Ecological Site Description - Rosemont EISThe plant communities found on an ecological site are naturally variable. Composition and production will vary with yearly conditions, location,

Plant Communities

Ecological Dynamics of the Site

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.

Ecological Site Description

9/10/2010 Ecological Site Description System

esis.sc.egov.usda.gov/…/fsReport.aspx… 1/12

State and Transition, Clayloam Upland 16-20" p.z.



Historic Climax Plant Community

The historic native state includes the native plant communities that occur on the site, including the historic

climax plant community. This state includes other plant communities that naturally occupy the site

following drought, fire, flooding, herbivores, and other natural disturbances. The historic climax plant

community represents the natural climax community that eventually reoccupies the site with proper

management.

The potential plant community on this site is dominated by warm season perennial grasses. The major

perennial species like tobosa, vine mesquite, and curly mesquite grow in patches on the site. These

patches are well dispersed throughout the area of the site. Perennial and annual forbs, as well as several

species of low shrubs and succulents, are well represented in the plant community. The aspect is

grassland. Trees are only occasional on the site. Species like plains lovegrass, bottlebrush squirreltail,

false mesquite, and shrubby buckwheat begin growth in March. Warm season grasses begin growth in

July or August, with the receipt of summer rains. After summer drought and especially in El Nino years,

annuals like goldeneye and gumweed can make tremendous production. Perennial grasses will usually

recover to normal amounts in 2 to 3 years.

Clayloam Upland 16-20" pz. HCPC

Historic Climax Plant Community Plant Species Composition:

Grass/GrasslikeAnnual Production



Grass/Grasslikein Pounds Per Acre

Group Group Name Common Name Symbol Scientific Name Low High

1 - Dominant perennial grasses 350 800

sprucetop grama BOCH Bouteloua chondrosioides 25 200

black grama BOER4 Bouteloua eriopoda 25 100

blue grama BOGR2 Bouteloua gracilis 300 700

hairy grama BOHI2 Bouteloua hirsuta 0 100

purple grama BORA Bouteloua radicosa 0 100

curly mesquite HIBE Hilaria belangeri 5 50

2 - Subdominant perennial grasses 70 200

cane beardgrass BOBA3 Bothriochloa barbinodis 5 50

sideoats grama BOCU Bouteloua curtipendula 50 100

plains lovegrass ERIN Eragrostis intermedia 10 100

vine mesquite PAOB Panicum obtusum 5 50

tobosa PLMU3 Pleuraphis mutica 0 150

crinkleawn TRSP12 Trachypogon spicatus 0 50

3 - Perennial threeawns 5 40

poverty threeawn ARDI5 Aristida divaricata 1 25

Havard's threeawn ARHA3 Aristida havardii 0 5

Wooton's threeawn ARPA9 Aristida pansa 0 5

red threeawn ARPUL Aristida purpurea var. longiseta 1 25

Wright's threeawn ARPUW Aristida purpurea var. wrightii 0 10

Orcutt's threeawn ARSCO Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana 0 5

spidergrass ARTE3 Aristida ternipes 2 20

mesa threeawn ARTEG Aristida ternipes var. gentilis 0 10

4 - Miscellaneous perennial grasses 5 100

slender grama BORE2 Bouteloua repens 0 5

Rothrock grama BORO2 Bouteloua rothrockii 0 5

silver bluestem BOSA Bothriochloa saccharoides 0 25

densetuft hairsedge BUCA2 Bulbostylis capillaris 0 2

Carex CAREX Carex 0 2

Cyperus CYPER Cyperus 0 2

fluffgrass DAPU7 Dasyochloa pulchella 0 2

Arizona cottontop DICA8 Digitaria californica 0 25

fall witchgrass DICO6 Digitaria cognata 0 5

woolly bunchgrass ELBA Elionurus barbiculmis 0 10

bottlebrush squirreltail ELEL5 Elymus elymoides 0 15

spike pappusgrass ENDE Enneapogon desvauxii 0 1

tanglehead HECO10 Heteropogon contortus 0 5

green sprangletop LEDU Leptochloa dubia 0 50

Arizona muhly MUAR3 Muhlenbergia arizonica 1 15

bullgrass MUEM Muhlenbergia emersleyi 0 10

purple muhly MURI3 Muhlenbergia rigida 0 10



bulb panicgrass PABU Panicum bulbosum 0 5

Hall panicgrass PAHA Panicum hallii 0 5

pinyon ricegrass PIFI Piptochaetium fimbriatum 0 5

burrograss SCBR2 Scleropogon brevifolius 0 2

Texas bluestem SCCI2 Schizachyrium cirratum 0 10

plains bristlegrass SEVU2 Setaria vulpiseta 0 10

sand dropseed SPCR Sporobolus cryptandrus 0 5

big sacaton SPWR2 Sporobolus wrightii 0 5

5 - Annual grasses 1 100

fragilegrass AETE Aegopogon tenellus 0 2

sixweeks threeawn ARAD Aristida adscensionis 1 25

prairie threeawn AROL Aristida oligantha 0 25

sixweeks needle grama BOAR Bouteloua aristidoides 0 10

sixweeks grama BOBA2 Bouteloua barbata 0 5

matted grama BOSI2 Bouteloua simplex 0 2

Arizona brome BRAR4 Bromus arizonicus 0 2

feather fingergrass CHVI4 Chloris virgata 0 10

tapertip cupgrass ERACA Eriochloa acuminata var. acuminata 0 10

Mexican lovegrass ERME Eragrostis mexicana 0 5

tufted lovegrass ERPEP2 Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea 0 5

