Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XC316AZ
Sandy Wash 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. |
|---|---|
| R041XC308AZ |
Limy Slopes 12-16" p.z. |
| R041XC309AZ |
Limy Upland 12-16" p.z. |
| R041XC313AZ |
Loamy Upland 12"-16" p.z. |
| R041XC318AZ |
Sandy Loam 12-16" p.z. Deep |
| R041XC319AZ |
Sandy Loam Upland 12-16" p.z. |
| R041XC322AZ |
Shallow Upland 12-16" p.z. |
| R041XC330AZ |
Volcanic Hills 12-16" p.z. Clayey |
Similar sites
| R041XB213AZ |
Sandy Wash 8-12" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R040XA115AZ |
Sandy Wash 10"-13" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
(1) Prosopis |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) Celtis pallida |
| Herbaceous |
Not specified |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the middle elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province in southeastern Arizona. It occurs on floodplains, low stream terraces; in canyons and on alluvial fans. It benefits on a regular basis from extra moisture received as over-bank flooding of channels and as runoff from adjacent upland areas. It does not benefit from shallow water tables.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Flood plain
(2) Stream terrace (3) Canyon |
|---|---|
| Flooding duration | Very brief (4 to 48 hours) to brief (2 to 7 days) |
| Flooding frequency | Occasional to frequent |
| Ponding duration | Very brief (4 to 48 hours) |
| Ponding frequency | None to rare |
| Elevation | 3,200 – 5,000 ft |
| Slope | 3% |
| Aspect | Aspect is not a significant factor |
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 very young soils on gravelly and sandy alluvium of mixed origin. They are deep and well drained. Surface textures range from gravelly sand to loamy fine sand. Sub-soils are sandy loam and loamy sands with various amounts of gravel and/or cobbles. Although course textures make for low available water holding capacities, plant-soil moisture relationships are very good due to extra moisture the site receives. Soil surfaces, outside of channel areas, are dark colored.
Soils mapped on this site include: SSA-661 Eastern Pinal & Southern Gila counties MU 6 Bodecker; SSA-663 Gila-Duncan area MU's 7 Camoro & Santo Tomas, 36 Santo Tomas; SSA-664 San Simon area MU 36 Santo Tomas; SSA-666 Cochise county Northwest part MU's 7 Bodecker and 52 Keesto; SSA-667 Santa Cruz area MU's CtB & GbB Comoro; SSA-669 Pima county Eastern part MU's 19 & 68 Comoro; SSA-671 Cochise county Douglas-Tombstone part MU's 9 Bodecker & Comoro, 10 Bodecker GrVSL, 11 Bodecker GrVSL saline-sodic, 33 Comoro SL, 34 Comoro SL saline-sodic, 94 Keysto and 127 Bodecker; SSA-703 Tohono O'odham Nation MU 38 Keesto.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Family particle size |
(1) Sandy |
|---|---|
| Drainage class | Excessively drained to well drained |
| Permeability class | Very rapid to moderately rapid |
| Soil depth | 60 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 10 – 25% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 10% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
2.4 – 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) |
7.4 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
5 – 45% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
10% |
Ecological dynamics
The plant communities found on an ecological site are naturally variable. Composition and production will vary with yearly conditions, location, aspect, and the natural variability of the soils. The Historical Climax Plant Community represents the natural potential plant communities found on relict or relatively undisturbed sites. Other plant communities described here represent plant communities that are known to occur when the site is disturbed by factors such as fire, grazing, or drought.
Production data provided in this site description is standardized to air dry weight at the end of the summer growing season. The plant communities described in this site description are based on near normal rainfall years.
NRCS uses a Similarity Index to compare existing plant communities to the plant communities described here. Similarity index is determined by comparing the production and composition of a plant community to the production and composition of a plant community described in this site description. To determine Similarity index, compare the production (air dry weight) of each species to that shown in the plant community description. For each species, count no more than the maximum amount shown for the species, and for each group, count no more than the maximum amount shown for 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.
The potential plant community on this site is a diverse mixture of native perennial grasses, shrubs, vines, trees and annual forbs and grasses. Smaller drainage-ways are dominated by desert trees like mesquite, desert willow and catclaw acacia. Larger washes and canyons will have a higher percentage of broadleaf trees like ash, walnut and netleaf hackberry.
State and transition model
Figure 4. State and Transition, Sandy Wash 12-16" pz.
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
More interactive model formats are also available.
