THE UNIVERSITY OF

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Technical Reports on the Environmental Biology

of Arid Regions

No. 1

THE SANTA CATALINA MOUNTAINS ECOLOGY FIELD TRIP--DESERT TO

MT. LEMMON FIR FOREST (9,150 ft.)

by

Charles H. Lowe

March 10, 1967 THE SANTA CATALINA MOUNTAINS ECOLOGY FIELD TRIP--DESERT TO MT. LEMMON

FIR FOREST (9,150 ft.)

Charles H. Lowe, University of Arizona

Mountain transect of the community ecology (synecology) of the Santa Catalina Mountains (to 2,789 meters) in southeastern Arizona, near Tucson.

The vegetation of the Santa Catalina Mountains is discussed by Shreve (1915, and elsewhere), Marshall (1957), Lowe (1961, 196)4.), Martin (1963), Whittaker and Niering (196)-i., 1965), and Patton, Heed, and Lowe (1966). The scientific names and most of the common names (vernaculars) of the species will be found in one or more of the following taxonomic works: Benson (19)-i-0, 1950), Kearney and Peebles (1942, 1951, 1960), Benson and Darrow (19)44, 1954), Little (1950, 1953), Gould (1951), Munz and Keck (1959), Wiggins (196)-i-), Critchfield and Little (1966).

This report gives a Road Log of plant community stations, and the major perennial plant species that are readily identified and sampled during any season at and in the vicinity of the stations.

START: Mileage 0.0, at junction Speedway Blvd. and Wilmot Rd; this is a major paved intersection on the northeast outskirt of Tucson. Elevation, 2400 feet; formerly creosotebush scrub.

Stop 1. Mileage 2.2

Lower Bajada, 2500 ft.

Station 1. 8.5 miles NE Tucson (center = U. of Arizona).

Desertscrub--a creosotebush scrub community creosotebush Larrea divaricata desert fluff-grass Tridens pulchellus

six-weeks gramma barbata (annual) burroweed Aplopappus tenuisectus (roadside)

Notes: 2.

Stop 2. Mileage 6.6

Upper Bajada ecotone, 2700 ft.

Station 2. This stop and the 15 others that follow are along the paved Mt. Lemmon Highway.

Desertscrub--ecotone community

creosotebush scrub X paloverde scrub

creosotebush Larrea divaricata foothill paloverde Cercidium microphyllum desert zinnia Zinnia pumila (= ascerosa) yellow paperflower Psilostrophe cooperi (suffretescent) cane cholla Opuntia spinosior

Christmas cactus Opuntia leptocaulis desert-holly Perezia nana (perennial herb) Rothrock gramma Bouteloua rothrocki spider grass Aristida ternipes desert fluff-grass Tridens pulchellus

Notes: 3. Stop 3. Mileage 8.5 Upper Bajada, 2850 ft. Station 4. At foot of the mountain rockslope--Jct. Soldier Trail Rd. with Mt. Lemmon Highway. Desertscrub--a paloverde scrub community on the slope and a desertscrub riparian community in the arroyo Bajada species foothill paloverde Cercidium microphyllum sahuaro Cereus Giganteus (Carnegiea gigantea) brittlebush Encelia farinosa range-ratany Krameria parvifolia limb erbush Jatropha cardiophylla fairy-duster Calliandra eriophylla ocotillo Fouquieria splendens desert-trixis Trixis californica (suffretescent) teddybear cholla Opuntia bigelovi jumping cholla Opuntia fulgida staghorn cholla Opuntia versicolor barrel cactus Echinocactus wislizeni fishook cactus Mammilaria microcarpa Riparian species blue paloverde Cercidium floridum mesquite Prosopis juliflora mistletoe Phoradendron californicum dodder Cuscuta sp. 1 western soapberry Sapindus drummondi 2 netleaf hackberry Celtis reticulata desert hackberry Celtis pallida3 cat-claw Acacia greggi white-thorn Acacia constricta Mexican crucillo Condalia spathulata gray-thorn Condalia lycioides desert-thorn Lycium spp. Brickell-bush coulteri desert-lippia Lippia wrighti desert-lavender Hyptis emoryi ragweed Franseria (= Ambrosia) ambroisiodes desert-broom Baccharis sarothroides burroweed Aplopappus tenuisectus turpentine-bush Aplopappus laricifolius little janusia Janusia gracilis

