Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R041XC323AZ
Volcanic Hills 12-16" p.z. Loamy
Accessed: 12/21/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 041X–Madrean Archipelago
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
| R041XC304AZ |
Clayey Upland 12-16" p.z. |
|---|---|
| R041XC305AZ |
Clay Loam Upland 12-16" p.z. |
| R041XC313AZ |
Loamy Upland 12"-16" p.z. |
| R041XC330AZ |
Volcanic Hills 12-16" p.z. Clayey |
Similar sites
| R040XA123AZ |
Volcanic Hills 10"-13" P.Z. |
|---|---|
| R041XB223AZ |
Basalt Hills 8-12" p.z. |
| R041XA111AZ |
Volcanic Hills 16-20" p.z. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
| Tree |
Not specified |
|---|---|
| Shrub |
(1) eriogonum wrightii |
| Herbaceous |
(1) bouteloua curtipendula |
Physiographic features
This site occurs in the middle elevations of the Madrean Basin and Range province of southeastern Arizona. It occurs on hill-slopes and ridge-tops. Slope aspect is site differentiating at elevations near LRA boundaries.
Table 2. Representative physiographic features
| Landforms |
(1)
Hill
(2) Ridge |
|---|---|
| Flooding frequency | None |
| Ponding frequency | None |
| Elevation | 3,500 – 5,500 ft |
| Slope | 15 – 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 intermediate igneous rock like andesite, dacite and related volcanic tuffs and welded ash. They are non-calcareous in the surface 10 inches and loam to clay loam textured. They have well developed covers of light colored cobbles, gravels and stones. Soils are dark colored in the surface. Numerous areas of rock outcrop occur intermingled with soil areas. Plant-soil moisture relationships are fair.
Soils mapped on this site include: SSA-661 E Pinal and S Gila counties MU 73 Pantak & Lampshire; SSA-663 Gila-Duncan area MU's 23 Graham, 31 Atascosa & Graham; SSA-664 San Simon area MU 5 Atascosa; SSA-665 Wilcox area LvE Luzena variant; SSA-666 Cochise NW part MU's 36 Deloro, 45 Lampshire and 80 Surge; SSA-667 Santa Cruz area MU's GhF & LgF Graham, ShF Schrap CbCL; SSA-669 Pima county E part MU's 23, 24 & 42 Deloro, 32 & 57 Pantak and 56 Deloro & Pantak; SSA-671 Cochise Douglas-Tombstone part MU 42 Deloro Lampshire and Leyte; SSA-675 San Carlos IR area MU's 55 Pantak & Lampshire, 72 Lampshire; SSA-703 Tohono O'odham Nation MU 41 Lampshire & Pantak.
Table 4. Representative soil features
| Family particle size |
(1) Loamy |
|---|---|
| Drainage class | Well drained |
| Permeability class | Moderate |
| Soil depth | 10 – 20 in |
| Surface fragment cover <=3" | 25 – 50% |
| Surface fragment cover >3" | 5 – 12% |
| Available water capacity (0-40in) |
1.2 – 3.2 in |
| Calcium carbonate equivalent (0-40in) |
8% |
| Electrical conductivity (0-40in) |
2 mmhos/cm |
| Sodium adsorption ratio (0-40in) |
2 |
| Soil reaction (1:1 water) (0-40in) |
6.6 – 8.4 |
| Subsurface fragment volume <=3" (Depth not specified) |
15 – 45% |
| Subsurface fragment volume >3" (Depth not specified) |
1 – 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 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 the group. Divide the resulting total by the total normal year production shown in the plant community description. If 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
Figure 4. State and Transition, Volcanic 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. Volcanic Hills 12-16" pz, loamy,
The potential plant community on this site is dominated by warm season perennial grasses. Many species of shrubs and succulents are well represented on the site. Larger shrubs are concentrated at the edges of rock outcrops and in canyon bottoms. All the major grass species are well dispersed throughout the plant community. The aspect is shrub dotted grassland. Cool season plants start growth in early spring and mature early summer. Warm season plants take advantage of summer rains and are growing and nutritious July-September. Warm season grasses may remain green through the winter. In the absence of wildfire for long periods of time and with overgrazing, shrubs and succulents can increase to dominate the plant community. Climatic warming may be driving increase of shrubs like the mimosa species. Lehmann lovegrass can invade and increase on areas of this site. As fire, drought and/or continuous grazing act to reduce the cover of native perennial grasses, Lehmann can take advantage by increasing in dominance. Fires, in the presence of Lehmann, will use act to increase the spread of this non-native grass. Well developed gravel, stone and cobble covers protect the soil from erosion and protect forage species from heavy utilization. Large areas of rock outcrop and inaccessible areas hold reserves of perennial grasses and forbs to help reseed lower slopes as needed. Natural fire was an important factor in the development of the potential plant community and helped maintain a balance between grasses, forbs and shrubs. The natural fire free interval was about 10 years.