View Interactive Models
Click on state and transition labels to scroll to the respective text
State 1 submodel, plant communities
State 2 submodel, plant communities
State 3 submodel, plant communities
State 1
Historic Climax Plant Community
Community 1.1
Historic Climax Plant Community
The potential plant community of this site is a diverse mixture of perennial grasses, forbs, vines, trees and shrubs. Annual forbs and grasses of both the warm and cool seasons are well represented in the plant community. The major grass, forb and shrub species on the site are well dispersed throughout the plant community. The aspect is savannah. Periodic natural fires were important in maintaining a balance between woody species and herbaceous species. With continuous heavy grazing, palatable mid-grasses decline and species such as Rothrock grama, dropseed and threeawns increase. With severe deterioration, woody species increase to dominate the plant community. Mesquite, with lesser amounts of catclaw acacia and desert willow, form the over-story and burroweed dominates the under-story. Actively eroding areas become dominated by shrubs like burrobrush, rubber rabbitbush, batamote and desert broom. The site is very susceptible to gully, channel and bank erosion, especially where it has deteriorated to shrubby conditions and where depleted watershed areas are contributing larger than normal amounts of runoff. The lowering of the base level of the axial stream of a watershed will eventually cause channeling of the site. Deeply channeled areas will no longer flood the stream terraces of this site. Due to deep, course textured soils and extra moisture received as flooding, trees grow to maximum size on the site. This site can produce effective herbaceous covers with tree canopies up to 25%.
Figure 5. 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 | 410 | 1000 | 1500 |
| Tree | 300 | 500 | 800 |
| Forb | 40 | 100 | 550 |
| Shrub/Vine | 75 | 200 | 300 |
| Total | 825 | 1800 | 3150 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 2-4% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-2% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 5-15% |
| Forb basal cover | 0-1% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0-1% |
| Biological crusts | 0-2% |
| Litter | 35-75% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 10-25% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 0-10% |
| Bedrock | 0-2% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 25-45% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | – | 0-5% | 0-2% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | – | 0-5% | 0-5% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 0-5% | 5-15% | 1-10% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | 0-1% | 1-5% | 10-25% | 0-5% |
| >4.5 <= 13 | 1-10% | 1-10% | 0-10% | – |
| >13 <= 40 | 15-25% | – | – | – |
| >40 <= 80 | – | – | – | – |
| >80 <= 120 | – | – | – | – |
| >120 | – | – | – | – |
Figure 6. Plant community growth curve (percent production by month). AZ4134, 41.3 12-16" p.z. other sites. Growth begins in the spring, semi-dormancy occurs during the May through June drought, most growth occurs during the summer rains..
| 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 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 35 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
State 2
Understory exotic perennial grasses
Community 2.1
Understory exotic perennial grasses
This state exists where perennial African grasses like bermuda grass and; Lehmann, Boer, Cochise and Weeping lovegrass, have either been seeded or have invaded from adjacent areas to become dominant in the under-story. These species usually have little effect on the over-story tree and large shrub component of the plant community. They do, however, greatly limit the diversity of native grasses and forbs.
State 3
Eroded
Community 3.1
Eroded
Figure 7. Sandy Bottom 12-16" pz, eroded
This state occurs where poor condition watersheds yield excessive amounts of runoff causing erosion of the channel areas. As channels deepen, the low stream terraces no longer receive extra water from flooding and stream-bank erosion enlarges the area of river-wash. Down-cutting of major stream systems can contribute to this situation in areas where sandy bottoms are tributary to the main stream. The woody component of the plant community usually remains intact but the herbaceous component becomes dominated by half-shrubs and annuals. Poor condition watersheds can also destabilize the sandy bottom site by adding more sediment than the system can handle, causing channels to move and cut through new areas on the floodplain.
