivyleaf groundcherry | PHHE4 | Physalis hederifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| white milkwort | POAL4 | Polygala alba | 0–1 | – | ||
| velvetseed milkwort | POOB | Polygala obscura | 0–1 | – | ||
| shrubby purslane | POSU3 | Portulaca suffrutescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| slimflower scurfpea | PSTE5 | Psoralidium tenuiflorum | 0–1 | – | ||
| buffpetal | RHPH2 | Rhynchosida physocalyx | 0–1 | – | ||
| copper zephyrlily | ZELO | Zephyranthes longifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain zinnia | ZIGR | Zinnia grandiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| James' prairie clover | DAJA | Dalea jamesii | 0–1 | – | ||
| coyote gourd | CUPA | Cucurbita palmata | 0–1 | – | ||
| horsetail milkweed | ASSU2 | Asclepias subverticillata | 0–1 | – | ||
| dense ayenia | AYMI | Ayenia microphylla | 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 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| rose heath | CHER2 | Chaetopappa ericoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| birdbill dayflower | CODI4 | Commelina dianthifolia | 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 | – | ||
| dwarf milkweed | ASIN14 | Asclepias involucrata | 0–1 | – | ||
| broadleaf milkweed | ASLA4 | Asclepias latifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| Lemmon's milkweed | ASLE13 | Asclepias lemmonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| woolly locoweed | ASMOB | Astragalus mollissimus var. bigelovii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mexican yellowshow | AMPA3 | Amoreuxia palmatifida | 0–1 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| melon loco | APUN | Apodanthera undulata | 0–1 | – | ||
| small matweed | GUDED | Guilleminea densa var. densa | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading snakeherb | DYSCD | Dyschoriste schiedeana var. decumbens | 0–1 | – | ||
| Torrey's craglily | ECFL | Echeandia flavescens | 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 | – | ||
| downy prairie clover | DANE | Dalea neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mexican fireplant | EUHE4 | Euphorbia heterophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| sun spurge | EURA2 | Euphorbia radians | 0–1 | – | ||
| lemon beebalm | MOCIA | Monarda citriodora ssp. austromontana | 0–1 | – | ||
| tufted evening primrose | OECA10 | Oenothera caespitosa | 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 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| Wright's deervetch | LOWR | Lotus wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| 6 | Annual Forbs | 1–100 | ||||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 1–100 | – | ||
| bitter rubberweed | HYOD | Hymenoxys odorata | 0–50 | – | ||
| camphorweed | HESU3 | Heterotheca subaxillaris | 0–25 | – | ||
| curlytop gumweed | GRNUA | Grindelia nuda var. aphanactis | 0–20 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–10 | – | ||
| smallflowered milkvetch | ASNU4 | Astragalus nuttallianus | 0–10 | – | ||
| Thurber's milkvetch | ASTH | Astragalus thurberi | 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 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 0–5 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–5 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–5 | – | ||
| Abert's buckwheat | ERAB2 | Eriogonum abertianum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 0–2 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–2 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 0–2 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico copperleaf | ACNE | Acalypha neomexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–2 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| crested anoda | ANCR2 | Anoda cristata | 0–1 | – | ||
| southwestern pricklypoppy | ARPL3 | Argemone pleiacantha | 0–1 | – | ||
| halfmoon milkvetch | ASAL6 | Astragalus allochrous | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 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 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–1 | – | ||
| streptanthella | STREP | Streptanthella | 0–1 | – | ||
| golden crownbeard | VEEN | Verbesina encelioides | 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 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–1 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–1 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–1 | – | ||
| flaxflowered ipomopsis | IPLOL | Ipomopsis longiflora ssp. longiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| El Paso skyrocket | IPTH2 | Ipomopsis thurberi | 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 | – | ||
| warty caltrop | KAPA | Kallstroemia parviflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coulter's horseweed | LACO13 | Laennecia coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| broadleaved pepperweed | LELA2 | Lepidium latifolium | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Dominant half shrubs | 1–20 | ||||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 1–10 | – | ||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 0–5 | – | ||
| prairie acacia | ACAN | Acacia angustissima | 0–2 | – | ||
| yerba de pasmo | BAPT | Baccharis pteronioides | 0–2 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| trailing krameria | KRLA | Krameria lanceolata | 0–1 | – | ||
| 9 | Miscellaneous shrubs | 0–15 | ||||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–2 | – | ||
| velvetpod mimosa | MIDY | Mimosa dysocarpa | 0–2 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–2 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| pale desert-thorn | LYPA | Lycium pallidum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Sonoran scrub oak | QUTU2 | Quercus turbinella | 0–1 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–1 | – | ||
| threadleaf ragwort | SEFLF | Senecio flaccidus var. flaccidus | 0–1 | – | ||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Pringle manzanita | ARPR | Arctostaphylos pringlei | 0–1 | – | ||
| threadleaf snakeweed | GUMI | Gutierrezia microcephala | 0–1 | – | ||
| 10 | Succulents | 0–10 | ||||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–2 | – | ||
| 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 | – | ||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 0–1 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 0–1 | – | ||
| twistspine pricklypear | OPMA2 | Opuntia macrorhiza | 0–1 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 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 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 11 | Trees | 0–5 | ||||
| alligator juniper | JUDE2 | Juniperus deppeana | 0–5 | – | ||
| 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 digestible protein in the winter. Phosphorous may be deficient throughout the year. Grazing should be managed to maintain an effective herbaceous cover. This site can erode easily if perennial grass cover is depleted, because the soil surface is heavy textured and rainfall is high. Annual goldeneye and poison bitterweed can cause poisoning problems after flowering in El Nino years following summer drought. Filaree and a few other winter annuals can cause nitrate poisoning problems in the spring during wet winters at these elevations. Perennial locoweeds can be a serious problem in years with dry springs following a wet fall season.
This site is a primary habitat for pronghorn antelope in southeastern Arizona. Water developments are very important to both large and small wildlife species on this site. Being open grassland and rich in grass and forb species, this site is home to a great variety of insect, bird, small mammal and reptile species. In areas adjacent to wooded bottoms or hill-sites, this site is used as a forage area by mule and Coues whitetail deer and javalina.
Hydrological functions
Due to severe soil cracking and churning (producing rough and porous surfaces), this site has high, initial, infiltration rates. It produces runoff only when rain falls (or snow melts) and the soil surface is wet.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking, horseback riding, photography, bird watching, camping.
Wood products
None, unless in areas where juniper has invaded and increased.
Other products
Grass seed, wild onions, clay.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Range 417s include 2 in good condition.
Type locality
| Location 1: Santa Cruz County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T23S R17E S35 |
| General legal description | San Rafael State Park, just east of Cameron house. |
| Location 2: Graham County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T9S R21E S21 |
| General legal description | Eureka Springs Ranch, at T-29 - Safford |
Contributors
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 | 04/09/2021 |
| Approved by | Curtis Talbot |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
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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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