pitscale grass HAGR3 Hackelochloa granularis 0 10

little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0 20

Mexican sprangletop LEFUU Leptochloa fusca ssp. uninervia 0 20

mucronate sprangeltop LEPAB Leptochloa panicea ssp. brachiata 0 20

sticky sprangletop LEVI5 Leptochloa viscida 0 10

delicate muhly MUFR Muhlenbergia fragilis 0 2

littleseed muhly MUMI Muhlenbergia microsperma 0 2

witchgrass PACA6 Panicum capillare 0 2

Mexican panicgrass PAHI5 Panicum hirticaule 0 25

poverty dropseed SPVA Sporobolus vaginiflorus 0 2

prairie false oat TRIN5 Trisetum interruptum 0 2

Arizona signalgrass URAR Urochloa arizonica 0 10

Eastwood fescue VUMIC Vulpia microstachys var. ciliata 0 2

Pacific fescue VUMIP Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora 0 2

sixweeks fescue VUOC Vulpia octoflora 0 20

ForbAnnual Production

in Pounds Per Acre


6 - Perennial forbs 10 40

trailing four o'clock ALIN Allionia incarnata 0 1

largeflower onion ALMA4 Allium macropetalum 0 5

slimleaf bursage AMCO3 Ambrosia confertiflora 1 5

throw-up weed AMPA3 Amoreuxia palmatifida 0 1

desert anemone ANTU Anemone tuberosa 0 1



melon loco APUN Apodanthera undulata 0 1

Louisiana sagewort ARLU Artemisia ludoviciana 0 2

Watson's dutchman's pipe ARWA Aristolochia watsonii 0 1

Arizona milkvetch ASAR6 Astragalus arizonicus 0 1

spider milkweed ASAS Asclepias asperula 0 1

chaparral asphead ASHI3 Aspicarpa hirtella 0 3

dwarf milkweed ASIN14 Asclepias involucrata 0 1

broadleaf milkweed ASLA4 Asclepias latifolia 0 1

Lemmon's milkweed ASLE13 Asclepias lemmonii 0 1

woolly locoweed ASMOB Astragalus mollissimus var. bigelovii 0 1

sheep milkvetch ASNO3 Astragalus nothoxys 0 5

horsetail milkweed ASSU2 Asclepias subverticillata 0 1

shrubby ayenia AYMI Ayenia microphylla 0 1

lyreleaf greeneyes BELY Berlandiera lyrata 0 1

scarlet spiderling BOCO Boerhavia coccinea 0 1

dwarf stickpea CAHUR Calliandra humilis var. reticulata 0 1

desert mariposa lily CAKE Calochortus kennedyi 0 1

sego lily CANU3 Calochortus nuttallii 0 1

Castilleja CASTI2 Castilleja 0 1

whitemargin spurge CHAL11 Chamaesyce albomarginata 0 1

rose heath CHER2 Chaetopappa ericoides 1 3

birdbill dayflower CODI4 Commelina dianthifolia 0 1

hoary bindweed COEQ Convolvulus equitans 0 2

whitemouth dayflower COER Commelina erecta 0 2

leatherweed CRPO5 Croton pottsii 0 2

fingerleaf gourd CUDI Cucurbita digitata 0 3

coyote melon CUPA Cucurbita palmata 0 1

whiteflower dalea DAAL Dalea albiflora 0 2

James' prairie clover DAJA Dalea jamesii 0 1

dwarf prairie clover DANA Dalea nana 0 2

New Mexico dalea DANE Dalea neomexicana 0 1

Cooley's bundleflower DECO2 Desmanthus cooleyi 1 3

bluedicks DICA14 Dichelostemma capitatum 1 10

spreading snakeherb DYSCDDyschoriste schiedeana var.

decumbens1 5

Torrey's craglily ECFL Echeandia flavescens 0 1

winged buckwheat ERAL4 Eriogonum alatum 0 2

spreading fleabane ERDI4 Erigeron divergens 0 10

trailing fleabane ERFL Erigeron flagellaris 0 10

Mexican fireplant EUHE4 Euphorbia heterophylla 0 1

sun spurge EURA2 Euphorbia radians 0 1

hairy evolvulus EVAR Evolvulus arizonicus 1 3

prostrate evolvulus EVNU Evolvulus nuttallianus 0 1

silver evolvulus EVSE Evolvulus sericeus 0 1

Arizona snakecotton FRAR2 Froelichia arizonica 0 1

scarlet gaura GACO5 Gaura coccinea 0 1



pearly globe amaranth GONI Gomphrena nitida 0 2

small matweed GUDED Guilleminea densa var. densa 1 2

hogpotato HOGL2 Hoffmannseggia glauca 0 2

red bluet HORU Houstonia rubra 0 1

babyslippers HYVE Hybanthus verticillatus 0 1

ragged nettlespurge JAMA Jatropha macrorhiza 0 1

San Pedro daisy LAPO4 Lasianthaea podocephala 0 1

Fendler bladderpod LEFE Lesquerella fendleri 0 1

narrowleaf puccoon LIIN2 Lithospermum incisum 0 1

Lewis blue flax LILE3 Linum lewisii 0 1

Greene deervetch LOGR4 Lotus greenei 0 1

Wright deervetch LOWR Lotus wrightii 1 2

variableleaf bushbean MAGI2 Macroptilium gibbosifolium 0 2

spiny tansyaster MAPI Machaeranthera pinnatifida 0 3

lemon beebalm MOCIAMonarda citriodora ssp.

austromontana0 1

tufted evening-primrose OECA10 Oenothera caespitosa 0 1

beardlip penstemon PEBA2 Penstemon barbatus 0 1

Cochise beardtongue PEDA Penstemon dasyphyllus 0 1

mat cinchweed PELO Pectis longipes 0 1

Parry penstemon PEPA24 Penstemon parryi 0 1

narrowleaf bean PHAN3 Phaseolus angustissimus 0 1

orange talinum PHAU13 Phemeranthus aurantiacus 0 5

ivyleaf groundcherry PHHE4 Physalis hederifolia 0 1

white milkwort POAL4 Polygala alba 0 1

velvetseed milkwort POOB Polygala obscura 0 1

shrubby purslane POSU3 Portulaca suffrutescens 0 1

slimflower scurfpea PSTE5 Psoralidium tenuiflorum 0 1

buffpetal RHPH2 Rhynchosida physocalyx 0 1

Texas snoutbean RHSET Rhynchosia senna var. texana 0 2

slimleaf plainsmustard SCLI12 Schoenocrambe linearifolia 0 1

twinleaf senna SEBA3 Senna bauhinioides 0 1

Lemmon's ragwort SELE8 Senecio lemmonii 0 1

New Mexico sida SINE Sida neomexicana 0 1

silverleaf nightshade SOEL Solanum elaeagnifolium 0 1

Missouri goldenrod SOMI2 Solidago missouriensis 0 1

narrowleaf globemallow SPAN3 Sphaeralcea angustifolia 0 1

gooseberryleaf

globemallowSPGR2 Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia 0 3

brownplume wirelettuce STPA4 Stephanomeria pauciflora 0 5

white prairie aster SYFACSymphyotrichum falcatum var.

commutatum0 1

big talinum TAPA2 Talinum paniculatum 0 1

Coulter's wrinklefruit TECO Tetraclea coulteri 0 1

hairy fournwort TENE Tetramerium nervosum 0 1

longstalk greenthread THLO Thelesperma longipes 0 1



Hopi tea greenthread THME Thelesperma megapotamicum 0 1

pinewoods spiderwort TRPI Tradescantia pinetorum 0 1

branched noseburn TRRA5 Tragia ramosa 0 1

Fort Huachuca vervain VEGR2 Verbena gracilis 0 1

American vetch VIAM Vicia americana 0 2

Louisiana vetch VILUL2 Vicia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana 0 5

copper zephyrlily ZELO Zephyranthes longifolia 0 1

Texas zinnia ZIGR Zinnia grandiflora 0 1

7 - Annual Forbs 1 150

New Mexico copperleaf ACNE Acalypha neomexicana 0 2

carelessweed AMPA Amaranthus palmeri 0 5

spurred anoda ANCR2 Anoda cristata 0 1

bluestem pricklypoppy ARPL3 Argemone pleiacantha 0 1

halfmoon milkvetch ASAL6 Astragalus allochrous 0 1

Nuttall milkvetch ASNU4 Astragalus nuttallianus 0 10

Thurber milkvetch ASTH Astragalus thurberi 0 10

wheelscale saltbush ATEL Atriplex elegans 0 1

fewflower beggarticks BILE Bidens leptocephala 0 1

Coulter spiderling BOCO2 Boerhavia coulteri 0 1

erect spiderling BOER Boerhavia erecta 0 1

hairy bowlesia BOIN3 Bowlesia incana 0 1

purple spiderling BOPU Boerhavia purpurascens 0 1

fringed redmaids CACI2 Calandrinia ciliata 0 1

pitseed goosefoot CHBE4 Chenopodium berlandieri 0 10

royal sandmat CHDI5 Chamaesyce dioica 0 1

pillpod sandmat CHHI3 Chamaesyce hirta 0 1

leafy spurge CHHY3 Chamaesyce hyssopifolia 0 1

New Mexico goosefoot CHNE3 Chenopodium neomexicanum 0 10

sensitive partridge pea CHNI2 Chamaecrista nictitans 0 10

threadstem sandmat CHRE4 Chamaesyce revoluta 0 1

thymeleaf spurge CHSE6 Chamaesyce serpyllifolia 0 1

slimseed spurge CHST8 Chamaesyce stictospora 0 1

New Mexico thistle CINE Cirsium neomexicanum 0 10

miner's lettuce CLPEP Claytonia perfoliata ssp. perfoliata 0 1

golden corydalis COAU2 Corydalis aurea 0 2

Cryptantha CRYPT Cryptantha 0 1

Chihuahuan prairie clover DAEX2 Dalea exigua 0 1

American wild carrot DAPU3 Daucus pusillus 0 1

sacred datura DAWR2 Datura wrightii 0 1

western tansymustard DEPI Descurainia pinnata 0 5

buttonweed DITE2 Diodia teres 0 1

wedgeleaf draba DRCU Draba cuneifolia 0 2

Abert's buckwheat ERAB2 Eriogonum abertianum 0 5

miniature woollystar ERDI2 Eriastrum diffusum 0 1




sorrel buckwheat ERPO4 Eriogonum polycladon 0 5

Mexican gold poppy ESCAM Eschscholzia californica ssp. mexicana 0 1

Arizona blanketflower GAAR2 Gaillardia arizonica 0 1

velvetweed GAMO5 Gaura mollis 0 1

red dome blanketflower GAPI Gaillardia pinnatifida 0 1

lesser yellowthroat gilia GIFL Gilia flavocincta 0 1

El Paso gilia GIME Gilia mexicana 0 1

Dakota mock vervain GLBIBGlandularia bipinnatifida var.