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 | 300–600 | ||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 100–300 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 25–200 | – | ||
| big sacaton | SPWR2 | Sporobolus wrightii | 0–200 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 15–100 | – | ||
| spike dropseed | SPCO4 | Sporobolus contractus | 25–100 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 5–100 | – | ||
| 2 | Suffrutescent grasses | 50–300 | ||||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 50–200 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 15–150 | – | ||
| Santa Rita threeawn | ARCAG | Aristida californica var. glabrata | 0–50 | – | ||
| 3 | Miscellaneous Grasses | 50–100 | ||||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 20–50 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 10–50 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 0–50 | – | ||
| deergrass | MURI2 | Muhlenbergia rigens | 0–50 | – | ||
| whiplash pappusgrass | PAVA2 | Pappophorum vaginatum | 0–50 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–25 | – | ||
| squirreltail | ELELE | Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides | 5–25 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 0–25 | – | ||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 0–25 | – | ||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 0–25 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–25 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–25 | – | ||
| Orcutt's threeawn | ARSCO | Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana | 0–25 | – | ||
| vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 0–25 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPU9 | Aristida purpurea | 0–15 | – | ||
| fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 0–15 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 0–15 | – | ||
| alkali sacaton | SPAI | Sporobolus airoides | 0–15 | – | ||
| mesa dropseed | SPFL2 | Sporobolus flexuosus | 0–10 | – | ||
| poverty threeawn | ARDI5 | Aristida divaricata | 0–10 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–5 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 0–5 | – | ||
| sedge | CAREX | Carex | 0–5 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 0–5 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 0–5 | – | ||
| bulb panicgrass | PABU | Panicum bulbosum | 0–5 | – | ||
| knotgrass | PADI6 | Paspalum distichum | 0–5 | – | ||
| 4 | Annual grasses | 10–400 | ||||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 1–100 | – | ||
| Parry's grama | BOPA2 | Bouteloua parryi | 0–100 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 1–100 | – | ||
| tapertip cupgrass | ERACA | Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata | 0–50 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 0–50 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 0–50 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 1–50 | – | ||
| Arizona brome | BRAR4 | Bromus arizonicus | 0–50 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 1–50 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 0–25 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–25 | – | ||
| Arizona barley | HOAR | Hordeum arizonicum | 0–25 | – | ||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 0–25 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–25 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 0–20 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–10 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPEP2 | Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea | 0–10 | – | ||
| sweet tanglehead | HEME | Heteropogon melanocarpus | 0–10 | – | ||
| Mexican lovegrass | ERME | Eragrostis mexicana | 0–10 | – | ||
| delicate muhly | MUFR | Muhlenbergia fragilis | 0–10 | – | ||
| littleseed muhly | MUMI | Muhlenbergia microsperma | 0–10 | – | ||
| witchgrass | PACA6 | Panicum capillare | 0–10 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 5 | Perennial Forbs | 20–100 | ||||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–35 | – | ||
| redstar | IPCO3 | Ipomoea coccinea | 0–30 | – | ||
| canaigre dock | RUHY | Rumex hymenosepalus | 5–30 | – | ||
| Lemmon's ragwort | SELE8 | Senecio lemmonii | 1–25 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 1–25 | – | ||
| gooseberryleaf globemallow | SPGR2 | Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia | 0–25 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 1–25 | – | ||
| Trans-Pecos thimblehead | HYWI | Hymenothrix wislizeni | 1–25 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 1–25 | – | ||
| climbing wartclub | BOSC | Boerhavia scandens | 1–25 | – | ||
| Thurber's cotton | GOTH | Gossypium thurberi | 0–25 | – | ||
| fingerleaf gourd | CUDI | Cucurbita digitata | 1–15 | – | ||
| coyote gourd | CUPA | Cucurbita palmata | 0–15 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–15 | – | ||
| Gila manroot | MAGI | Marah gilensis | 0–15 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 1–15 | – | ||
| desert tobacco | NIOB | Nicotiana obtusifolia | 0–10 | – | ||
| variableleaf bushbean | MAGI2 | Macroptilium gibbosifolium | 0–10 | – | ||
| Parry's beardtongue | PEPA24 | Penstemon parryi | 0–10 | – | ||
| mesquite mistletoe | PHCA8 | Phoradendron californicum | 1–10 | – | ||
