THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
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 plant 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 Bouteloua 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 Brickellia 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 Grassland (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 Quercus emoryi Mexican blue oak Quercus oblongifolia alligator-bark juniper Juniperus deppeana 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 Quercus arizonica 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 pine-oak Woodland
Emory oak Quercus emoryi Arizona oak Quercus arizonica silverleaf oak Quercus hypoleucoides netleaf oak Quercus rugosa (= reticulata) alligator-bark juniper Juniperus deppeana Mexican pinyon Pinus cembroides Chihuahua 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 Pinus ponderosa 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 trees 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 pines of the World. U.S. Dept. Agr., Misc. Publ. No. 991:1-97. Gould, F. W. 1951. Grasses of southwestern United States. Univ. Ariz, Biol, Sci. Bull., 7:1-343. Kearney, T. H. and R. H. Peebles
1942. Flowering plants 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 Mexico 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.