bipinnatifida0 1

curlytop gumweed GRNUA Grindelia nuda var. aphanactis 0 20

longleaf false goldeneye HELOA2 Heliomeris longifolia var. annua 1 150

camphorweed HESU3 Heterotheca subaxillaris 0 25

poison rubberweed HYOD Hymenoxys odorata 0 15

crestrib morning-glory IPCO2 Ipomoea costellata 0 1

flaxflowered ipomopsis IPLOL Ipomopsis longiflora ssp. longiflora 0 1

El Paso skyrocket IPTH2 Ipomopsis thurberi 0 1

orange caltrop KAGR Kallstroemia grandiflora 0 5

warty caltrop KAPA Kallstroemia parviflora 0 1

Coulter's horseweed LACO13 Laennecia coulteri 0 1

Gordon bladderpod LEGO Lesquerella gordonii 0 1

broadleaf pepperweed LELA2 Lepidium latifolium 0 1

intermediate pepperweed LEVIM Lepidium virginicum var. medium 0 2

orange flax LIPU4 Linum puberulum 0 1

foothill deervetch LOHU2 Lotus humistratus 0 1

coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSAB Lotus salsuginosus var. brevivexillus 0 1

shortstem lupine LUBR2 Lupinus brevicaulis 0 1

bajada lupine LUCOC Lupinus concinnus ssp. concinnus 0 1

Fendler desert-dandelion MAFE Malacothrix fendleri 0 1

slender tansyaster MAGR10 Machaeranthera gracilis 0 20

Tahoka tansyaster MATA2 Machaeranthera tanacetifolia 0 20

whitestem stickleaf MEAL6 Mentzelia albicaulis 0 1

green carpetweed MOVE Mollugo verticillata 0 1

spring evening-primrose OEPR Oenothera primiveris 0 1

Arizona phacelia PHAR13 Phacelia arizonica 0 1

Mangas Spring phacelia PHBO4 Phacelia bombycina 0 1

sky blue scorpionweed PHCA43 Phacelia caerulea(syn) 0 1

lipstick plant PLAR Plagiobothrys arizonicus 0 1

woolly Indianwheat PLPA2 Plantago patagonica 0 10

Portulaca PORTU Portulaca 0 1

yerba porosa PORU6 Porophyllum ruderale 0 1

straighttube devilsclaw PRAL4 Proboscidea althaeifolia 0 1

annual devilsclaw PRPA2 Proboscidea parviflora 0 1

Wright's cudweed PSCAC2Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp.

canescens0 20

Abert's creeping zinnia SAAB Sanvitalia abertii 0 1

sawtooth sage SASU7 Salvia subincisa 0 2



prostrate sida SIAB Sida abutifolia 0 1

sleepy catchfly SIAN2 Silene antirrhina 0 1

streptanthella STREP Streptanthella 0 1

golden crownbeard VEEN Verbesina encelioides 0 1

Shrub/VineAnnual Production

in Pounds Per Acre


8 - Dominant half shrubs 10 50

prairie acacia ACAN Acacia angustissima 0 5

yerba de pasmo baccharis BAPT Baccharis pteronioides 1 5

false mesquite CAER Calliandra eriophylla 1 15

shrubby buckwheat ERWR Eriogonum wrightii 1 15

range ratany KRER Krameria erecta 0 5

spreading ratany KRLA Krameria lanceolata 0 5

9 - Miscellaneous shrubs 0 15

catclaw acacia ACGR Acacia greggii 0 1

Pringle manzanita ARPR Arctostaphylos pringlei 0 1

threadleaf snakeweed GUMI Gutierrezia microcephala 0 2

broom snakeweed GUSA2 Gutierrezia sarothrae 0 5

burroweed ISTE2 Isocoma tenuisecta 0 2

pale wolfberry LYPA Lycium pallidum 0 1

wait-a-bit MIACB Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera 0 2

velvetpod mimosa MIDY Mimosa dysocarpa 0 2

turbinella oak QUTU2 Quercus turbinella 0 1

skunkbush sumac RHTR Rhus trilobata 0 1

threadleaf ragwort SEFLF Senecio flaccidus var. flaccidus 0 1

10 - Succulents 1 15

Palmer agave AGPA3 Agave palmeri 1 5

Parry agave AGPA4 Agave parryi 0 1

cane cholla CYSP8 Cylindropuntia spinosior 0 2

scarlet hedgehog cactus ECCOC Echinocereus coccineus var. coccineus 0 1

pinkflower hedgehog

cactusECFEF3 Echinocereus fendleri ssp. fendleri 0 1

white fishhook cactus ECIN2 Echinomastus intertextus 0 1

rainbow hedgehog cactus ECRI3 Echinocereus rigidissimus 1 2

spinystar cactus ESVI2 Escobaria vivipara 0 1

fishhook pincushion

cactusMAGR9 Mammillaria grahamii 0 1

Macdougal's nipple cactus MAHEM Mammillaria heyderi var. macdougalii 0 1

sacahuista NOMI Nolina microcarpa 0 5

Engelmann pricklypear OPEN3 Opuntia engelmannii 0 1

twistspine pricklypear OPMA2 Opuntia macrorhiza 0 1

tulip pricklypear OPPH Opuntia phaeacantha 0 1



banana yucca YUBA Yucca baccata 0 1

soaptree yucca YUEL Yucca elata 0 1

TreeAnnual Production

in Pounds Per Acre


11 - Trees 0 20

alligator juniper JUDE2 Juniperus deppeana 0 5

oneseed juniper JUMO Juniperus monosperma 0 5

Arizona white oak QUAR Quercus arizonica 0 15

Emory oak QUEM Quercus emoryi 0 15

Annual Production by Plant Type:

Annual Production (lbs/AC)

Plant Type Low Representative Value High

Forb 11 40 190

Grass/Grasslike 431 1000 1240

Shrub/Vine 11 30 80

Tree 0 5 20

Total: 453 1075 1530

Structure and Cover:

Soil Surface Cover (%)

Basal Cover

Non-

Vascular

Plants

Biological

Crust Litter

Surface

Fragments

> 1/4 &

<= 3"

Surface

Fragments

> 3" Bedrock Water

Bare

GroundGrass/Grasslike Forb

Shrub/

Vine Tree

7 to 16 0 to 1 0 to 1

0 to 1 0 to 1 1 to 15 20 to 60

10 to 35 0 to 5 0 to 0 0 to 0 15 to

55

Structure of Canopy Cover (%)

Grasses/Grasslike Forbs Shrubs/Vines Trees

<=0.5 feet 5 to 15 1 to 5 0 to 5

> 0.5 - < 1 feet 15 to 30 1 to 5 1 to 5

< 1 - >= 2 feet 5 to 15 0 to 15 1 to 2

> 2 - < 4.5 feet 0 to 5 0 to 5 0 to 1

< 4.5 - >= 13 feet 0 to 1

> 13 - < 40 feet 0 to 5

Plant Growth Curve:

Growth Curve Number: AZ4111

Growth Curve Name: 41.1 16-30" p.z. all sites

Growth Curve Description: Growth begins in the spring, semi-dormancy occurs during the June drought,



most growth occurs during the summer rainy season.