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 | 340 | 700 | 980 |
| Shrub/Vine | 70 | 100 | 180 |
| Forb | 20 | 50 | 180 |
| Tree | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| Total | 430 | 860 | 1360 |
Table 6. Soil surface cover
| Tree basal cover | 0% |
|---|---|
| Shrub/vine/liana basal cover | 1-3% |
| Grass/grasslike basal cover | 3-8% |
| Forb basal cover | 0-1% |
| Non-vascular plants | 0-1% |
| Biological crusts | 0-1% |
| Litter | 20-50% |
| Surface fragments >0.25" and <=3" | 25-50% |
| Surface fragments >3" | 1-12% |
| Bedrock | 1-15% |
| Water | 0% |
| Bare ground | 5-35% |
Table 7. Canopy structure (% cover)
| Height Above Ground (ft) | Tree | Shrub/Vine | Grass/ Grasslike |
Forb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <0.5 | – | 0-5% | 1-10% | 0-1% |
| >0.5 <= 1 | – | 5-10% | 10-20% | 1-5% |
| >1 <= 2 | – | 5-10% | 5-15% | 1-10% |
| >2 <= 4.5 | – | 1-5% | 0-10% | 0-2% |
| >4.5 <= 13 | 0-2% | 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 increased
Community 2.1
Shrub increased
Figure 8. Volcanic Hills 12-16" pz., loamy, shrubby conditio
This state occurs where shrubs like mesquite, mimosa species, ocotillo, whitethorn and succulents like prickly pear and cholla have increased, in the absence of fire for long periods, to dominate the site. Climatic warming may be responsible for increases in the mimosas and prickly pear. Many of these species are vigorous re-sprouters once they are well established and will quickly re-assume dominance after fire. Perennial grasses and forbs exist in declining amounts as shrub canopies increase.
State 3
Lehmann lovegrass invaded
Community 3.1
Lehmann lovegrass invaded
This state occurs where Lehmann lovegrass has invaded the site, usually from a seed source associated with roads and jeep trails running though the site. The interactions of fire, drought and continuous grazing can reduce the perennial grass cover allowing Lehmann to increase. Fires will act to further the dominance of Lehmann lovegrass. There will always be some diversity of native species left on the site due to diverse habitats in areas of rock outcrops and in canyon bottoms.
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 | 200–450 | ||||
| sideoats grama | BOCU | Bouteloua curtipendula | 150–300 | – | ||
| plains lovegrass | ERIN | Eragrostis intermedia | 10–150 | – | ||
| tanglehead | HECO10 | Heteropogon contortus | 10–50 | – | ||
| green sprangletop | LEDU | Leptochloa dubia | 5–50 | – | ||
| bullgrass | MUEM | Muhlenbergia emersleyi | 0–50 | – | ||
| cane bluestem | BOBA3 | Bothriochloa barbinodis | 10–50 | – | ||
| 2 | Dominant short grasses | 70–250 | ||||
| hairy grama | BOHI2 | Bouteloua hirsuta | 25–100 | – | ||
| purple grama | BORA | Bouteloua radicosa | 25–100 | – | ||
| slender grama | BORE2 | Bouteloua repens | 10–50 | – | ||
| curly-mesquite | HIBE | Hilaria belangeri | 25–50 | – | ||
| black grama | BOER4 | Bouteloua eriopoda | 25–50 | – | ||
| Hall's panicgrass | PAHA | Panicum hallii | 5–50 | – | ||
| blue grama | BOGR2 | Bouteloua gracilis | 0–25 | – | ||
| common wolfstail | LYPH | Lycurus phleoides | 5–25 | – | ||
| sprucetop grama | BOCH | Bouteloua chondrosioides | 0–25 | – | ||
| 3 | Cool season grasses | 1–40 | ||||
| squirreltail | ELELE | Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides | 1–30 | – | ||
| prairie Junegrass | KOMA | Koeleria macrantha | 0–10 | – | ||
| woolyspike balsamscale | ELBA | Elionurus barbiculmis | 0–10 | – | ||
| muttongrass | POFE | Poa fendleriana | 0–5 | – | ||
| southwestern needlegrass | ACEM4 | Achnatherum eminens | 0–5 | – | ||
| 4 | miscellaneous perennial grasses | 10–50 | ||||
| silver bluestem | BOSA | Bothriochloa saccharoides | 0–10 | – | ||
| Arizona cottontop | DICA8 | Digitaria californica | 0–10 | – | ||
| fall witchgrass | DICO6 | Digitaria cognata | 1–10 | – | ||
| maidencane | PAHE2 | Panicum hemitomon | 0–10 | – | ||
| bush muhly | MUPO2 | Muhlenbergia porteri | 0–10 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMU | Tridens muticus | 0–10 | – | ||
| slim tridens | TRMUE | Tridens muticus var. elongatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| deergrass | MURI2 | Muhlenbergia rigens | 0–5 | – | ||
