Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XC307AZ
Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z.
Accessed: 11/23/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 041X–Madrean Archipelago
AZ 41.3 – Chihuahuan – Sonoran Semidesert Grasslands
Elevations range from 3200 to 5000 feet and precipitation ranges from 12 to 16 inches per year. Vegetation includes mesquite, catclaw acacia, netleaf hackberry, palo verde, false mesquite, range ratany, fourwing saltbush, tarbush, littleleaf sumac, sideoats grama, black grama, plains lovegrass, cane beardgrass, tobosa, vine mesquite, threeawns, Arizona cottontop and bush muhly. The soil temperature regime is thermic and the soil moisture regime is ustic aridic. This unit occurs within the Basin and Range Physiographic Province and is characterized by numerous mountain ranges that rise abruptly from broad, plain-like valleys and basins. Igneous and metamorphic rock classes dominate the mountain ranges and sediments filling the basins represent combinations of fluvial, lacustrine, colluvial and alluvial deposits.
Associated sites
| R041XC306AZ |
Shallow Hills 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XC322AZ |
Shallow Upland 12-16" p.z. |
| R041XC323AZ |
Volcanic Hills 12-16" p.z. Loamy |
| R041XC330AZ |
Volcanic Hills 12-16" p.z. Clayey |
Similar sites
| R040XA107AZ |
Limestone Hills 10"-13" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XA103AZ |
Limestone Hills 16-20 p.z. |
| R041XB220AZ |
Limestone Hills 8-12" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) dalea formosa |
| Herbaceous |
(1) bouteloua curtipendula |
Physiographic features
This site is in the middle elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on hill-slopes and ridge-tops. Slope aspect is site differentiating at elevations near land resource area boundaries.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Hill
(2) Ridge (3) Mountain slope |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 3,500 – 5,500 ft |
| Slope | 8 – 70% |
| Aspect | N, E, S |
Climatic features
Precipitation in this common resource area ranges from 12-16 inches yearly in the eastern part with elevations from 3600-5000 feet, and 13-17 inches in the western part where elevations are 3300-4500 feet. Winter-Summer rainfall ratios are 40-60% in the west and 30-70% in the east. Summer rains fall July-September, originate in the Gulf of Mexico and are convective, usually brief, intense thunderstorms. Cool season moisture tends to be frontal, originates in the Pacific and Gulf of California, and falls in widespread storms with long duration and low intensity. Snow rarely lasts more than one day. May and June are the driest months of the year. Humidity is generally very low.
Temperatures are mild. Freezing temperatures are common at night from December-April; however temperatures during the day are frequently above 50 F. Occasionally in December-February, brief 0 F temperatures may be experienced some nights. During June, July and August, some days may exceed 100 F.
Cool season plants start growth in early spring and mature in early summer. Warm season plants take advantage of summer rains and are growing and nutritious July-September. Warm season grasses may remain green throughout the year.
Table 3. Representative climatic features
| Frost-free period (average) | 220 days |
|---|---|
| Freeze-free period (average) | 0 days |
| Precipitation total (average) | 16 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 shallow soils formed on limestone and related sedimentary and metamorphic bedrock. Parent material is carbonatic. Soils are dark colored gravelly and stony loams, very calcareous, and have well-developed covers of limestone gravels and cobbles. Large areas of rock outcrop occur intermingled with soil areas. Plant-soil moisture relationships are poor to fair. Surface fragments are larger than stone size.
Soils mapped on this site include: SSA-661 Eastern Pinal & Southern Gila counties MU 62 Mabray; SSA-664 San Simon area MU 31 Mabray; SSA-666 Cochise county Northwest part MU's 46 Grizzle, 57 Mabray, 61 Paisano; SSA-667 Santa Cruz area MU McF Mabray; SSA-669 Pima county Eastern part MU 42 Mabray; SSA-671 Cochise county Douglas-Tombstone part MU's 101 & 102 Mabray.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Parent material |
(1)
Slope alluvium
–
limestone
|
|---|---|
| Surface texture |
(1) Very gravelly sandy loam (2) Cobbly sandy loam (3) Very gravelly loam |
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Rapid to moderately rapid |
| Soil depth | 10 – 20 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 25 – 50% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 8% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
0.6 – 1.6 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
35 – 50% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
8 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
7.9 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
25 – 50% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
8% |
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 that 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.