Percent Production by Month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun JulAug Sep Oct Nov Dec

0 0 0 5 10 0 15 45 20 5 0 0

Exotic perennial grasses

This state occurs where yellow bluestem cultivars, Boer and / or weeping lovegrass has either invaded

from established stands or been seeded into the area. These grasses become dominant and native

perennial grasses and forbs exist only in remnant amounts. Cover and production of these species is

very high and site stability and hydrologic function are very good.

Mesquite, juniper invaded

This state occurs where the native plant community has been invaded by mesquite (velvet or western

honey) or juniper (alligator or one seed). This happens in the absence of fire for long periods of time and

in the presence of a seed source of the two species. At the higher canopy levels (25%) erosion can

accelerate and the site become unstable.

Eroded state

This state occurs where accelerated sheet and rill erosion has removed the surface (A) horizon and left

clayey sub-soils at the surface. The new site potential resembles Clayey Upland (R041XA120AZ) with

perennial grasses limited to those that can handle high shrink swell (vertic) clays and reproduce

vegetatively (like tobosa and vine mesquite). Gullies may form in severe situations.





Plant Communities



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


to occur when the site is disturbed by factors such as fire, grazing, or drought.






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, Loamy Slopes 12-16" p.z.


The potential plant community of this site is dominated by warm season perennial grasses with a variety

of shrubs, succulents and forbs being well represented. The major perennial grasses are well dispersed

throughout the plant community. The aspect is shrub dotted grassland.

With continuous heavy grazing, palatable perennial grasses are removed and species like mesquite,

catclaw acacia, mimosa, ocotillo, snakeweed, burroweed and prickly pear increase to dominate.

Natural fire may have been an important part in the development of the potential plant community. With

steep slopes and heavy textured horizons near the soil surface, this site becomes an ineffective user of

intense summer rainfall if the perennial grass cover is depleted. The potential of the site to produce grass

is reduced as tree canopy increases. The site can produce effective herbaceous covers with up to 5-

10% tree canopy.

Fire and drought interactions can deplete the perennial grass cover. When this is followed by a wet

spring tremendous stands of annual forbs like goldeneye, poppy and lupine can result.



Loamy Slopes 12-16" pz. HCPC



in Pounds Per Acre


1 - Dominant mid grasses 180 350







2 - Cool season grasses 10 100



prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0 25

3 - Dominant short grasses 110 150








common wolfstail LYPH Lycurus phleoides 1 25


4 - Short lived grasses 10 200





red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0 10







bush muhly MUPO2 Muhlenbergia porteri 1 25





southwestern bristlegrass SESC2 Setaria scheelei 0 5

spike dropseed SPCO4 Sporobolus contractus 0 5


slim tridens TRMU Tridens muticus 0 15



Santa Rita threeawn ARCAG Aristida californica var. glabrata 0 5




purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 1 15


blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 0 1

Parish threeawn ARPUP5 Aristida purpurea var. parishii 0 10
















tufted lovegrass ERPE Eragrostis pectinacea 0 5

desert lovegrass ERPEMEragrostis pectinacea var.

miserrima0 5


red sprangletop LEPA6 Leptochloa panicea 1 25





Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0 5




desert fescue VUMIMVulpia microstachys var.

microstachys0 15



in Pounds Per Acre


8 - Perennial Forbs 15 80

Palmer Indianmallow ABPA Abutilon palmeri 0 1

desert-holly ACNA2 Acourtia nana 0 5

pink perezia ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0 1

poreleaf dogweed ADPO2 Adenophyllum porophyllum 0 10




Anoda ANODA Anoda 0 1


narrowleaf silverbush ARLA12 Argythamnia lanceolata 0 5


New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0 1

perennial rockcress ARPE2 Arabis perennans 1 5

Watson's dutchman's

pipeARWA Aristolochia watsonii 0 1


hairyseed bahia BAAB Bahia absinthifolia 0 1

desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0 1



climbing wartclub BOSC Boerhavia scandens 0 2

Arizona carlowrightia CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0 2












decumbens0 1


desert trumpet

buckwheatERIN4 Eriogonum inflatum 0 2



Gaura GAURA Gaura 0 1

Gooding mock verbena GLGO Glandularia gooddingii 0 2


small matweed GUDE Guilleminea densa 0 1

Arizona rosemallow HIBI Hibiscus biseptus 0 1

Coulter hibiscus HICO Hibiscus coulteri 0 1


slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 1 20




Parry's false prairie-

cloverMAPA7 Marina parryi 0 2


plains blackfoot daisy MELE2 Melampodium leucanthum 1 10

wishbone four o'clock MILAV Mirabilis laevis var. villosa 0 1

desert tobacco NIOB Nicotiana obtusifolia 0 1





yerba de venado POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 1 20



Pseudognaphalium PSEUD43 Pseudognaphalium 0 2



desert senna SECO10 Senna covesii 0 2



desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 5 20



gooseberryleaf





Tradescantia TRADE Tradescantia 0 1





9 - Annual forbs 10 150



western fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0 50


Astralagus ASTRA Astragalus 0 15






exserted Indian

paintbrushCAEXE Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta 0 10

lipfern CHEIL Cheilanthes 0 1

Chenopodium CHENO Chenopodium 1 45









western wallflower ERCA14 Erysimum capitatum 0 1



bull filaree ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0 1

Mexican gold poppy ESCAMEschscholzia californica ssp.

mexicana0 15


star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0 2


Arizona gumweed GRAR2 Grindelia arizonica 0 5






Thurber's morning-glory IPTH Ipomoea thurberi 0 5



Goodding bladderpod LEGO2 Lesquerella gooddingii 0 1

shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0 15




coastal bird's-foot trefoil LOSABLotus salsuginosus var.

brevivexillus0 15

Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0 2

Mojave lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0 15



patota MONU Monolepis nuttalliana 0 1



Florida pellitory PAFL3 Parietaria floridana 0 1

Pectocarya PECTO Pectocarya 0 10

cliffbrake PELLA Pellaea 0 1

manybristle cinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0 2

Phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0 15

Phlox PHLOX Phlox 0 1


desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 0 10





desert-chicory RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0 5

chia SACO6 Salvia columbariae 0 1




woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0 15



in Pounds Per Acre




white brittlebush ENFA Encelia farinosa 0 15

rayless brittlebush ENFR Encelia frutescens 0 10







rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 0 10

desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 0 10

11 - Miscellaneous Shrubs 0 40

orange Indianmallow ABIN Abutilon incanum 0 10


whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 0 2

mintbush lippia ALWR Aloysia wrightii 0 2

fourwing saltbush ATCA2 Atriplex canescens 0 5

shortleaf baccharis BABR Baccharis brachyphylla 0 5

yerba de pasmo

baccharisBAPT Baccharis pteronioides 0 5

Coulter brickellbush BRCO Brickellia coulteri 0 5

desert hackberry CEEH Celtis ehrenbergiana 0 5

javelina bush COER5 Condalia ericoides 0 5

knifeleaf condalia COSP3 Condalia spathulata 0 5

Mexican crucillo COWA Condalia warnockii 0 5

Kearney's snakewood COWAK Condalia warnockii var. kearneyana 0 5

longleaf Mormon tea EPTR Ephedra trifurca 0 5

flattop buckwheat ERFA2 Eriogonum fasciculatum 0 2

turpentine bush ERLA12 Ericameria laricifolia 0 1

ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 0 5


gumhead GYGL Gymnosperma glutinosum 0 1


winterfat KRLA2 Krascheninnikovia lanata 0 2

Lycium LYCIU Lycium 0 5

algerita barberry MATR3 Mahonia trifoliolata 0 5

wait-a-bit MIACBMimosa aculeaticarpa var.