| vine mesquite | PAOB | Panicum obtusum | 0–5 | – | ||
| Texas bluestem | SCCI2 | Schizachyrium cirratum | 0–5 | – | ||
| little bluestem | SCSC | Schizachyrium scoparium | 0–5 | – | ||
| southwestern bristlegrass | SESC2 | Setaria scheelei | 0–5 | – | ||
| plains bristlegrass | SEVU2 | Setaria vulpiseta | 0–5 | – | ||
| sand dropseed | SPCR | Sporobolus cryptandrus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Mexican gamagrass | TRLA11 | Tripsacum lanceolatum | 0–5 | – | ||
| bamboo muhly | MUDU3 | Muhlenbergia dumosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| Rothrock's grama | BORO2 | Bouteloua rothrockii | 0–5 | – | ||
| low woollygrass | DAPU7 | Dasyochloa pulchella | 0–2 | – | ||
| nineawn pappusgrass | ENDE | Enneapogon desvauxii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona muhly | MUAR3 | Muhlenbergia arizonica | 0–2 | – | ||
| 5 | Perennial threeawns | 5–40 | ||||
| spidergrass | ARTE3 | Aristida ternipes | 5–20 | – | ||
| spidergrass | ARTEG | Aristida ternipes var. gentilis | 0–15 | – | ||
| purple threeawn | ARPUP9 | Aristida purpurea var. perplexa | 0–10 | – | ||
| Wright's threeawn | ARPUW | Aristida purpurea var. wrightii | 0–10 | – | ||
| Orcutt's threeawn | ARSCO | Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana | 0–10 | – | ||
| Havard's threeawn | ARHA3 | Aristida havardii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wooton's threeawn | ARPA9 | Aristida pansa | 0–5 | – | ||
| Fendler threeawn | ARPUL | Aristida purpurea var. longiseta | 0–5 | – | ||
| blue threeawn | ARPUN | Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi | 0–5 | – | ||
| Parish's threeawn | ARPUP5 | Aristida purpurea var. parishii | 0–5 | – | ||
| poverty threeawn | ARDI5 | Aristida divaricata | 0–2 | – | ||
| 6 | Annual grasses | 5–100 | ||||
| Mexican sprangletop | LEFUU | Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia | 1–25 | – | ||
| mucronate sprangeltop | LEPAB | Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata | 1–25 | – | ||
| Mexican panicgrass | PAHI5 | Panicum hirticaule | 1–25 | – | ||
| prairie threeawn | AROL | Aristida oligantha | 1–15 | – | ||
| Arizona signalgrass | URAR | Urochloa arizonica | 0–15 | – | ||
| Eastwood fescue | VUMIC | Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata | 0–15 | – | ||
| desert fescue | VUMIM | Vulpia microstachys var. microstachys | 0–15 | – | ||
| sixweeks fescue | VUOC | Vulpia octoflora | 0–10 | – | ||
| sixweeks threeawn | ARAD | Aristida adscensionis | 0–10 | – | ||
| needle grama | BOAR | Bouteloua aristidoides | 0–5 | – | ||
| Bigelow's bluegrass | POBI | Poa bigelovii | 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 | – | ||
| fragilegrass | AETE | Aegopogon tenellus | 0–3 | – | ||
| feather fingergrass | CHVI4 | Chloris virgata | 0–2 | – | ||
| tapertip cupgrass | ERACA | Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata | 0–1 | – | ||
| Mexican lovegrass | ERME | Eragrostis mexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert lovegrass | ERPEM | Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima | 0–1 | – | ||
| tufted lovegrass | ERPEP2 | Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea | 0–1 | – | ||
| goldentop grass | LAAU | Lamarckia aurea | 0–1 | – | ||
| sixweeks grama | BOBA2 | Bouteloua barbata | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Forb
|
||||||
| 7 | Perennial forbs | 10–45 | ||||
| slender janusia | JAGR | Janusia gracilis | 1–15 | – | ||
| shrubby deervetch | LORI3 | Lotus rigidus | 1–15 | – | ||
| American vetch | VIAM | Vicia americana | 0–15 | – | ||
| desert globemallow | SPAM2 | Sphaeralcea ambigua | 1–10 | – | ||
| brownplume wirelettuce | STPA4 | Stephanomeria pauciflora | 1–10 | – | ||
| white sagebrush | ARLU | Artemisia ludoviciana | 1–10 | – | ||
| perennial rockcress | ARPE2 | Arabis perennans | 1–5 | – | ||
| lipfern | CHEIL | Cheilanthes | 1–5 | – | ||
| longflower tube tongue | JULO3 | Justicia longii | 0–5 | – | ||
| pearly globe amaranth | GONI | Gomphrena nitida | 0–5 | – | ||