1 Sapindus saponaria drummondi 2 Celtis laevigata reticulata 3 Celtis tala pallida

Notes: Stop 4. Mileage 12.2 Molino Canyon, 3900 ft. Station 7. Ecotones--Upper edge of the Desert Desertscrub and (desertscrub and desert-grassland species)

rosewood Vaquelinia californica mesquite Prosopis juliflora blue paloverde Cercidium floridum wait-a-minute bush Mimosa biuncifera fairy-duster Calliandra eriophylla hollyleaf buckthorn Rhammus crocea elicifolia coral-bean Erythrina flab elliformis ocotillo Fouquieria splendens flat-top buckwheat-bush Eriogonum fasciculatum desert-crossosoma Crossosoma bigelovi desert-lippia Lippia (= Aloysia) wrighti Indian-mallow Abutilon (= Bogenha-r=)-7rispum needle-leaved milkweed Asclepias 1inaria sahuaro Cereus giganteus staghorn cholla Opuntia versicolor prickly pear Opuntia engelmanni amole Agave schotti golden-flowered agave Agave palmeri cryptantha sotol Dasylirion wheeleri beargrass Nolina microcarpa desert-thorn Lycium sp. desert hackberry Celtis pallida ragweed Franseria (= Ambrosia) ambrosiodes desert-broom Baccharis sarathroides Brickell-bush Brickellia coulteri dry sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana turpentine-bush Aplopappus laricifolius deer-vetch Lotus rigidis (suffretescent) lip fern Cheilanthes lindheimeri cliff-brake Pellaea longimucronata

Notes: 5.

Stop 5. Mileage 13.1

Molino Canyon, 4100 ft.

Station 9. Grassland--a desert-grassland community

gramma grasses, et al. Bouteloua, Sporobolus, Aristida, Leptochloa, Heteropogon, Tricachne, etc.

amole Agave schotti sotol Dasylirion wheeleri golden-flowered agave Agave palmeri wait -a-minute bush Mimosa biuncifera fairy-duster Calliandra eriophylla

fern-acacia Acacia angustissima ocotillo Fouquieria splendens staghorn cholla Opuntia versicolor prickly pear Opuntia engelmanni barrel cactus Echinocactus wislizeni

sahuaro Cereus giganteus rosewood Vauquelinia californica mesquite Prosopis juliflora desert-broom Baccharis sarothroides turpentine-bush Aplopappus laricifolius

Notes: 6.

Stop 6. Mileage 14.2 Molino Basin, 4350 ft.

Station 10.

Evergreen Woodland--an oak woodland community (north-facing slopes) and Woodland-Grassland ecotone--an oak-grass community (south-facing slopes)

Emory oak Mexican blue oak Quercus oblongifolia alligator-bark rosewood Vaquelinia californica grasses Bouteloua, Sporobolus, Muhlenbergia, Heteropogon, etc.

squawbush Rhus trilobata hollyleaf buckthorn Rhamnus crocea ilicifolia siiktassel Garrya wrighti point-leaf manzanita Arctostaphylos pungens beardtongue Penstemon pseudospectabilis

feather dalea Dalea formosa wait-a-minute bush Mimosa biuncifera mountain yucca Yucca schotti amole Agave schotti sotol Dasylirion wheeleri

beargrass Nolina microcarpa mesquite Pro sopis juliflora turpentine-bush Aplopappus laricifolius ocotillo Fouquieria splendens staghorn cholla Opuntia versicolor

prickly pear Opuntia engelmanni barrel cactus Echinocactus wislizeni sahuaro Cereus giganteus (one specimen)

Notes: 7.

Stop 7. Mileage 16.0

Federal Youth Camp, 4900 ft.

Station 11.

Evergreen Woodland--an oak woodland community

Arizona oak Emory oak Quercus emoryi Mexican blue oak Quercus dblongifolia alligator-bark juniper Juniperus deppeana Mexican pinyon Pinus cembroides

silktassel Garrya wrighti point-leaf manzanita Arctostaphylos pungens mountain yucca Yucca schotti &mole Agave schotti beargrass Nolina microcarpa

sotol Dasylirion wheeleri prickly pear Opuntia engelmanni

Notes: 8.

Stop 8. Mileage 18.7 Bear Canyon Cypress, 5550 ft.

Station 13.