biuncifera0 5


foothill palo verde PAMI5 Parkinsonia microphylla 0 2

whitestem paperflower PSCO2 Psilostrophe cooperi 0 1



marvel dewberry RUMI3 Rubus mirus 0 2

Sageretia SAGER Sageretia 0 2

threadleaf ragwort SEFLF Senecio flaccidus var. flaccidus 0 1

jojoba SICH Simmondsia chinensis 0 5

California trixis TRCA8 Trixis californica 0 2

Parish's goldeneye VIPA14 Viguiera parishii 0 2

graythorn ZIOB Ziziphus obtusifolia 0 1




desert agave AGDE Agave deserti 0 1



saguaro CAGI10 Carnegiea gigantea 0 5

pencil cholla CYAR14 Cylindropuntia arbuscula 0 1

jumping cholla CYFU10 Cylindropuntia fulgida 0 2

Christmas cholla CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0 2


staghorn cholla CYVE3 Cylindropuntia versicolor 0 2

sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 0 2

Echinocereus ECHIN3 Echinocereus 0 5


rainbow cactus ECPE Echinocereus pectinatus 0 1


fishhook barrel cactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 1 5

fishhook pincushion


little nipple cactus MAHE2 Mammillaria heyderi 0 1


dollarjoint pricklypear OPCH Opuntia chlorotica 0 5


purple pricklypear OPMAMOpuntia macrocentra var.

macrocentra0 5





in Pounds Per Acre


13 - Trees 1 45



blue palo verde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 0 15

western honey mesquite PRGLT Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 0 25

velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 0 25




Forb 25 50 230


Shrub/Vine 65 150 240

Tree 1 5 45



Total: 426 905 1505



Basal Cover

Non-

Vascular

Plants

Biological

Crust Litter

Surface

Fragments

> 1/4 &

<= 3"

Surface

Fragments

> 3" Bedrock Water

Bare


Shrub/

Vine Tree

6 to 15 0 to 1 0 to 2

0 to 1 0 to 1 0 to 5 10 to 50

15 to 55 0 to 8 0 to 0 0 to 0 15 to

25



<=0.5 feet 2 to 15 1 to 5

> 0.5 - < 1 feet 2 to 15 1 to 20 1 to 10

< 1 - >= 2 feet 15 to 30 0 to 5 1 to 10

> 2 - < 4.5 feet 0 to 10 0 to 1 0 to 2

< 4.5 - >= 13 feet 0 to 1 0 to 1

Plant Growth Curve:


Growth Curve Name: 41.3 12-16" p.z. hill sites





0 0 5 10 10 0 30 30 10 5 0 0

Mesquite, native grasses and forbs

Mesquite increases or invades in the absence of fire for long periods of time. Other shrubs like prickly



pear, blue paloverde, ocotillo, cholla, snakeweed and brittlebush can increase to make the site appear

shrubby. Native perennial grasses and forbs still dominate the herbaceous layer of the plant community.

Loamy Slopes 12-16" pz. shrubby state

Annual forbs and grasses

The interactions of fire, drought and continuous grazing act to remove perennial grasses from the plant

community. Annuals, both native and non-native dominate the herbaceous layer of the plant community.

The shrubby component of the community remains unchanged. Some soil compaction has occurred and

sheet erosion has accelerated.



Loamy Slopes 12-16" pz. Selevin soil profile

Lehmann lovegrass invaded

Lehmann lovegrass invades from seeded areas and roadsides, trails and right of ways. The interactions

of fire, drought and continuous grazing cause openings in the native grass community which are filled by

Lehmann. As Lehmann becomes dominant the diversity of native herbaceous species declines. The

shrubby component of the site does not appear to be as affected as the herbaceous component by

increases in Lehmann lovegrass.

Eroded w/wo mesquite.

Severe soil compaction and trailing from heavy, continuous livestock grazing results in loss of plant

cover, changes in hydrology and accelerated sheet and rill erosion. Gullies can form where runoff is

concentrated from roadways or trails. Shrubs like mesquite and cacti may or may not have increased to

dominate. Perennial grasses and forbs are present only in trace amounts.





Plant Communities



will vary with yearly conditions, location, aspect, and the natural variability of the soils. The historic

climax plant community represents the natural potential plant communities found on relict or relatively


to occur when the site is disturbed by factors like fire, grazing, or drought.


summer growing season. The plant communities described in this site description are based on near-


NRCS uses a Similarity Index to compare existing plant communities to the plant communities listed

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 the 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, 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.




State and Transition, Loamy Slopes 16-20" p.z.




The historic native state includes the plant communities that occur on the site, including the historic


following fire, drought, flooding, herbivores, and other natural disturbances. The historic climax plant

community represents the natural climax community that eventually re-occupies the site with proper

management.

The potential plant community on this site is dominated by warm season perennial mid-grasses. The

major grass species are well dispersed throughout the plant community. Stands of Palmer agave occur

in dense patches and are not well dispersed through areas of the site. Several species of low shrubs,

cacti and other succulents, and forbs are well represented in this plant community. The aspect is open

grassland to savannah. North slopes will often have an open canopy of oaks and / or juniper. South

slopes will be agave dotted grassland.

With continuous, heavy grazing, mid-grasses are removed from the plant community and replaced by

short grasses such as curly mesquite, slender grama and sprucetop grama. With severe deterioration,

shrubby species such as wait-a-bit mimosa, one-seed and alligator juniper, and mesquite can increase to

dominate the site. With good management, native mid-grasses will be able to regain their dominance in

the plant community, unless soil erosion is severe enough to strip away the surface horizon. Mesquite

and Lehmann lovegrass are at the upper limits of their elevation range, but can increase on the site,

especially below 5000 feet elevation and on southern exposures. Climatic warming may allow these two

species to push higher in elevation as time goes by. Naturally occurring fires in June-August were an

important factor in shaping this plant community. Fire-free intervals range from 10-20 years. Without

disturbance like grazing or fire, perennial mid-grasses can become decadent and forbs like annual

goldeneye, cudweed and camphorweed can increase to dominate the plant community. This site is the

principal habitat for the Agave Palmeri in southeastern Arizona, an important food source for the

endangered lesser long-nosed bat in June, July, and August. Dense stands of this species occur

scattered throughout areas of this site. Nectar production in these stands ranges from 6-10 gallons per

acre.

Periodic drought can occur in this LRA and cause significant grass mortality. Droughts in the early 30s,

mid 50s, 1975-1976, 88-89, 95-96 and 2002 resulted in the loss of much of the grass cover on this

site. The site recovers rapidly, however, due to excellent covers of stone, cobbles and gravel and the

favorable climate that prevails in this common resource area.