| hairy false goldenaster | HEVI4 | Heterotheca villosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| bluedicks | DICA14 | Dichelostemma capitatum | 1–5 | – | ||
| Arizona foldwing | DIRE4 | Dicliptera resupinata | 0–5 | – | ||
| spreading fleabane | ERDI4 | Erigeron divergens | 0–5 | – | ||
| weakleaf bur ragweed | AMCO3 | Ambrosia confertiflora | 1–5 | – | ||
| wishbone-bush | MILAV | Mirabilis laevis var. villosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| cloak fern | NOTHO | Notholaena | 1–5 | – | ||
| Louisiana vetch | VILUL2 | Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana | 0–5 | – | ||
| branched noseburn | TRRA5 | Tragia ramosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| Lewis flax | LILE3 | Linum lewisii | 0–5 | – | ||
| lacy tansyaster | MAPI | Machaeranthera pinnatifida | 0–5 | – | ||
| cliffbrake | PELLA | Pellaea | 1–5 | – | ||
| Parry's beardtongue | PEPA24 | Penstemon parryi | 1–2 | – | ||
| Parry's false prairie-clover | MAPA7 | Marina parryi | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona gumweed | GRARS | Grindelia arizonica var. stenophylla | 0–2 | – | ||
| Lemmon's ragwort | SELE8 | Senecio lemmonii | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona snakecotton | FRAR2 | Froelichia arizonica | 0–2 | – | ||
| trailing fleabane | ERFL | Erigeron flagellaris | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert trumpet | ERIN4 | Eriogonum inflatum | 0–2 | – | ||
| climbing wartclub | BOSC | Boerhavia scandens | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona wrightwort | CAAR7 | Carlowrightia arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert mariposa lily | CAKE | Calochortus kennedyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| sego lily | CANU3 | Calochortus nuttallii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Indian paintbrush | CASTI2 | Castilleja | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitemouth dayflower | COER | Commelina erecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| leatherweed | CRPO5 | Croton pottsii | 0–1 | – | ||
| fingerleaf gourd | CUDI | Cucurbita digitata | 0–1 | – | ||
| Cooley's bundleflower | DECO2 | Desmanthus cooleyi | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert larkspur | DEPA | Delphinium parishii | 0–1 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–1 | – | ||
| dense ayenia | AYMI | Ayenia microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| hairyseed bahia | BAAB | Bahia absinthifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert marigold | BAMU | Baileya multiradiata | 0–1 | – | ||
| scarlet spiderling | BOCO | Boerhavia coccinea | 0–1 | – | ||
| Palmer's Indian mallow | ABPA | Abutilon palmeri | 0–1 | – | ||
| dwarf desertpeony | ACNA2 | Acourtia nana | 0–1 | – | ||
| brownfoot | ACWR5 | Acourtia wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| San Felipe dogweed | ADPO | Adenophyllum porophylloides | 0–1 | – | ||
| trailing windmills | ALIN | Allionia incarnata | 0–1 | – | ||
| largeflower onion | ALMA4 | Allium macropetalum | 0–1 | – | ||
| wild dwarf morning-glory | EVAR | Evolvulus arizonicus | 0–1 | – | ||
| beeblossom | GAURA | Gaura | 0–1 | – | ||
| southwestern mock vervain | GLGO | Glandularia gooddingii | 0–1 | – | ||
| tuber anemone | ANTU | Anemone tuberosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona rosemallow | HIBI | Hibiscus biseptus | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert rosemallow | HICO | Hibiscus coulteri | 0–1 | – | ||
| paleface | HIDE | Hibiscus denudatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Trans-Pecos thimblehead | HYWI | Hymenothrix wislizeni | 0–1 | – | ||
| Thurber's cotton | GOTH | Gossypium thurberi | 0–1 | – | ||
| narrowleaf stoneseed | LIIN2 | Lithospermum incisum | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico fanpetals | SINE | Sida neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| silverleaf nightshade | SOEL | Solanum elaeagnifolium | 0–1 | – | ||
| Rocky Mountain zinnia | ZIGR | Zinnia grandiflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| tufted evening primrose | OECA10 | Oenothera caespitosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert tobacco | NIOB | Nicotiana obtusifolia | 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 | – | ||