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 fire, drought, flooding, herbivores, and other natural disturbances. The historic climax plant community represents the natural climax community that eventually will re-occupy the site with proper management.
State and transition model
Figure 4. State and Transition, Limestone Hills 12-16" p.z.
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 1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Figure 5. Limestone Hills 12-16" pz. HCPC
The potential plant community on this site is dominated by warm season perennial grasses. Several species of shrubs are well represented on the site. Shrubs can be in concentrations at the edges of rock outcrops and in canyon bottoms. Most of the grass and shrub species are well dispersed throughout the plant community. A few species (black grama, New Mexico feathergrass, amole, sandpaper bush and mariola) grow in patches which vary in size and are not well dispersed over larger areas of the site. In the absence of wildfire and/or with overgrazing, shrubs increase to dominate the plant community. Well-developed gravel and cobble covers protect the soil from erosion and help protect forage species from heavy utilization. The large amount of rock outcrop on the site tends to magnify water received by adjacent soil areas. Natural fire was a factor in the development of the potential plant community. The frequency of natural fire on this site was about once every ten years. Fires burned May through August.
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 | 270 | 400 | 620 |
| Shrub/Vine | 125 | 350 | 500 |
| Forb | 20 | 50 | 120 |
| Tree | 0 | 10 | 35 |
| Total | 415 | 810 | 1275 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 2-5% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 2-5% |
| Forb basal cover | 0-1% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0-1% |
| Biological crusts | 0-1% |
| Litter | 10-25% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 25-50% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0-8% |
| Bedrock | 0-15% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 5-60% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | 0-5% | 1-5% | 0-1% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 5-15% | 5-10% | 1-5% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 5-15% | 10-20% | 1-5% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 1-10% | 0-5% | 0-2% |
| >4.5 <= 13 | 0-5% | 0-5% | – | – |
| >13 <= 40 | – | – | – | – |
| >40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
| >80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
| >120 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 7. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ4131, 41.3 12-16" p.z. hill sites. 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 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
State 2
Shrub and succulent increase state
Community 2.1
Shrub and succulent increase state
Figure 8. Limestone Hills 12-16" pz. shrubby state
This state occurs where shrubs like whitethorn, mesquite, creosote bush, ocotillo, sandpaper bush, and mariola have increased to dominate the community in the absence of fire for long periods of time. Succulents like shin dagger, sotol, agave and prickly pear can also increase on the site. Although the site may burn after an exceptionally wet summer the shrubs are well established and some species re-sprout and re-assume dominance.
State 3
Lehmann lovegrass state
Community 3.1
Lehmann lovegrass state
This state occurs where Lehmann lovegrass has invaded the site, usually from a seed source brought in along roads and jeep trails. As fires burn this state Lehmann usually increases in dominance.