Loamy Slopes 16-20" pz. Agave Palmeri



in Pounds Per Acre




1 - Dominant mid-grasses 700 1500




























squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 1 50

prairie Junegrass KOMA Koeleria macrantha 0 20


muttongrass POFE Poa fendleriana 0 2










Porter melicgrass MEPO Melica porteri 0 2






maidencane PAHE2 Panicum hemitomon 0 5



little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 0 10

yellow bristlegrass SELE6 Setaria leucopila 0 5




rough tridens TRMUE Tridens muticus var. elongatus 0 1


fragilegrass AETE Aegopogon tenellus 0 1












sweet tanglehead HEME Heteropogon melanocarpus 0 1

little barley HOPU Hordeum pusillum 0 1










Pacific fescue VUMIP Vulpia microstachys var. pauciflora 0 2



in Pounds Per Acre









western ragweed AMPS Ambrosia psilostachya 0 1








Cochise scaly cloakfern ASCO42 Astrolepis cochisensis 0 1










copper fern BOHI Bommeria hispida 0 1


grayleaf Indian paintbrush CAIN14 Castilleja integra 0 1






Fendler's lipfern CHFE2 Cheilanthes fendleri 0 1

fairyswords CHLI Cheilanthes lindheimeri 0 1




bastard toadflax COUM Comandra umbellata 0 2





Gregg's prairie clover DAGR2 Dalea greggii 0 5







decumbens0 5






oakbelt fleabane ERNE3 Erigeron neomexicanus 0 2




















Huachuca Mountain

rocktrumpetMABR Macrosiphonia brachysiphon 1 10



Mexican star MIBI2 Milla biflora 0 1


austromontana0 1


radish root woodsorrel OXAL Oxalis albicans 0 1

Drummond's woodsorrel OXDR Oxalis drummondii 0 1

Oxytropis OXYTR Oxytropis 0 1























gooseberryleaf






























































bipinnatifida0 1





redstar IPCO3 Ipomoea coccinea 0 5

ivyleaf morning-glory IPHE Ipomoea hederacea 0 5






Coulter's horseweed LACO13 Laennecia coulteri 0 1













mesa tansyaster MATA Machaeranthera tagetina 0 10



longtube four o'clock MILO2 Mirabilis longiflora 0 5



purple-white owlclover ORPU2 Orthocarpus purpureoalbus 0 1











canescens0 20





streptanthella STREP Streptanthella 0 1



in Pounds Per Acre






cliff goldenbush ERCUS Ericameria cuneata var. spathulata 0 10




9 - Succulents 2 50



Parry's agave AGPAP5 Agave parryi ssp. parryi 0 1

Santa Cruz beehive cactus CORE3 Coryphantha recurvata 0 1


sotol DAWH2 Dasylirion wheeleri 0 2

scarlet hedgehog cactus ECCOC Echinocereus coccineus var. coccineus 0 1

pinkflower hedgehogECFEF3 Echinocereus fendleri ssp. fendleri 0 1





rainbow cactus ECPE Echinocereus pectinatus 0 1

claretcup hedgehog cactus ECTR Echinocereus triglochidiatus 0 1


fishhook pincushion








Schott yucca YUSC Yucca ×schottii 0 1

10 - Miscellaneous shrubs 0 10


Santa Rita acacia ACMI Acacia millefolia 0 1

mintbush lippia ALWR Aloysia wrightii 0 1

desert-honeysuckle ANTH2 Anisacanthus thurberi 0 1

Pringle manzanita ARPR Arctostaphylos pringlei 0 1

pointleaf manzanita ARPU5 Arctostaphylos pungens 0 1

California brickellbush BRCA3 Brickellia californica 0 2

false boneset BREU Brickellia eupatorioides 0 1





Graham's mimosa MIGR2 Mimosa grahamii 0 1


littleleaf desert sumac RHMI3 Rhus microphylla 0 1


evergreen sumac RHVIC Rhus virens var. choriophylla 0 1

heartleaf goldeneye VICO Viguiera cordifolia 0 1


in Pounds Per Acre


11 - Trees 0 50





Mexican blue oak QUOB Quercus oblongifolia 0 20






Forb 11 60 250



Tree 0 10 50

Total: 763 1520 2350



Basal Cover

Non-

Vascular

Plants

Biological

Crust Litter

Surface

Fragments

> 1/4 &

<= 3"

Surface

Fragments

> 3" Bedrock Water

Bare


Shrub/

Vine Tree

8 to 15 0 to 1 1 to 2

0 to 1 0 to 1 0 to 5 20 to 50

15 to 45 0 to 5 0 to 0 0 to 0 15 to

40



<=0.5 feet 5 to 10 1 to 10 1 to 5

> 0.5 - < 1 feet 10 to 20 1 to 10 1 to 5

< 1 - >= 2 feet 15 to 30 1 to 20 1 to 10

> 2 - < 4.5 feet 5 to 15 0 to 2 1 to 10

< 4.5 - >= 13 feet 0 to 5 0 to 5

> 13 - < 40 feet 0 to 5

Plant Growth Curve:







0 0 0 5 10 0 15 45 20 5 0 0



Exotic grasses

This state occurs where non-native lovegrass species or yellow bluestem, have invaded from adjacent

areas or roads and ROWs with a seed source. As these species increase to dominate the plant

community, native perennial grasses and forbs decrease to remnant amounts. Fire will usually act to

increase species like Lehmann lovegrass. The native half shrubs seem to be able to stay in the plant

community. It is not know how Agave Palmeri fares under this condition.

Loamy Slopes 16-20" pz. Lehmann lovegrass



Shrub invaded

This state occurs where mesquite, wait a bit mimosa, one-seed juniper and / or alligator juniper have

invaded or increased to dominate the plant community. This occurs in the absence of fire for long

periods of time, with continuous grazing and in the presence of a seed source of these species. As

canopy levels of trees and shrubs approach 30%, sheet and rill erosion can begin to accelerate.

Loamy Slopes 16-20" pz. juniper invaded

Eroded surface

This state occurs where severe soil compaction and trailing has resulted in loss of plant cover and an

increase in runoff. Sheet and rill erosion accelerates and the surface (A) horizon is removed faster than it

can be replaced by down-slope soil movement and weathering of the ridgetops. When the subsurface

argillic (clayey) horizons are exposed, the site has lost its potential productivity. The plant community

will shift from warm season plants to cool season plants and the ratio of runoff to infiltration will

increase.



Loamy Slopes 16-20" pz. trailed and eroded





Plant Communities


The potential 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.






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, Loamy Upland 12-16" pz.


The potential plant community on this site is dominated by warm season perennial grasses. All the major

perennial grass species on the site are well dispersed throughout the plant community. Perennial forbs

and a few species of low shrubs are well represented on the site. The aspect is open grassland.

With continuous heavy grazing, palatable perennial grasses like blue, hairy, sprucetop and sideoats

gramas and plains lovegrass decrease. Increasers under such circumstances include curly mesquite,

threeawns and, in places, false mesquite. With severe deterioration, shrubby species increase to

dominate. Loss of porous surface soil causes a reduction in the site's ability to effectively use intense

summer rainfall. Natural fire was important in the development of the potential plant community. Stable

areas of the site can produce effective herbaceous covers with up to 10% canopy cover of mesquite. In

areas where half-shrubs dominate the under-story, the potential production of perennial grass is about

the same as the present production of half-shrubs once they are removed from the plant community by

fire or brush management.