| plains blackfoot | MELE2 | Melampodium leucanthum | 0–1 | – | ||
| Greene's bird's-foot trefoil | LOGR4 | Lotus greenei | 0–1 | – | ||
| Wright's deervetch | LOWR | Lotus wrightii | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert penstemon | PEPS | Penstemon pseudospectabilis | 0–1 | – | ||
| slimleaf bean | PHAN3 | Phaseolus angustissimus | 0–1 | – | ||
| orange fameflower | PHAU13 | Phemeranthus aurantiacus | 0–1 | – | ||
| slender poreleaf | POGR5 | Porophyllum gracile | 0–1 | – | ||
| velvetseed milkwort | POOB | Polygala obscura | 0–1 | – | ||
| shrubby purslane | POSU3 | Portulaca suffrutescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| Wright's cudweed | PSCAC2 | Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp. canescens | 0–1 | – | ||
| twinleaf senna | SEBA3 | Senna bauhinioides | 0–1 | – | ||
| Coues' cassia | SECO10 | Senna covesii | 0–1 | – | ||
| 8 | Annual Forbs | 10–140 | ||||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOA2 | Heliomeris longifolia var. annua | 1–50 | – | ||
| California poppy | ESCAM | Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana | 0–45 | – | ||
| milkvetch | ASTRA | Astragalus | 0–20 | – | ||
| goosefoot | CHENO | Chenopodium | 0–20 | – | ||
| sensitive partridge pea | CHNI2 | Chamaecrista nictitans | 1–15 | – | ||
| carelessweed | AMPA | Amaranthus palmeri | 0–10 | – | ||
| fewflower beggarticks | BILE | Bidens leptocephala | 0–10 | – | ||
| western tansymustard | DEPI | Descurainia pinnata | 1–10 | – | ||
| foothill deervetch | LOHU2 | Lotus humistratus | 0–10 | – | ||
| coastal bird's-foot trefoil | LOSAB | Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus | 0–10 | – | ||
| slender goldenweed | MAGR10 | Machaeranthera gracilis | 1–10 | – | ||
| tanseyleaf tansyaster | MATA2 | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | 1–10 | – | ||
| phacelia | PHACE | Phacelia | 0–10 | – | ||
| desert Indianwheat | PLOV | Plantago ovata | 0–5 | – | ||
| woolly plantain | PLPA2 | Plantago patagonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| whitestem blazingstar | MEAL6 | Mentzelia albicaulis | 0–5 | – | ||
| sweet four o'clock | MILO2 | Mirabilis longiflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| minerslettuce | MONTI | Montia | 0–5 | – | ||
| woolly tidestromia | TILA2 | Tidestromia lanuginosa | 0–5 | – | ||
| intermediate pepperweed | LEVIM | Lepidium virginicum var. medium | 0–5 | – | ||
| sawtooth sage | SASU7 | Salvia subincisa | 0–5 | – | ||
| spreading fanpetals | SIAB | Sida abutifolia | 1–5 | – | ||
| streamside bur cucumber | SIAM | Sicyos ampelophyllus | 0–5 | – | ||
| sleepy silene | SIAN2 | Silene antirrhina | 0–5 | – | ||
| cutleaf bur cucumber | SILA | Sicyos laciniatus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona lupine | LUAR4 | Lupinus arizonicus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's lupine | LUSP2 | Lupinus sparsiflorus | 0–5 | – | ||
| Thurber's morning-glory | IPTH | Ipomoea thurberi | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona poppy | KAGR | Kallstroemia grandiflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| sorrel buckwheat | ERPO4 | Eriogonum polycladon | 0–5 | – | ||
| longleaf false goldeneye | HELOL | Heliomeris longifolia var. longifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| camphorweed | HESU3 | Heterotheca subaxillaris | 0–5 | – | ||
| crestrib morning-glory | IPCO2 | Ipomoea costellata | 0–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's spiderling | BOCO2 | Boerhavia coulteri | 0–5 | – | ||
| bristly fiddleneck | AMTE3 | Amsinckia tessellata | 0–5 | – | ||
| New Mexico thistle | CINE | Cirsium neomexicanum | 0–5 | – | ||
| New Mexico copperleaf | ACNE | Acalypha neomexicana | 0–5 | – | ||
| fringed redmaids | CACI2 | Calandrinia ciliata | 0–2 | – | ||
| American wild carrot | DAPU3 | Daucus pusillus | 0–2 | – | ||
| wedgeleaf draba | DRCU | Draba cuneifolia | 0–2 | – | ||
| redstar | IPCO3 | Ipomoea coccinea | 0–2 | – | ||