| hairy fournwort | TENE | Tetramerium nervosum | 0–10 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 0–10 | – | ||
| Arizona foldwing | DIRE4 | Dicliptera resupinata | 0–10 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–10 | – | ||
| fringed twinevine | FUCYC | Funastrum cynanchoides ssp. cynanchoides | 0–10 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 0–10 | – | ||
| small matweed | GUDE | Guilleminea densa | 0–5 | – | ||
| Lewis flax | LILE3 | Linum lewisii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wright's deervetch | LOWR | Lotus wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's lyrepod | LYCO4 | Lyrocarpa coulteri | 0–5 | – | ||
| roving sailor | MAAN9 | Maurandella antirrhiniflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| wild dwarf morning-glory | EVAR | Evolvulus arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| spreading snakeherb | DYSCD | Dyschoriste schiedeana var. decumbens | 0–5 | – | ||
| Cooley's bundleflower | DECO2 | Desmanthus cooleyi | 0–5 | – | ||
| Missouri gourd | CUFO | Cucurbita foetidissima | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona wrightwort | CAAR7 | Carlowrightia arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| skeletonweed | CHAET | Chaetadelpha | 0–5 | – | ||
| rose heath | CHER2 | Chaetopappa ericoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| whitemouth dayflower | COER | Commelina erecta | 0–5 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 0–5 | – | ||
| tarragon | ARDR4 | Artemisia dracunculus | 0–5 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 0–5 | – | ||
| American vetch | VIAM | Vicia americana | 0–5 | – | ||
| Louisiana vetch | VILU | Vicia ludoviciana | 0–5 | – | ||
| slimleaf bean | PHAN3 | Phaseolus angustissimus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wright's cudweed | PSCAC2 | Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp. canescens | 0–5 | – | ||
| Colorado Desert mistletoe | PHMA18 | Phoradendron macrophyllum | 0–5 | – | ||
| tufted evening primrose | OECA10 | Oenothera caespitosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| sweet four o'clock | MILO2 | Mirabilis longiflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's wrinklefruit | TECO | Tetraclea coulteri | 0–5 | – | ||
| ragged nettlespurge | JAMA | Jatropha macrorhiza | 0–2 | – | ||
| velvetseed milkwort | POOB | Polygala obscura | 0–2 | – | ||
| shrubby purslane | POSU3 | Portulaca suffrutescens | 0–2 | – | ||
| orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–2 | – | ||
| ivyleaf groundcherry | PHHE4 | Physalis hederifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| jewels of Opar | TAPA2 | Talinum paniculatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico fanpetals | SINE | Sida neomexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 0–2 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–2 | – | ||
| New Mexico silverbush | ARNE2 | Argythamnia neomexicana | 0–2 | – | ||
| Palmer's Indian mallow | ABPA | Abutilon palmeri | 0–2 | – | ||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 0–2 | – | ||
| lyreleaf greeneyes | BELY | Berlandiera lyrata | 0–2 | – | ||
| Watson's dutchman's pipe | ARWA | Aristolochia watsonii | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–2 | – | ||
| 6 | Annual forbs | 20–450 | ||||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 1–100 | – | ||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 1–100 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 1–50 | – | ||
| goosefoot | CHENO | Chenopodium | 1–50 | – | ||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 1–50 | – | ||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOL | Heliomeris longifolia var. longifolia | 0–50 | – | ||
| camphorweed | HESU3 | Heterotheca subaxillaris | 0–50 | – | ||
| Thurber's morning-glory | IPTH | Ipomoea thurberi | 0–50 | – | ||
| sensitive partridge pea | CHNI2 | Chamaecrista nictitans | 1–35 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 1–35 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 1–30 | – | ||
| wheelscale saltbush | ATEL | Atriplex elegans | 0–25 | – | ||
| fewflower beggarticks | BILE | Bidens leptocephala | 1–25 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 1–25 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 1–25 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 1–25 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 1–20 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 1–20 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–20 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 1–20 | – | ||
| cryptantha | CRYPT | Cryptantha | 1–20 | – | ||
| common sunflower | HEAN3 | Helianthus annuus | 0–20 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–20 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–15 | – | ||
| New Mexico copperleaf | ACNE | Acalypha neomexicana | 1–15 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 1–10 | – | ||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–10 | – | ||
| horseweed | CONYZ | Conyza | 0–10 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–10 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–10 | – | ||
| sweet four o'clock | MILO2 | Mirabilis longiflora | 0–10 | – | ||
| phlox | PHLOX | Phlox | 0–10 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–10 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 1–10 | – | ||