Loamy Upland 12-16" pz. Dos Cabezas Cemetary



in Pounds Per Acre


1 - Dominant Mid Grasses 300 500




2 - Dominant Short Grasses 150 300







3 - Shortlived Grasses 20 150







4 - Subdominant Mid Grasses 10 150





5 - Perennial Threeawns 50 100





purple threeawn ARPU9 Aristida purpurea 0 25






6 - Miscellaneous Grasses 6 50


red grama BOTR2 Bouteloua trifida 0 10








Pima pappusgrass PAVA2 Pappophorum vaginatum 0 20


burrograss SCBR2 Scleropogon brevifolius 0 10



7 - Annual Grasses 10 100





Parry's grama BOPA2 Bouteloua parryi 0 10





tufted lovegrass ERPE Eragrostis pectinacea 0 20

desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0 20









Bigelow's bluegrass POBI Poa bigelovii 0 5




in Pounds Per Acre


8 - Perennial Forbs 5 75

desert-holly ACNA2 Acourtia nana 0 5

pink perezia ACWR5 Acourtia wrightii 0 5

San Felipe dogweed ADPO Adenophyllum porophylloides 0 2



Anoda ANODA Anoda 0 5


rockcress ARABI2 Arabis 0 5

New Mexico silverbush ARNE2 Argythamnia neomexicana 0 5

pioneer rockcress ARPL Arabis platysperma 0 5





desert marigold BAMU Baileya multiradiata 0 5


climbing wartclub BOSC Boerhavia scandens 0 2

Arizona carlowrightia CAAR7 Carlowrightia arizonica 0 5







desert larkspur DEPA Delphinium parishii 0 1


dogbane dyssodia DYPA Dyssodia papposa 0 5


decumbens0 10






Gaura GAURA Gaura 0 5



slender janusia JAGR Janusia gracilis 0 10




Gila manroot MAGI Marah gilensis 0 5



desert tobacco NIOB Nicotiana obtusifolia 0 1



yerba de venado POGR5 Porophyllum gracile 0 5


spiny milkwort POSU2 Polygala subspinosa 0 2


Arizona cudweed PSAR12 Pseudognaphalium arizonicum 0 5


canescens0 5


canaigre RUHY Rumex hymenosepalus 0 2


Leiberg stonecrop SELE Sedum leibergii 0 5




desert globemallow SPAM2 Sphaeralcea ambigua 1 20

gooseberryleaf





pricklyleaf dogweed THAC Thymophylla acerosa 0 5



Louisiana vetch VILU Vicia ludoviciana 0 5



9 - Annual forbs 15 150



western fiddleneck AMTE3 Amsinckia tessellata 0 5


Astralagus ASTRA Astragalus 1 20








Camissonia CAMIS Camissonia 0 5


common lambsquarters CHAL7 Chenopodium album 1 20







Wright dalea DAWR Dalea wrightii 0 5




western wallflower ERCA14 Erysimum capitatum 0 2



bull filaree ERTE13 Erodium texanum 0 5


Euphorbia EUPHO Euphorbia 0 5


star gilia GIST Gilia stellata 0 5



Arizona gumweed GRAR2 Grindelia arizonica 0 5









shaggyfruit pepperweed LELA Lepidium lasiocarpum 0 15





Arizona lupine LUAR4 Lupinus arizonicus 0 5

Mojave lupine LUSP2 Lupinus sparsiflorus 0 5

hollowleaf annual lupine LUSU3 Lupinus succulentus 0 20







patota MONU Monolepis nuttalliana 0 5

Pectocarya PECTO Pectocarya 0 5

manybristle cinchweed PEPA2 Pectis papposa 0 10

tepary bean PHAC Phaseolus acutifolius 0 10

Phacelia PHACE Phacelia 0 5

Phlox PHLOX Phlox 0 5

Physalis PHYSA Physalis 0 5


desert Indianwheat PLOV Plantago ovata 1 20





desert-chicory RANE Rafinesquia neomexicana 0 5

chia SACO6 Salvia columbariae 0 2




woolly tidestromia TILA2 Tidestromia lanuginosa 0 10



in Pounds Per Acre


10 - Dominant Half-shrubs 50 100





desert zinnia ZIAC Zinnia acerosa 0 50

11 - Increaser Half-shrubs 1 40

turpentine bush ERLA12 Ericameria laricifolia 0 10




12 - Miscellaneous Shrubs 0 20

whitethorn acacia ACCO2 Acacia constricta 0 2

whitethorn acacia ACCOP9 Acacia constricta var. paucispina 0 5

catclaw acacia ACGRG3 Acacia greggii var. greggii 0 5





desert hackberry CEEH Celtis ehrenbergiana 0 10

knifeleaf condalia COSP3 Condalia spathulata 0 5

Mexican crucillo COWA Condalia warnockii 0 2

Kearney's snakewood COWAK Condalia warnockii var. kearneyana 0 2

rayless brittlebush ENFR Encelia frutescens 0 1


tarbush FLCE Flourensia cernua 0 2

ocotillo FOSP2 Fouquieria splendens 0 2

Lycium LYCIU Lycium 0 2

rough menodora MESC Menodora scabra 0 5




whitestem paperflower PSCO2 Psilostrophe cooperi 0 1

threadleaf groundsel SEFL3 Senecio flaccidus 0 1

graythorn ZIOB Ziziphus obtusifolia 0 2



Coryphantha CORYP Coryphantha 0 5

pencil cholla CYAR14 Cylindropuntia arbuscula 0 2

jumping cholla CYFU10 Cylindropuntia fulgida 0 5

candle cholla CYKL Cylindropuntia kleiniae 0 2

Christmas cholla CYLE8 Cylindropuntia leptocaulis 0 5


staghorn cholla CYVE3 Cylindropuntia versicolor 0 5

Echinocereus ECHIN3 Echinocereus 0 5

rainbow cactus ECPEPEchinocereus pectinatus var.

pectinatus0 1


fishhook barrel cactus FEWI Ferocactus wislizeni 1 5

Mammillaria MAMMI Mammillaria 0 5


purple pricklypear OPMAMOpuntia macrocentra var.

macrocentra0 5


Santa Rita pricklypear OPSA Opuntia santa-rita 0 2




in Pounds Per Acre


14 - Trees 0 15


Mexican palo verde PAAC3 Parkinsonia aculeata 0 2



blue palo verde PAFL6 Parkinsonia florida 0 2

western honey mesquite PRGLT Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana 0 5

velvet mesquite PRVE Prosopis velutina 0 5




Forb 20 45 225



Tree 0 5 15

Total: 619 1000 1800



Basal Cover

Non-

Vascular

Plants

Biological

Crust Litter

Surface

Fragments

> 1/4 &

<= 3"

Surface

Fragments

> 3" Bedrock Water

Bare


Shrub/

Vine Tree

6 to 25 0 to 1 1 to 5

0 to 1 0 to 1 1 to 10 10 to 60

5 to 40 0 to 15 0 to 0 0 to 0 15 to

25



<=0.5 feet 10 to 25 0 to 5 1 to 10

> 0.5 - < 1 feet 10 to 25 0 to 2 1 to 10

< 1 - >= 2 feet 10 to 15 0 to 2 0 to 5

> 2 - < 4.5 feet 1 to 5 0 to 1

< 4.5 - >= 13 feet 0 to 1

Plant Growth Curve:


Growth Curve Name: 41.3 12-16" p.z. other sites

Growth Curve Description: Growth begins in the spring, semi-dormancy occurs during the May through

June drought, most growth occurs during the summer rains.



0 0 5 10 0 0 30 35 15 5 0 0



Mesquite, native grass

Mesquite increases in the absence of fire for long periods of time. Native perennial grasses maintain

dominance with good grazing management, and with mesquite canopy levels from 2 to 10%. Short

gramas and curly mesquite are dominant and the site remains stable as long as their basal cover does not

drop below 6 or 7%. Snakeweed and burroweed cycle with climate but never gain dominance. Cholla

and prickly pear cycle with climate but never become dominant. Some soil compaction has occurred

due to livestock traffic, but hydrologic relationships are not impaired.

Loamy Upland 12-16" pz. Mesquite, native grasses

Mesquite, Lehmann lovegrass



Mesquite has increased in the absence of fire for long periods of time to canopy levels of 10%.

Lehmann and / or Boer lovegrass have invaded from seeded areas and dominate the under-story.

Remnant native perennial grasses diminish over time. Fire may act to increase exotic lovegrass at the

expense of native perennial grasses, but may allow native annual species a chance to make seed and

persist in the seed-bank. Some soil compaction has occurred due to livestock traffic, but hydrologic

relationships have not been impaired.

Loamy Upland 12-16" pz. Mesquite, Lehmann invasion

Mesquite, annual grasses and forbs

Mesquite and other large shrubs have increased and are dominant with canopies from 10 to 15%.

Native and non-native annual forbs and grasses, both cool and warm season, dominate the under-story.

Snakeweed and burroweed cycle with climate, but both remain important in the plant community.

Native perennial grasses are largely gone, due to the interactions of drought, fire and continuous, heavy

grazing. Usually, soil compaction and the loss of herbaceous cover have resulted in sheet and rill erosion

on this site. Hydrologic relationships have changed to increase the amount of runoff. As the, coarse

textured, soil surface is lost to erosion, the ratio of runoff to infiltration increases.



Loamy Upland 12-16" pz. Mesquite, annuals

Dense mesquite, cacti and other shrubs

Mesquite continues to increase up to canopy levels of 25%. Other shrubs and succulents dominate the

under-story. Remnant perennial grasses exist only in the protection of cacti and shrubs. Occasional fires

may burn in exceptionally wet seasons, but well established mesquite and other shrubs sprout back to a

thorn scrub stage. Soil compaction, due to heavy livestock traffic, and lack of herbaceous cover has

resulted in sheet, rill and gully erosion. Hydrologic relationships have changed to greatly increase the

amounts of runoff. As the, coarse textured, soil surface is lost to erosion, the site loses its ability to

capture intense summer rainfall, productivity declines, and cool season shrubs and succulents are the

only plants able to persist.