(1) Deciduous Woodland--a cottonwood-willow community (2) Cypress Postclimax (north-facing slope) (3) Evergreen Woodland (south-facing slope) In the Deciduous Woodland (primarily broad-leaved, winter-deciduous)

Riparian Woodland

Fremont cottonwood Populus fremonti narrowleaf cottonwood Populus angustifolia arroyo willow Salix lasiolpis sycamore Platanus racemosa wrighti velvet ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica velutina walnut Juglans rupestris major Madrean alder Alnus oblongifolia Arizona cypress Cupressus arizonica

On the north-facing slope (primarily needle-leaved, evergreen)

Cypress Postclimax

Arizona cypress Cupressus arizonica

On the south-facing slope (broad-leaved and needle-leaved, evergreen)

Mexican -oak Woodland

Emory oak Quercus emoryi Arizona oak Quercus arizonica silverleaf oak Quercus hypoleucoides netleaf oak (= reticulata) alligator-bark juniper Juniperus deppeana Mexican pinyon Pinus cembroides pine Pinus leiophylla pink-bract manzanita Arctostaphylos pringlei hollyleaf buckthorn Rhamnus crocea ilicifolia mountain yucca Yucca schotti beargrass Nolina microcarpa sotol Dasylirion wheeleri

Notes: 9.

Stop 9. Mileage 20.1

Bear Canyon Picnic Area, 5900-6000 ft.

Station 14.

Evergreen Woodland--a Mexican pine-oak woodland community and Coniferous Forest--a ponderosa pine forest community

On north-facing slopes (ponderosa pine forest)

ponderosa pine silverleaf oak Quercus hypoleucoides buck-brush Ceanothus fendleri

On the canyon floodplain (ecotone)--the picnic area

ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa silverleaf oak Quercus hypoleucoides buck-brush Ceanothus fendleri western choke-cherry Prunus virens coffee-berry Rhamnus californica Arizona oak Quercus arizonica Emory oak Quercus emoryi alligator-bark juniper Juniperus deppeana Mexican pinyon Pinus cembroides Chihuahua pine Pinus leiophylla chihuahuana

On south-facing slopes (Mexican pine-oak woodland)

Arizona oak Quercus arizonica Emory oak Quercus emoryi alligator-bark juniper Juniperus deppeana Mexican pinyon Pinus cembroides Chihuahua pine Pinus leiophylla chihuahuana

Notes: 10.

Stop 10. Mileage 22.5

Windy Point, 6650 ft.

Station 16.

Evergreen Woodland--a Mexican pine-oak woodland community

Mexican pinyon Pinus cembroides Chihuahua pine Pinus leiophylla alligator-bark juniper Juniperus deppeana Arizona oak Quercus arizonica silverleaf oak Quercus hypoleucoides

netleaf oak Quercus rugosa (= reticulata) point-leaf manzanita Arctostaphylos pungens pink-bract manzanita Arctostaphylos pringlei silktassel Garrya wrighti buck-brush Ceanothus fendleri

mountain yucca Yucca schotti amole Agave schotti beargrass Nolina microcarpa

Notes: 11.

Stop 11, Mileage 24.3

Lizard Rock, 7050 ft.

Station 17.

Coniferous Forest--a ponderosa pine forest community

ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa silverleaf oak Quercus hypoleucoides madrone Arbutus arizonica coffee-berry Rhamnus californica buck-brush Ceanothus fendleri mountain muhly-grass Muhlenbergia virescens

Occasional

alligator-bark juniper Juniperus deppeana pink-bract manzanita Arctostaphylos pringlei mountain yucca Yucca schotti Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesi

Notes: 12.

Stop 12. Mileage 25.9

San Pedro Vista, 7350 ft.

Station 18.

Coniferous Forest--a ponderosa pine forest community

ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa silverleaf oak Quercus hypoleucoides netleaf oak Quercus rugosa (= reticulata) madrone Arbutus arizonica buck-brush Ceanothus fendleri mountain muhly-grass Muhlenbergia virescens

North-facing slope Ecotone (pine forest--fir forest)

ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa silverleaf oak Quercus hypoleucoides Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesi southwestern white pine Pinus ayacahuite strobiformis canyon oak Quercus chrysolepis palmeri

Notes: 13.

Stop 13. Mileage 30.4

Bear Wallow, 7900 ft.

Station 22.

Coniferous Forest--a fir forest community

white fir Abies concolor Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesi southwestern white pine Pinus ayacahuite strobiformis big-tooth maple Acer grandidentatum Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum Scouler willow Salix scouleriana

Notes: 14.

Stop l4. Mileage 34.3

Marshall Gulch, 7500 ft.

Station 25.

Coniferous Forest

a fir forest community and a ponderosa pine forest community

On the north-facing slope (fir forest)

white fir Abies concolor Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesi southwestern white pine Pinus ayacahuite strobiformis big-tooth maple Acer grandidentatum

On the south-facing slope (ponderosa pine forest)

ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa Gathbel oak Quercus gambelli bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum mountain muhly-grass Muhlenbergia virescens

Notes: 15.

