Rincon Mountain District, Saguaro National Park Vegetation Inventory, Mapping,andCharacterization Report,Saguaro National Park inclusions dominance. of nica). While notconsistent across the community, Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) canprovide grama (Boutelouacurtipendula), slender grama (Boutelouarepens), and Arizona cottontop ( Digitaria califor thy bunchgrasses, including bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri),tanglehead (Heteropogon contortus), sideoats 1–2% each, with occasional inclusions upto 8%. The grass component isdiverse, with at least five notewor and sangre de cristo (Jatropha cardiophylla ) are the next most-common, low-cover associates, providing most dominant these of species, providing consistent average cover 4%.Fairyduster of (Calliandra eriophylla) cover issplit between adiverse small mixof shrubs, subshrubs, and grasses. Slender janusia (C. gracilis ) isthe farinosa), which isthe most consistent and highest-cover (10–20%)species inthe community. The remaining not become aconsistent dominant inthis community. The field is characterized by dominant brittlebush (E. contribute upto 4%cover. Teddybear cholla (C. bigelovii ) should only provide small, patchy inclusions and ( gii), Berlandier’s wolfberry (Lycium berlandieri ), teddybear chollaCylindropuntia ( bigelovii ), spiny hackberry shrubs and succulents, including staghorn cholla (Cylindropuntia versicolor ), catclaw acacia (Senegalia greg to almost absent inareas high of grass cover. The remaining vegetation isadiverse low-cover mixof associate is primarily composed cactus apple of (O. engelmannii),providing aconsistent 5–10[20]%cover, dropping Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) ispresent throughout the community, contributing <1%cover. The subcanopy inclusions where it competes for dominance with velvet mesquite. sonia microphylla) provides aconsistent 1%cover, with uncommon cover around of 5%,sometimes over 10%.Yellow paloverde (Parkin- ( m) dominated by brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) with slender janusia mixed associate shrubs, and adense (20–40% cover) field layer (<0.5 cover) subcanopy cactus apple (0.5–2m)of (Opuntiaengelmannii)with canopy velvet (>2m)of mesquite (Prosopis velutina), avariable (10–20% This wooded shrubland ischaracterized by asparse (<10%cover) Velvet mesquite/CactusappleBrittlebush(Slenderjanusia)Wooded Shrubland Association(P) Shrubland Association(P) 33. The ground surface iscovered with very coarse gravel and rock with vast bedrock expansesof outcrops/shelves. Madrona ranger station. It occupies low-angle varying slopes aspects of from 840to 1,350meters (2,755–4,429ft). Rincon Mountain District and iswidespread throughout the low slopes of Tanque Verde Ridge and above the This community iscontained within atwo-association map class that covers the 12% (3,225ha/7,969 ac)of Celtis ehrenbergiana), and Wright’s beebrush (Aloysia wrightii ). When present, these species cansometimes Cottsia gracilis). Velvet mesquite (P. velutina) provides consistent low Prosopis velutina/ Opuntiaengelmannii/ Enceliafarinosa( • • • • Common species Cottsia gracilis)Wooded
Cottsia gracilis Encelia farinosa Opuntia engelmannii Prosopis velutina - - - Rincon Mountain District, Saguaro National Park