Loamy Upland 12-16" pz. Dense mesquite, erosion

Cultivated African lovegrass

This state is a man made pasture of introduced African lovegrass. It does not show on the state and

transition model in the interest of space, but can be created from any of the mesquite states. Mesquite

and other shrubs are bulldozed; brush is placed in gullies and rills; and species like Lehmann, Boer,

Wilman and Cochise lovegrass are seeded. With good grazing management, hydrologic relationships are

good and productivity remains high. Root plowed areas typically eliminate any runoff for long periods of

time (25 to 30 years), depending on grazing management. Mesquite and other shrubs will reinvade these

areas and they will need maintenance treatments (every 15 years) of herbicides, fire or mechanical

methods to maintain a grassland aspect.



Loamy Upland 12-16" pz. Bulldozed and seeded

Natives, mesquite, eroded surface

This state occurs where past continuous heavy grazing has resulted in loss of soil surface (A horizon)

due to accelerated sheet erosion. The coarse textured (sandyloam) surface is less than one thick over an

argillic horizon. The new site potential is reduced. See ecological site # R041XC305AZ (Clay Loam

Upland).





Plant Communities



will vary with yearly conditions, location, aspect, and the natural variability of the soils. The historic

climax plant community represents the natural potential plant communities found on relict or relatively


to occur when the site is disturbed by factors like fire, grazing, or drought.


summer growing season. The plant communities described in this site description are based on near-


NRCS uses a Similarity Index to compare existing plant communities to the plant communities listed

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 the 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, 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.




State and Transition, Sandyloam upland 16-20" p.z.




The historic native state includes the native plant communities that occur on the site, including historic


following fire, drought, flooding, herbivores, and other natural disturbances. The historic plant

community represents the natural climax community that eventually reoccupies the site with proper

management.

The potential plant community on this site is dominated by warm season perennial midgrasses. The

major perennial species are well dispersed throughout the plant community. Perennial forbs, several

species of low shrubs and succulents are well represented in the plant community. The aspect is open

grassland to oak-grass savannah.

With continuous, heavy grazing, midgrasses are removed from the plant community and replaced by a

sod-bound form of blue grama and annual grasses and forbs. With severe deterioration, shrubby

species like burroweed, wooly groundsel and yerba-de-pasmo can increase to dominate the plant

community. With good management, midgrasses will be able to regain their dominance of the plant

communities. Mesquite and Lehmann lovegrass are at the upper limits of their elevation range, but can

increase to dominance on this site, especially with climatic warming. Naturally occurring fires in Jun-Aug

are an important factor in shaping this plant community. Fire-free intervals range from 10-20 years.

Without disturbance like fire or grazing, the perennial midgrasses can become decadent and forbs like

camphorweed, annual goldeneye, gumweed and sorrel buckwheat can increase to dominate the plant

community. Blue grama acts as a midgrass on this site.

Periodic drought can occur in this LRA and cause significant grass mortality. Droughts in the early 30s,

mid-50s, 1975-76 and 1988-89 resulted in the loss of much of the perennial grass cover on this site.

This site recovers very rapidly, however, due to the favorable climate prevailing in this sub-resource

area and thick, coarse textured soil surfaces.



Sandy Loam Upland 16-20" pz. HCPC



in Pounds Per Acre


1 - Dominant mid-grasses 800 1300




















blue threeawn ARPUN Aristida purpurea var. nealleyi 0 5






4 - Annual Grasses 5 100





little grapefern BOSI Botrychium simplex 0 2






desert lovegrass ERPEM Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima 0 2



sweet tanglehead HEME Heteropogon melanocarpus 0 10







poverty dropseed SPVA Sporobolus vaginiflorus 0 1








squirreltail ELELE Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides 1 30














Porter melicgrass MEPO Melica porteri 0 2




creeping muhly MURE Muhlenbergia repens 0 10






little bluestem SCSC Schizachyrium scoparium 0 10






in Pounds Per Acre







western ragweed AMPS Ambrosia psilostachya 0 1




















grayleaf Indian paintbrush CAIN14 Castilleja integra 0 1











buffalo gourd CUFO Cucurbita foetidissima 0 2









decumbens0 5













Rutter's false goldenaster HERU3 Heterotheca rutteri 0 2













Huachuca Mountain

rocktrumpetMABR Macrosiphonia brachysiphon 0 2



Mexican star MIBI2 Milla biflora 0 1


austromontana0 1


Oxytropis OXYTR Oxytropis 0 1

















New Mexico

checkermallowSINE3 Sidalcea neomexicana 0 1




gooseberryleaf






























































bipinnatifida0 1
















dotted blazing star LIPU Liatris punctata 0 1










longtube four o'clock MILO2 Mirabilis longiflora 0 10












canescens0 1







in Pounds Per Acre









10 - Miscellanous shrubs 0 5


pointleaf manzanita ARPU5 Arctostaphylos pungens 0 1



rubber rabbitbrush ERNAC3Ericameria nauseosa ssp. consimilis

var. ceruminosa0 1

Apache plume FAPA Fallugia paradoxa 0 2




pale wolfberry LYPA Lycium pallidum 0 1




threadleaf groundsel SEFL3 Senecio flaccidus 0 1

11 - Succulents 0 2




pinkflower hedgehog



rainbow hedgehog cactus ECRI3 Echinocereus rigidissimus 0 1





twistspine pricklypear OPMA2 Opuntia macrorhiza 0 1



in Pounds Per Acre


12 - Trees 0 30










Forb 17 30 205


Shrub/Vine 2 10 27

Tree 0 5 30

Total: 1084 1645 2374



Basal Cover

Non-

Vascular

Plants

Biological

Crust Litter

Surface

Fragments

> 1/4 &

<= 3"

Surface

Fragments

> 3" Bedrock Water

Bare


Shrub/

Vine Tree

10 to 20 0 to 1 0 to 1

0 to 0 0 to 1 1 to 5 25 to 65

5 to 15 0 to 5 0 to 0 0 to 0 10 to

40



<=0.5 feet 1 to 5 0 to 5 0 to 1

> 0.5 - < 1 feet 10 to 20 1 to 5 0 to 1

< 1 - >= 2 feet 20 to 40 0 to 10 0 to 3

> 2 - < 4.5 feet 5 to 15 0 to 1 0 to 1

< 4.5 - >= 13 feet 0 to 1 0 to 1

> 13 - < 40 feet 0 to 5

Plant Growth Curve:







0 0 0 5 10 0 15 45 20 5 0 0



African love-grasses

This state occurs where African lovegrass species either have invaded from established stands or from

direct seeding of these areas. Lehmann, Boer, weeping lovegrass, and in some places the yellow

bluestems, are dominant and native perennial grasses and forbs exist only in trace amounts. Cover and

production of these species is very high and site stability and hydrologic function are good.



Sandy Loam Upland 16-20" pz. Lehmann lovegrass

Mesquite, juniper invaded

With continuous grazing, a nearby seed source, and in the absence of fire for long periods of time; velvet

mesquite, western honey mesquite, alligator juniper and / or one seed juniper can invade and increase to

dominate the site. Canopy cover ranges from 1 to 30%. Sheet and rill erosion can begin to accelerate at

the higher canopy levels.



Sandy Loam Upland 16-20" pz. Mesquite

Eroded state (R041XA108AZ)

This state occurs where accelerated sheet and rill erosion has removed the soil surface (A horizon). This

can be due to the interactions of fire, continuous grazing and drought; resulting in compaction and loss of

grass cover. On those soils with argillic horizons; erosion that removes all but 3 inches of the surface has

reduced the site potential to something similar to that of Loamy Upland ecological site

(R041XA108AZ). On those soils with sandyloam textures throughout; erosion has left a patterns of rills

that change the hydrology of the site and reduce production and cover.



Documents

Ecological Site Description - Rosemont EISThe plant communities found on an ecological site are naturally variable. Composition and production will vary with yearly conditions, location,