| purslane | PORTU | Portulaca | 0–10 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–10 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–10 | – | ||
| ragwort | SENEC | Senecio | 0–10 | – | ||
| streamside bur cucumber | SIAM | Sicyos ampelophyllus | 0–10 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 1–10 | – | ||
| climbing arrowheads | SIGR | Sicyosperma gracile | 0–10 | – | ||
| cutleaf bur cucumber | SILA | Sicyos laciniatus | 0–10 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–10 | – | ||
| manybristle chinchweed | PEPA2 | Pectis papposa | 0–5 | – | ||
| golden crownbeard | VEEN | Verbesina encelioides | 0–5 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–5 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert unicorn-plant | PRAL4 | Proboscidea althaeifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 0–5 | – | ||
| minerslettuce | MONTI | Montia | 0–5 | – | ||
| Nuttall's povertyweed | MONU | Monolepis nuttalliana | 0–5 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Mexican passionflower | PAME2 | Passiflora mexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–5 | – | ||
| cutleaf cyclanthera | CYDI | Cyclanthera dissecta | 0–5 | – | ||
| Palmer's spectaclepod | DICA31 | Dimorphocarpa candicans | 0–5 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| sanddune wallflower | ERCA14 | Erysimum capitatum | 0–5 | – | ||
| lobed tickseed | COAU | Coreopsis auriculata | 0–5 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–5 | – | ||
| spurge | EUPHO | Euphorbia | 1–5 | – | ||
| beeblossom | GAURA | Gaura | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| warty caltrop | KAPA | Kallstroemia parviflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| Gordon's bladderpod | LEGO | Lesquerella gordonii | 0–5 | – | ||
| southwestern pricklypoppy | ARPL3 | Argemone pleiacantha | 0–5 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–5 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–2 | – | ||
| blanketflower | GAILL | Gaillardia | 0–2 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–2 | – | ||
| fringed redmaids | CACI2 | Calandrinia ciliata | 0–2 | – | ||
| Fendler's desertdandelion | MAFE | Malacothrix fendleri | 0–2 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–2 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSAB | Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus | 0–2 | – | ||
| Lemmon's linanthus | LELE29 | Leptosiphon lemmonii | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–2 | – | ||
| rough cocklebur | XAST | Xanthium strumarium | 0–2 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 7 | Riverwash shrubs | 25–150 | ||||
| rubber rabbitbrush | ERNAL | Ericameria nauseosa ssp. consimilis var. leiosperma | 0–100 | – | ||
| singlewhorl burrobrush | HYMO | Hymenoclea monogyra | 1–100 | – | ||
| clasping milkweed | ASAM | Asclepias amplexicaulis | 3–38 | – | ||
| fingerleaf gourd | CUDI | Cucurbita digitata | 3–38 | – | ||
| Missouri gourd | CUFO | Cucurbita foetidissima | 3–38 | – | ||
| coyote gourd | CUPA | Cucurbita palmata | 3–38 | – | ||
| pricklyburr | DAIN2 | Datura inoxia | 3–38 | – | ||
| Gila manroot | MAGI | Marah gilensis | 3–38 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 3–38 | – | ||
| ambrosia leaf bur ragweed | AMAM2 | Ambrosia ambrosioides | 0–25 | – | ||
| desertbroom | BASA2 | Baccharis sarothroides | 1–20 | – | ||
| mule-fat | BASA4 | Baccharis salicifolia | 0–20 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 1–20 | – | ||
| sweetbush | BEJU | Bebbia juncea | 0–15 | – | ||
| 8 | Miscellaneous Shrubs | 50–150 | ||||
| spiny hackberry | CEEH | Celtis ehrenbergiana | 0–100 | – | ||
| fringed twinevine | FUCYC | Funastrum cynanchoides ssp. cynanchoides | 1–25 | – | ||
| desert-thorn | LYCIU | Lycium | 1–25 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCO2 | Acacia constricta | 0–25 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOB | Ziziphus obtusifolia | 1–25 | – | ||
| littleleaf sumac | RHMI3 | Rhus microphylla | 0–25 | – | ||
| Thurber's desert honeysuckle | ANTH2 | Anisacanthus thurberi | 0–20 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–20 | – | ||
| Drummond's clematis | CLDR | Clematis drummondii | 1–20 | – | ||
| Apache plume | FAPA | Fallugia paradoxa | 0–20 | – | ||
| desert olive | FOSH | Forestiera shrevei | 0–15 | – | ||
| Coulter's brickellbush | BRCO | Brickellia coulteri | 0–15 | – | ||
| knifeleaf condalia | COSP3 | Condalia spathulata | 0–15 | – | ||
| Warnock's snakewood | COWA | Condalia warnockii | 0–15 | – | ||
| Kearney's snakewood | COWAK | Condalia warnockii var. kearneyana | 0–10 | – | ||
| shortleaf baccharis | BABR | Baccharis brachyphylla | 0–10 | – | ||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 0–10 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 0–10 | – | ||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 0–10 | – | ||
| California brickellbush | BRCA3 | Brickellia californica | 0–10 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–10 | – | ||
| threadleaf ragwort | SEFLF | Senecio flaccidus var. flaccidus | 0–10 | – | ||
| Texas mulberry | MOMI | Morus microphylla | 0–10 | – | ||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 0–10 | – | ||
| canyon grape | VIAR2 | Vitis arizonica | 0–10 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 1–10 | – | ||