| warty caltrop | KAPA | Kallstroemia parviflora | 0–2 | – | ||
| shaggyfruit pepperweed | LELA | Lepidium lasiocarpum | 0–2 | – | ||
| Fendler's desertdandelion | MAFE | Malacothrix fendleri | 0–2 | – | ||
| sand fringepod | THCU | Thysanocarpus curvipes | 0–2 | – | ||
| chia | SACO6 | Salvia columbariae | 0–2 | – | ||
| star gilia | GIST | Gilia stellata | 0–2 | – | ||
| pearly globe amaranth | GONI | Gomphrena nitida | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona popcornflower | PLAR | Plagiobothrys arizonicus | 0–2 | – | ||
| Florida pellitory | PAFL3 | Parietaria floridana | 0–2 | – | ||
| combseed | PECTO | Pectocarya | 0–2 | – | ||
| desert unicorn-plant | PRAL4 | Proboscidea althaeifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| doubleclaw | PRPA2 | Proboscidea parviflora | 0–1 | – | ||
| New Mexico plumeseed | RANE | Rafinesquia neomexicana | 0–1 | – | ||
| green carpetweed | MOVE | Mollugo verticillata | 0–1 | – | ||
| desert evening primrose | OEPR | Oenothera primiveris | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona monardella | MOAR | Monardella arizonica | 0–1 | – | ||
| Texas stork's bill | ERTE13 | Erodium texanum | 0–1 | – | ||
| spurge | EUPHO | Euphorbia | 0–1 | – | ||
| sanddune wallflower | ERCA14 | Erysimum capitatum | 0–1 | – | ||
| miniature woollystar | ERDI2 | Eriastrum diffusum | 0–1 | – | ||
| hoary bowlesia | BOIN3 | Bowlesia incana | 0–1 | – | ||
| scrambled eggs | COAU2 | Corydalis aurea | 0–1 | – | ||
| wheelscale saltbush | ATEL | Atriplex elegans | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Shrub/Vine
|
||||||
| 9 | Dominant Half Shrubs | 25–70 | ||||
| bastardsage | ERWR | Eriogonum wrightii | 10–35 | – | ||
| fairyduster | CAER | Calliandra eriophylla | 5–30 | – | ||
| Gregg's prairie clover | DAGR2 | Dalea greggii | 0–25 | – | ||
| rough menodora | MESC | Menodora scabra | 0–20 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 1–15 | – | ||
| Schott's stickpea | ZAFOS | Zapoteca formosa var. schottii | 0–10 | – | ||
| broom snakeweed | GUSA2 | Gutierrezia sarothrae | 1–10 | – | ||
| prairie acacia | ACAN | Acacia angustissima | 0–10 | – | ||
| 10 | Miscellaneous Shrubs | 25–75 | ||||
| pelotazo | ABIN | Abutilon incanum | 1–15 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCOC | Acacia constricta var. constricta | 1–10 | – | ||
| ocotillo | FOSP2 | Fouquieria splendens | 1–10 | – | ||
| velvetpod mimosa | MIDY | Mimosa dysocarpa | 1–10 | – | ||
| Sonoran scrub oak | QUTU2 | Quercus turbinella | 0–10 | – | ||
| desert-thorn | LYCIU | Lycium | 0–5 | – | ||
| algerita | MATR3 | Mahonia trifoliolata | 0–5 | – | ||
| catclaw mimosa | MIACB | Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera | 1–5 | – | ||
| spiny hackberry | CEEH | Celtis ehrenbergiana | 0–5 | – | ||
| Wright's beebrush | ALWR | Aloysia wrightii | 0–5 | – | ||
| Eastern Mojave buckwheat | ERFA2 | Eriogonum fasciculatum | 0–5 | – | ||
| coralbean | ERFL7 | Erythrina flabelliformis | 0–5 | – | ||
| turpentine bush | ERLA12 | Ericameria laricifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| Tahitian kidneywood | EYOR | Eysenhardtia orthocarpa | 0–5 | – | ||
| desert olive | FOSH | Forestiera shrevei | 0–5 | – | ||
| jojoba | SICH | Simmondsia chinensis | 0–5 | – | ||
| yellow trumpetbush | TEST | Tecoma stans | 1–5 | – | ||
| blue paloverde | PAFL6 | Parkinsonia florida | 0–5 | – | ||
| catclaw acacia | ACGR | Acacia greggii | 1–5 | – | ||
| Coulter's brickellbush | BRCO | Brickellia coulteri | 1–2 | – | ||
| American threefold | TRCA8 | Trixis californica | 0–2 | – | ||
| Parish's goldeneye | VIPA14 | Viguiera parishii | 0–2 | – | ||
| button brittlebush | ENFR | Encelia frutescens | 0–2 | – | ||
| Pringle manzanita | ARPR | Arctostaphylos pringlei | 0–2 | – | ||
| fourwing saltbush | ATCA2 | Atriplex canescens | 0–2 | – | ||
| yerba de pasmo | BAPT | Baccharis pteronioides | 1–2 | – | ||
| Schott's yellowhood | NISC | Nissolia schottii | 0–2 | – | ||
| skunkbush sumac | RHTR | Rhus trilobata | 0–2 | – | ||
| fringed twinevine | FUCYC | Funastrum cynanchoides ssp. cynanchoides | 0–2 | – | ||