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 warm season grasses | 150–200 | ||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 100–200 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 50–100 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 0–100 | – | ||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 10–100 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 20–100 | – | ||
| 2 | Dominant cool season grasses | 20–120 | ||||
| New Mexico feathergrass | HENE5 | Hesperostipa neomexicana | 10–100 | – | ||
| southwestern needlegrass | ACEM4 | Achnatherum eminens | 10–50 | – | ||
| woolyspike balsamscale | ELBA | Elionurus barbiculmis | 0–50 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–25 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELELE | Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides | 0–20 | – | ||
| 3 | Perennial threeawns | 50–100 | ||||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 20–100 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 0–30 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 5–30 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–20 | – | ||
| Orcutt's threeawn | ARSCO | Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana | 0–15 | – | ||
| poverty threeawn | ARDI5 | Aristida divaricata | 0–15 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–10 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–10 | – | ||
| Havard's threeawn | ARHA3 | Aristida havardii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wooton's threeawn | ARPA9 | Aristida pansa | 0–5 | – | ||
| 4 | Sub dominant short grasses | 45–100 | ||||
| slim tridens | TRMU | Tridens muticus | 15–70 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 10–50 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 5–50 | – | ||
| red grama | BOTR2 | Bouteloua trifida | 0–50 | – | ||
| common wolfstail | LYPH | Lycurus phleoides | 5–30 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 5–30 | – | ||
| slender grama | BORE2 | Bouteloua repens | 0–25 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 5–25 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMUE | Tridens muticus var. elongatus | 0–20 | – | ||
| shortleaf woollygrass | ERAV | Erioneuron avenaceum | 1–15 | – | ||
| fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 1–10 | – | ||
| purple grama | BORA | Bouteloua radicosa | 0–10 | – | ||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 0–10 | – | ||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona muhly | MUAR3 | Muhlenbergia arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| 5 | Annual grasses | 5–100 | ||||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 0–25 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 1–25 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 1–25 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 0–15 | – | ||
| Eastwood fescue | VUMIC | Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata | 0–15 | – | ||
| desert fescue | VUMIM | Vulpia microstachys var. microstachys | 0–15 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 1–15 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 1–15 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–10 | – | ||
| fragilegrass | AETE | Aegopogon tenellus | 0–5 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–5 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–5 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–5 | – | ||
| tapertip cupgrass | ERACA | Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Mexican lovegrass | ERME | Eragrostis mexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| Mexican lovegrass | ERMEM | Eragrostis mexicana ssp. mexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPEP2 | Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea | 0–5 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–5 | – | ||
| prairie false oat | TRIN5 | Trisetum interruptum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–2 | – | ||
| 6 | Miscellaneous grasses | 0–35 | ||||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 5–25 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 0–25 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–15 | – | ||
| bullgrass | MUEM | Muhlenbergia emersleyi | 0–15 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–15 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 1–15 | – | ||
| silver bluestem | BOSA | Bothriochloa saccharoides | 0–10 | – | ||
| sprucetop grama | BOCH | Bouteloua chondrosioides | 0–5 | – | ||
| plains muhly | MUCU3 | Muhlenbergia cuspidata | 0–5 | – | ||
| bamboo muhly | MUDU3 | Muhlenbergia dumosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| lovegrass tridens | TRER | Tridens eragrostoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| spiked crinkleawn | TRSP12 | Trachypogon spicatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert muhly | MUGL2 | Muhlenbergia glauca | 0–5 | – | ||
| New Mexico muhly | MUPA2 | Muhlenbergia pauciflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| purple muhly | MURI3 | Muhlenbergia rigida | 0–5 | – | ||