| Parish's goldeneye | VIPA14 | Viguiera parishii | 0–5 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 0–5 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Thurber's sandpaper plant | PETH4 | Petalonyx thurberi | 0–5 | – | ||
| Schott's yellowhood | NISC | Nissolia schottii | 0–5 | – | ||
| American threefold | TRCA8 | Trixis californica | 0–5 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 0–5 | – | ||
| velvetpod mimosa | MIDY | Mimosa dysocarpa | 0–5 | – | ||
| sorrelvine | CITR2 | Cissus trifoliata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| yerba de pasmo | BAPT | Baccharis pteronioides | 0–5 | – | ||
| Palmer's century plant | AGPA3 | Agave palmeri | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona pencil cholla | CYAR14 | Cylindropuntia arbuscula | 0–2 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–2 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–2 | – | ||
| staghorn cholla | CYVE3 | Cylindropuntia versicolor | 0–2 | – | ||
| common sotol | DAWH2 | Dasylirion wheeleri | 0–2 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 0–2 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 0–2 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 9 | Dominant trees | 300–800 | ||||
| mesquite | PROSO | Prosopis | 200–500 | – | ||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 50–200 | – | ||
| blue paloverde | PAFL6 | Parkinsonia florida | 0–100 | – | ||
| netleaf hackberry | CELAR | Celtis laevigata var. reticulata | 0–50 | – | ||
| desert willow | CHLI2 | Chilopsis linearis | 0–50 | – | ||
| Jerusalem thorn | PAAC3 | Parkinsonia aculeata | 0–50 | – | ||
| velvet ash | FRVE2 | Fraxinus velutina | 0–25 | – | ||
| Arizona walnut | JUMA | Juglans major | 0–25 | – | ||
| western soapberry | SASAD | Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii | 0–25 | – | ||
| American black elderberry | SANIC4 | Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis | 0–20 | – | ||
| Arizona sycamore | PLWR2 | Platanus wrightii | 0–15 | – | ||
| narrowleaf willow | SAEX | Salix exigua | 0–15 | – | ||
| Fremont cottonwood | POFR2 | Populus fremontii | 0–10 | – | ||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–10 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site produces a wide variety of good quality forage and is usable at any season by all classes of cattle. It usually occurs as small inclusions within large areas of upland range sites. Having a good variety of forage species, shade, and occasional water, this site will be overused in the summer growing season before proper use is made of adjacent upland areas. For this reason, grazing systems must be used to allow recovery of herbaceous forage species on this site. The site produces a good variety of valuable browse for spring and fall use.
Occurring as occasional wooded strips through large areas of open uplands, this site is a haven for wildlife, especially in the heat of the summer season. Water is available occasionally in the spring and again in the summer. Water developments are very important for wildlife species using this site.
Hydrological functions
These sandy floodplains are extremely important for ground-water recharge in upland basins. Deep, very coarse textured soils allow water to percolate to great depths after runoff from large storms.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking, horseback riding, bird-watching, camping, photography and picknicing.
Wood products
Mesquite and catclaw acacia furnish limited fuel-wood and posts. The importance of large trees on this site for wildlife should limit the fuel-wood uses to deadwood and driftwood.
Other products
Sand, magnetite.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Range 417s include 1 in excellent condition, 1 in good condition and 4 in poor condition.
Type locality
| Location 1: Pima County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T20S R8E S16 |
| General legal description | Santa Margarita Ranch |
| Location 2: Pima County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T18S R17E S36 |
| General legal description | Empire ranch at KA #20 in lower Mattie canyon. |
| Location 3: Pima County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T21S R8E S24 |
| General legal description | Buenos Aires Nat. Wildlife Refuge |
| Location 4: Pima County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T18S R14E S36 |
| General legal description | Santa Rita Experimental Range, bottom of Box canyon east of road # 486. |
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) | |
|---|---|
| Contact for lead author | |
| Date | |
| Approved by | |
| Approval date | |
| Composition (Indicators 10 and 12) based on | Annual Production |
Indicators
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Number and extent of rills:
-
Presence of water flow patterns:
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Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
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Bare ground from Ecological Site Description or other studies (rock, litter, lichen, moss, plant canopy are not bare ground):
-
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:
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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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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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