| physicnut | JACU | Jatropha cuneata | 0–2 | – | ||
| Arizona water-willow | JUCA9 | Justicia candicans | 0–2 | – | ||
| littleleaf ratany | KRER | Krameria erecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| trailing krameria | KRLA | Krameria lanceolata | 0–1 | – | ||
| gumhead | GYGL | Gymnosperma glutinosum | 0–1 | – | ||
| burroweed | ISTE2 | Isocoma tenuisecta | 0–1 | – | ||
| evergreen sumac | RHVIC | Rhus virens var. choriophylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| western soapberry | SASAD | Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii | 0–1 | – | ||
| desertbroom | BASA2 | Baccharis sarothroides | 0–1 | – | ||
| California brickellbush | BRCA3 | Brickellia californica | 0–1 | – | ||
| javelina bush | COER5 | Condalia ericoides | 0–1 | – | ||
| Warnock's snakewood | COWA | Condalia warnockii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Kearney's snakewood | COWAK | Condalia warnockii var. kearneyana | 0–1 | – | ||
| ragged rockflower | CRBI2 | Crossosoma bigelovii | 0–1 | – | ||
| Florida hopbush | DOVI | Dodonaea viscosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| brittlebush | ENFA | Encelia farinosa | 0–1 | – | ||
| longleaf jointfir | EPTR | Ephedra trifurca | 0–1 | – | ||
| Thurber's desert honeysuckle | ANTH2 | Anisacanthus thurberi | 0–1 | – | ||
| lotebush | ZIOB | Ziziphus obtusifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| heartleaf goldeneye | VICO | Viguiera cordifolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| yellow paloverde | PAMI5 | Parkinsonia microphylla | 0–1 | – | ||
| milfoil wattle | ACMI | Acacia millefolia | 0–1 | – | ||
| whitethorn acacia | ACCOP9 | Acacia constricta var. paucispina | 0–1 | – | ||
| 11 | Succulents | 5–35 | ||||
| Schott's century plant | AGSC3 | Agave schottii | 0–10 | – | ||
| common sotol | DAWH2 | Dasylirion wheeleri | 0–10 | – | ||
| sacahuista | NOMI | Nolina microcarpa | 0–10 | – | ||
| cactus apple | OPEN3 | Opuntia engelmannii | 1–10 | – | ||
| banana yucca | YUBA | Yucca baccata | 1–5 | – | ||
| candy barrelcactus | FEWI | Ferocactus wislizeni | 1–5 | – | ||
| smallflower century plant | AGPA5 | Agave parviflora | 0–5 | – | ||
| Palmer's century plant | AGPA3 | Agave palmeri | 0–5 | – | ||
| saguaro | CAGI10 | Carnegiea gigantea | 0–2 | – | ||
| hedgehog cactus | ECHIN3 | Echinocereus | 0–2 | – | ||
| white fishhook cactus | ECIN2 | Echinomastus intertextus | 0–1 | – | ||
| rainbow cactus | ECPE | Echinocereus pectinatus | 0–1 | – | ||
| Graham's nipple cactus | MAGR9 | Mammillaria grahamii | 0–1 | – | ||
| little nipple cactus | MAHE2 | Mammillaria heyderi | 0–1 | – | ||
| dollarjoint pricklypear | OPCH | Opuntia chlorotica | 0–1 | – | ||
| soaptree yucca | YUEL | Yucca elata | 0–1 | – | ||
| purple pricklypear | OPMAM | Opuntia macrocentra var. macrocentra | 0–1 | – | ||
| tulip pricklypear | OPPH | Opuntia phaeacantha | 0–1 | – | ||
| Arizona pencil cholla | CYAR14 | Cylindropuntia arbuscula | 0–1 | – | ||
| jumping cholla | CYFU10 | Cylindropuntia fulgida | 0–1 | – | ||
| Christmas cactus | CYLE8 | Cylindropuntia leptocaulis | 0–1 | – | ||
| walkingstick cactus | CYSP8 | Cylindropuntia spinosior | 0–1 | – | ||
| staghorn cholla | CYVE3 | Cylindropuntia versicolor | 0–1 | – | ||
| Parry's agave | AGPA4 | Agave parryi | 0–1 | – | ||
|
Tree
|
||||||
| 12 | Trees | 0–20 | ||||
| oneseed juniper | JUMO | Juniperus monosperma | 0–10 | – | ||
| western honey mesquite | PRGLT | Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana | 0–5 | – | ||
| velvet mesquite | PRVE | Prosopis velutina | 0–5 | – | ||
| Arizona white oak | QUAR | Quercus arizonica | 0–5 | – | ||
| Emory oak | QUEM | Quercus emoryi | 0–5 | – | ||
| Mexican blue oak | QUOB | Quercus oblongifolia | 0–5 | – | ||
| netleaf hackberry | CELAR | Celtis laevigata var. reticulata | 0–5 | – | ||
Interpretations
Animal community