| slender muhly | MUTE4 | Muhlenbergia tenuifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| Texas bluestem | SCCI2 | Schizachyrium cirratum | 0–5 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 7 | Perennial Forbs | 50–60 | ||||
| leatherweed | CRPO5 | Croton pottsii | 5–20 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 5–20 | – | ||
| slender janusia | JAGR | Janusia gracilis | 0–15 | – | ||
| Fendler's bladderpod | LEFE | Lesquerella fendleri | 1–15 | – | ||
| Trans-Pecos thimblehead | HYWI | Hymenothrix wislizeni | 0–15 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 1–15 | – | ||
| hairyseed bahia | BAAB | Bahia absinthifolia | 1–10 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 1–10 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 1–10 | – | ||
| Thurber's cotton | GOTH | Gossypium thurberi | 0–10 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 0–10 | – | ||
| plains blackfoot | MELE2 | Melampodium leucanthum | 1–10 | – | ||
| caliche globemallow | SPLA | Sphaeralcea laxa | 5–10 | – | ||
| pricklyleaf dogweed | THAC | Thymophylla acerosa | 1–10 | – | ||
| rue of the mountains | THTE2 | Thamnosma texana | 1–10 | – | ||
| branched noseburn | TRRA5 | Tragia ramosa | 1–5 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 1–5 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 0–5 | – | ||
| velvetseed milkwort | POOB | Polygala obscura | 0–5 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 1–5 | – | ||
| desert tobacco | NIOB | Nicotiana obtusifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| Parry's beardtongue | PEPA24 | Penstemon parryi | 1–5 | – | ||
| Lewis flax | LILE3 | Linum lewisii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Greene's bird's-foot trefoil | LOGR4 | Lotus greenei | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wright's deervetch | LOWR | Lotus wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert rosemallow | HICO | Hibiscus coulteri | 0–5 | – | ||
| paleface | HIDE | Hibiscus denudatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| fineleaf hymenopappus | HYFIL | Hymenopappus filifolius var. lugens | 0–5 | – | ||
| beeblossom | GAURA | Gaura | 0–5 | – | ||
| Gregg's prairie clover | DAGR2 | Dalea greggii | 1–5 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–5 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| San Felipe dogweed | ADPO | Adenophyllum porophylloides | 0–5 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–5 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| tarragon | ARDR4 | Artemisia dracunculus | 0–5 | – | ||
| sandwort | ARENA | Arenaria | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 0–5 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 0–5 | – | ||
| climbing wartclub | BOSC | Boerhavia scandens | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona wrightwort | CAAR7 | Carlowrightia arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 1–5 | – | ||
| dense ayenia | AYMI | Ayenia microphylla | 1–5 | – | ||
| New Mexico silverbush | ARNE2 | Argythamnia neomexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 0–2 | – | ||
| Indian paintbrush | CASTI2 | Castilleja | 0–2 | – | ||
| whitemouth dayflower | COER | Commelina erecta | 0–2 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| El Paso skyrocket | IPTH2 | Ipomopsis thurberi | 0–2 | – | ||
| variableleaf bushbean | MAGI2 | Macroptilium gibbosifolium | 0–2 | – | ||
| shrubby purslane | POSU3 | Portulaca suffrutescens | 0–2 | – | ||
| American vetch | VIAM | Vicia americana | 0–2 | – | ||
| Louisiana vetch | VILU | Vicia ludoviciana | 0–2 | – | ||
| ivyleaf groundcherry | PHHE4 | Physalis hederifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| Lemmon's ragwort | SELE8 | Senecio lemmonii | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico fanpetals | SINE | Sida neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| jewels of Opar | TAPA2 | Talinum paniculatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–1 | – | ||
| wild dwarf morning-glory | EVAR | Evolvulus arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| James' prairie clover | DAJA | Dalea jamesii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Cooley's bundleflower | DECO2 | Desmanthus cooleyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert mariposa lily | CAKE | Calochortus kennedyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| sego lily | CANU3 | Calochortus nuttallii | 0–1 | – | ||
| 8 | Annual forbs | 5–50 | ||||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 1–50 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 1–20 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 1–20 | – | ||
| sweet four o'clock | MILO2 | Mirabilis longiflora | 0–15 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 1–15 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–15 | – | ||
| New Mexico copperleaf | ACNE | Acalypha neomexicana | 0–15 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 0–15 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 1–15 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–10 | – | ||
| goosefoot | CHENO | Chenopodium | 0–10 | – | ||