Stop 15. Mileage 36.1

Sabino Head, 8300 ft.

Station 27.

Coniferous Forest--a fir forest community

Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesi white fir Abies concolor corkbark fir Abies lasiocarpa southwestern white pine Pinus ayacahuite strobiformis big-tooth maple Acer grandidentatum

Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum Scouler willow Salix scouleriana mountain-spray Holodiscus dumosus snowberry Symphoricarpos oreophilus mountain-ash Sorbus dumosa

groundsel Senecio macdougali (root-perennial) owl-claws Helenium hoopesi (root-perennial) cranesbill Geranium richardsoni (root-perennial) meadow-rue Thalictrum fendleri (root-perennial) groomwell Lithospermum multiflorum (root-perennial)

brome grass Bromus ciliatus sedge Carex siccata

Notes: 16.

Stop 16. Mileage 37.2

Corkbark Bend, 8800 ft.

Station 28.

Coniferous Forest--a fir forest community

white fir Abies concolor corkbark fir Abies lasiocarpa Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesi southwestern white pine Pinus ayacahuite strobiformis

Notes: 17.

Stop 17. Mileage 37.8

Mt. Lemmon Ridge, 9050 ft.

Station 29.

Coniferous Forest

a ponderosa pine forest community and a fir forest community

On the south side of the mountain facing Tucson (ponderosa pine forest)

ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa Gambel oak Quercus gambeli bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum

On the north side of the mountain facing Oracle (fir forest)

white fir Abies concolor Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesi southwestern white pine Pinus ayacahuite strobiformis

Notes: 18.

Literature Cited

Benson, L.

1940. The cacti of Arizona. Univ. Ariz. Press, Tucson. 1950. The cacti of Arizona. 2nd ed., revised. Univ. Ariz. Press, Tucson.

Benson, L. and R. A. Darrow

1944. A manual of southwestern desert and shrubs. Univ. Ariz. Biol. Sci. Bull., 6:1-411. 1954. The trees and shrubs of the southwestern deserts. 2nd ed. of Benson and Darrow (19)44). Univ. Ariz. Press, Tucson. Critchfield, W. B. and E. L. Little, Jr. 1966. Geographic distribution of the of the World. U.S. Dept. Agr., Misc. Publ. No. 991:1-97. Gould, F. W. 1951. Grasses of southwestern . Univ. Ariz, Biol, Sci. Bull., 7:1-343. Kearney, T. H. and R. H. Peebles

1942. Flowering and ferns of Arizona. U.S. Dept. Agr., Misc. Publ., 423:1-1069. 1951. Arizona flora. Univ. Calif. Press, Berkeley. 1960. Arizona flora. 2nd ed. with suppl. by J. T. Howell, Elizabeth McClintock, and collaborators. Univ. Calif. Press, Berkeley.

Little, E. L., Jr. 1950. Southwestern trees; a guide to the native species of New and Arizona. U.S. Dept. Agr., Handbook No. 9:1-109. 1953. Check list of native and naturalized trees of the United States (including Alaska). U.S. Dept. Agr., Handbook No. 41: 1-472.

Lowe, C. H. 1961. Biotic communities in the Sub-Mogollon region of the inland Southwest. J. Ariz. Acad, Sci., 2:40-49. 1964. Arizona landscapes and habitats. In The vertebrates of Arizona. Univ. Ariz. Press, Tucson. 19.

Marshall„ JJ. T• , Jr. 1957. Birds of the pine-oak woodland in southern Arizona and adjacent Mexico. Pacific Coast Avifauna, 32:1-125.

Martin, P. S.

1963. The last 10,000 years; a fossil pollen record of the American Southwest. Univ. Ariz. Press, Tucson.

Munz, P. A. and D. D. Keck

1959. A California flora. Univ. Calif. Press, Berkeley.

Shreve, F.

1915. The vegetation of a desert mountain range as conditioned by climatic factors. Carnegie Inst. Washington, Pubis 217:1-112.

Whittaker, R. H. and W. A. Niering 1964. Vegetation of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona: I. Ecological classification and distribution of species. J. Ariz. Acad. Sci. 3:9-34. 1965. Vegetation of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona: A gradient analysis of the south slope. Ecology, 46:429-451.

Wiggins, I. L. 1964. Flora of the Sonoran Desert. In Forest Shreve and Ira L. Wiggins, Vegetation and flora of the Sonoran Desert. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford. 2 vols.