This site produces fair quality herbaceous forage. Protein and phosphorous will be deficient in the winter. The site is not well suited to summertime grazing by cows with calves. Mother cow-pairs will only use 300-400 feet up or down in elevation from water in the summer. Dry cows will use double the distance up or down the slope in the winter-spring season. Yearlings use the areas of the site well in any season. Slopes above 50% and large areas of bluff and rim and rock outcrops can hinder livestock movement on the site. Slope and aspect affects both the intensity of utilization and seasonal use patterns. North-south trending ridges will be utilized fairly well even in the summer as the west facing slope is shady in the morning and the east facing slope is shady in the afternoon. South facing slopes are extensively used in the winter and spring due to warmth from cold weather and early green-up of warm season grasses. North facing slopes are little used at any time of year. Seep and canyon water is available in most winters from December-February.
Water is very important to wildlife on this site, especially whitetail deer. This site is home to a tremendous variety of wildlife species, due to the diversity of food, cover and aspect.
Hydrological functions
With steep slopes and loamy soils this site is a good producer of runoff.
Recreational uses
Hunting, hiking, horseback riding, photography, bird-watching, camping, rock-hounding,
Wood products
Shrubby mesquite, juniper and catclaw acacia supply limited amounts of wood for campfires.
Supporting information
Inventory data references
Range 417s include 14 in excellent condition, 24 in good condition, and 4 in fair condition.
Type locality
| Location 1: Pima County, AZ | |
|---|---|
| Township/Range/Section | T18S R12E S32 |
| General legal description | Caterpillar proving grounds, Green Valley |
| Location 2: Pima County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T21S R9E S14 |
| General legal description | Buenos Aires NWR |
| Location 3: Pima County, AZ | |
| Township/Range/Section | T18S R17E S10 |
| General legal description | Empire ranch, KA 7 in the Rockhouse pasture. |
Other references
Field Office Locations:
Douglas
Higley
Safford
San Carlos
Sells
Tucson
Willcox
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, Dan Robinett, Emilio Carillo |
|---|---|
| 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:
Uncomon; probably cover no more than 10% of area, discontinuous, very short, usually less than 1 foot in length; broken primarily by high rock and gravel cover. -
Number and height of erosional pedestals or terracettes:
Pedestals are uncommon on perennial grass and shrubs; limited soil material not conducive to forming continuous stands of plants that promote terracettes; high rock cover forms limited natural terracettes. -
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):
No slake test done. Expect values of 1-3 in canopy interspaces and 4-6 under plant canopies. -
Soil surface structure and SOM content (include type of structure and A-horizon color and thickness):
Weak coarse granular; color is 7.5YR4/4 dru'' 7.5YR3/4 moist; thickness to 2 inches. -
Effect of community phase composition (relative proportion of different functional groups) and spatial distribution on infiltration and runoff:
cover estimated as: canopy 20-40%; basal 5%; litter 45-55%; and gravel 30%. 45-55% of canopy cover is perennial grasses, 5% perennial forbs, 30% shrubs, 10% subshrubs. 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 > annual grasses and forbs > subshrubs = shrubs > succulents = perennial forbs.Sub-dominant:
Other:
Additional:
-
Amount of plant mortality and decadence (include which functional groups are expected to show mortality or decadence):
50% of basil cover of perennial grasses has likely been lost in recent prolonged drouth. -
Average percent litter cover (%) and depth ( in):
-
Expected annual annual-production (this is TOTAL above-ground annual-production, not just forage annual-production):
700 lbs/ac unfavorable precipitation; 1000 lbs/ac normal precipitation; 1800 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:
turpentine bush, jojoba, whitethorn, mesquite, prickley pear, cane cholla, ocotillo may increase to undesirable levels in absence of natural fires; 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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