| fewflower beggarticks | BILE | Bidens leptocephala | 1–10 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–10 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–10 | – | ||
| lyreleaf jewelflower | STCAA | Streptanthus carinatus ssp. arizonicus | 0–10 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 1–10 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–10 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–10 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–5 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–5 | – | ||
| flaxflowered ipomopsis | IPLO2 | Ipomopsis longiflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–5 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–5 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 0–5 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–5 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSA | Lotus salsuginosus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–5 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–5 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–5 | – | ||
| exserted Indian paintbrush | CAEXE | Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta | 0–5 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–5 | – | ||
| sensitive partridge pea | CHNI2 | Chamaecrista nictitans | 0–5 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 0–5 | – | ||
| hairy prairie clover | DAMO | Dalea mollis | 0–5 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 1–5 | – | ||
| sanddune wallflower | ERCA14 | Erysimum capitatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–2 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| minerslettuce | MONTI | Montia | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–2 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–2 | – | ||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| spurge | EUPHO | Euphorbia | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona blanketflower | GAAR2 | Gaillardia arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| manystem woolly sunflower | ERMU6 | Eriophyllum multicaule | 0–1 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–1 | – | ||
| plains flax | LIPU4 | Linum puberulum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Thurber's morning-glory | IPTH | Ipomoea thurberi | 0–1 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| warty caltrop | KAPA | Kallstroemia parviflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| 9 | Perennial ferns | 10–25 | ||||
| spikemoss | SELAG | Selaginella | 0–15 | – | ||
| lipfern | CHEIL | Cheilanthes | 1–15 | – | ||
| cloak fern | NOTHO | Notholaena | 0–10 | – | ||
| cliffbrake | PELLA | Pellaea | 1–10 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 10 | Dominant half shrubs | 50–150 | ||||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 15–50 | – | ||
| mariola | PAIN2 | Parthenium incanum | 10–35 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 10–30 | – | ||
| featherplume | DAFO | Dalea formosa | 10–30 | – | ||
| winterfat | KRLA2 | Krascheninnikovia lanata | 0–25 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 5–20 | – | ||
| desert zinnia | ZIAC | Zinnia acerosa | 5–20 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 1–15 | – | ||
| trailing krameria | KRLA | Krameria lanceolata | 0–10 | – | ||
| woody crinklemat | TICAC | Tiquilia canescens var. canescens | 0–10 | – | ||
| Utah fendlerbush | FEUTC | Fendlerella utahensis var. cymosa | 0–10 | – | ||
| 11 | Dominant large shrubs | 35–150 | ||||
| desert ceanothus | CEGR | Ceanothus greggii | 5–35 | – | ||
| ocotillo | FOSP2 | Fouquieria splendens | 5–35 | – | ||
| Rio Grande saddlebush | MOSC | Mortonia scabrella | 0–30 | – | ||
| Tahitian kidneywood | EYOR | Eysenhardtia orthocarpa | 0–25 | – | ||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 5–20 | – | ||
| creosote bush | LATRT | Larrea tridentata var. tridentata | 0–20 | – | ||
| littleleaf sumac | RHMI3 | Rhus microphylla | 0–20 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCOC | Acacia constricta var. constricta | 0–20 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCOP9 | Acacia constricta var. paucispina | 0–15 | – | ||
| evergreen sumac | RHVIC | Rhus virens var. choriophylla | 0–15 | – | ||
| Kearney's sumac | RHKE | Rhus kearneyi | 0–15 | – | ||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 0–10 | – | ||
| pelotazo | ABIN | Abutilon incanum | 0–10 | – | ||
| knifeleaf condalia | COSP3 | Condalia spathulata | 0–10 | – | ||
| Warnock's snakewood | COWA | Condalia warnockii | 0–10 | – | ||
| Kearney's snakewood | COWAK | Condalia warnockii var. kearneyana | 0–5 | – | ||
| 12 | Succulents | 30–130 | ||||
| Schott's century plant | AGSC3 | Agave schottii | 10–40 | – | ||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 5–30 | – | ||
| common sotol | DAWH2 | Dasylirion wheeleri | 5–20 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 5–20 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 1–20 | – | ||
| Palmer's century plant | AGPA3 | Agave palmeri | 0–15 | – | ||
| Parry's agave | AGPA4 | Agave parryi | 0–10 | – | ||
| saguaro | CAGI10 | Carnegiea gigantea | 0–10 | – | ||
| staghorn cholla | CYVE3 | Cylindropuntia versicolor | 0–10 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–5 | – | ||
| dollarjoint pricklypear | OPCH | Opuntia chlorotica | 1–5 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 1–5 | – | ||
| hedgehog cactus | ECHIN3 | Echinocereus | 0–5 | – | ||
| rainbow cactus | ECPE | Echinocereus pectinatus | 1–5 | – | ||
| purple pricklypear | OPMAM | Opuntia macrocentra var. macrocentra | 0–5 | – | ||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert agave | AGDE | Agave deserti | 0–5 | – | ||
| Cochise foxtail cactus | ESRO | Escobaria robbinsiorum | 0–1 | – | ||
| spinystar | ESVI2 | Escobaria vivipara | 0–1 | – | ||
| white fishhook cactus | ECIN2 | Echinomastus intertextus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Graham's nipple cactus | MAGR9 | Mammillaria grahamii | 0–1 | – | ||
| little nipple cactus | MAHE2 | Mammillaria heyderi | 0–1 | – | ||
| redspine fishhook cactus | ECER2 | Echinomastus erectocentrus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| 13 | Miscellaneous shrubs | 10–60 | ||||
| Coulter's brickellbush | BRCO | Brickellia coulteri | 1–15 | – | ||
| pelotazo | ABIN | Abutilon incanum | 0–15 | – | ||
| alderleaf mountain mahogany | CEMO2 | Cercocarpus montanus | 0–15 | – | ||
| hairy mountain mahogany | CEMOP | Cercocarpus montanus var. paucidentatus | 0–15 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–15 | – | ||
| QUPA4 | Quercus ×pauciloba | 0–15 | – | |||
| pungent oak | QUPU | Quercus pungens | 0–15 | – | ||
| Sonoran scrub oak | QUTU2 | Quercus turbinella | 0–10 | – | ||
| jojoba | SICH | Simmondsia chinensis | 0–10 | – | ||
| spiny hackberry | CEEH | Celtis ehrenbergiana | 0–10 | – | ||
| yerba de pasmo | BAPT | Baccharis pteronioides | 0–5 | – | ||
| javelina bush | COER5 | Condalia ericoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| button brittlebush | ENFR | Encelia frutescens | 0–5 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 0–5 | – | ||
| turpentine bush | ERLA12 | Ericameria laricifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| American tarwort | FLCE | Flourensia cernua | 0–5 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona necklacepod | SOAR3 | Sophora arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| yellow trumpetbush | TEST | Tecoma stans | 0–5 | – | ||
| American threefold | TRCA8 | Trixis californica | 0–5 | – | ||
| Parish's goldeneye | VIPA14 | Viguiera parishii | 0–5 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOB | Ziziphus obtusifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert-thorn | LYCIU | Lycium | 0–5 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–5 | – | ||
| velvetpod mimosa | MIDY | Mimosa dysocarpa | 0–5 | – | ||
| blue paloverde | PAFL6 | Parkinsonia florida | 0–5 | – | ||
| yellow paloverde | PAMI5 | Parkinsonia microphylla | 0–5 | – | ||
| whitestem paperflower | PSCO2 | Psilostrophe cooperi | 0–5 | – | ||
| Mexican cliffrose | PUME | Purshia mexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| evergreen sumac | RHVIC | Rhus virens var. choriophylla | 0–5 | – | ||
| rock sage | SAPI2 | Salvia pinguifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wislizenus' senna | SEWI3 | Senna wislizeni | 0–5 | – | ||
| crown of thorns | KOSP | Koeberlinia spinosa | 0–2 | – | ||
| desertbroom | BASA2 | Baccharis sarothroides | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 14 | Trees | 0–35 | ||||
| Arizona rosewood | VACA5 | Vauquelinia californica | 0–20 | – | ||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–20 | – | ||
| western honey mesquite | PRGLT | Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | 0–10 | – | ||
| velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 0–10 | – | ||
| Arizona rosewood | VACAP | Vauquelinia californica ssp. pauciflora | 0–10 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
Herbaceous forage produced on this site is less palatable than that on other hill sites for two reasons. The soils are droughty and calcareous and plants have a very short green season, and high pH may make essential plant nutrients less available. With a fair percentage of cool season grass and a variety of low evergreen browse species, this site is most useable in late spring and fall. Cow-calf pairs will use only 300-400 feet up or down in elevation from water in midsummer. Dry cows will use double that distance in the cool season. Yearling calves will make good use of the site in all seasons. Slope aspect affects both the intensity of use, as well as seasonal use patterns. North-south trending slopes will be used fairly well even in summer as the west slope is shady in the morning and the east slope is shady in the afternoon. South facing slopes are used more in the spring due to warmth from cold weather and early green-up of forage species. North slopes, being shaded and cooler, are used more in the summer, but are never used as much as warmer exposures. The site tends to be very dry even in the winter when other hill-sites have canyon water.
Livestock water developments are very important to wildlife on this site. Although not a high producer of forage, the variety of plants is unique to the site and the number of evergreen browse species make the site home to a diverse fauna.
Hydrological functions
Coarse textured soils and porous bedrock make this site an important site for capture of water and recharge of southeastern Arizona stream systems.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking, horseback riding, photography, camping, prospecting and bird-watching
Wood products
Limited hobby woods like Arizona rosewood.
Other products
Fossils, gold, silver, turquoise and limestone and crushed marble for decorative rock.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Range 417s include 5 in excellent condition, 20 in good condition and 3 in fair condition.
Type locality
| Location 1: Santa Cruz County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T20 R18 S10 |
| General legal description | Rose Tree Ranch |
| Location 2: Pima County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T17S R17E S32 |
| General legal description | Andrade Ranch |
| Location 3: Cochise County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T23S R24E S2 |
| General legal description | Dixie Canyon Ranch - Mexican Canyon |
Contributors
Dan Robinett
Larry D. Ellicott
Steve Barker
Unknown
Rangeland health reference sheet
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health is a qualitative assessment protocol used to determine ecosystem condition based on benchmark characteristics described in the Reference Sheet. A suite of 17 (or more) indicators are typically considered in an assessment. The ecological site(s) representative of an assessment location must be known prior to applying the protocol and must be verified based on soils and climate. Current plant community cannot be used to identify the ecological site.
| Author(s)/participant(s) | Dave Womack, Emilion Carrillo, Dan Robinett |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | NRCS Tucson Area Office |
| Date | 03/07/2005 |
| Approved by | S. Cassady |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
-
Number and extent of rills:
None -
Presence of water flow patterns:
Uncommon; probably cover no more than 10% of area; discontinuous, very short, usually less than 1-3 feet in length. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are uncommon on perennial grass and shrubs. Terracettes are uncommon. -
Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
0-5% -
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):
All litter size classes staying in place. -
Soil surface (top few mm) resistance to erosion (stability values are averages - most sites will show a range of values):
Expect values of 1-3 in canopy interspaces, adn 4-6 under plant canopies. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
weak granular; color is 7.5YR4/2 dry; 5YR3/2 Moist; 2-8 inches. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
Canopy 30-40%, basal 5%, litter 20-55%; 40-50% of canopy cover is perennial grasses, 5% perennial forbs, 40-45% shrubs and trees, 5% succulents. Cover is well dispersed throughout site. -
Presence and thickness of compaction layer (usually none; describe soil profile features which may be mistaken for compaction on this site):
None -
Functional/Structural Groups (list in order of descending dominance by above-ground annual-production or live foliar cover using symbols: >>, >, = to indicate much greater than, greater than, and equal to):
Dominant:
perennial grass > subshrubs > annual grasses & forbs > shrubs succulents = perennial forbsSub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
50% of basal cover of perennial grasses has likely been lost in recent prolonged drought. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
500 lbs/ac unfavorable precipitation; 700 lbs/ac normal precipitation; 1000 lbs/ac favorable precipitation -
Potential invasive (including noxious) species (native and non-native). List species which BOTH characterize degraded states and have the potential to become a dominant or co-dominant species on the ecological site if their future establishment and growth is not actively controlled by management interventions. Species that become dominant for only one to several years (e.g., short-term response to drought or wildfire) are not invasive plants. Note that unlike other indicators, we are describing what is NOT expected in the reference state for the ecological site:
Whitethorn, mesquite, prickley pear, cane cholla, & ocotillo may increase. Red brome and wild oats. -
Perennial plant reproductive capability:
Not affected even following several years of prolonged drought period for the region.
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The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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