Mainly Natural Azonal Mapped Types

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Azonal types are those types that are widespread and not particularly characteristic of any region or naturally occurring vegetation type. This may be due to disturbance, where wide ranging species adapted to disturbed conditions predominate. In other areas, land management may have resulted in invasion of widespread species such as juniper or mesquite. Azonal types may also be used to refer to general physiognomic types that are not ascribable to particular naturally occurring systems.

Ecological Mapping Systems

Barren

Mapping System ID: 9000

This type includes areas where little or no vegetative cover existed at the time of image data collection. Large areas cleared for development are included, as well as rural roads and buildings and associated clearing in primarily rural areas. Stream beds with exposed gravel or bedrock, rock outcrops, quarries, and mines may be mapped as this type. Fallow fields or areas within cropland blocks that remain barren throughout one growing season or heavily grazed pastures where bare soils are dominant may also be mapped as barren.

Distribution Map

Barren

Photos

Example Barren.jpg

Invasive: Evergreen Shrubland

Marsh

Mapping System ID: 9007

Areas mapped as marsh are small, and consist of wet or alternately wet and dry soils with herbaceous vegetation. These are often near tanks or ponds, and may contain Typha spp. (cattails), Eleocharis spp. (spikerushes), Schoenoplectus spp. (bulrushes), other sedges, Polygonum spp. (smartweeds) and grasses such as Sorghum halepense (Johnsongrass) or Cynodon dactylon (bermudagrass) as important species. Some shrubs such as Cephalanthus occidentalis (common buttonbush) and Salix nigra (black willow) may be important in this mapped type.

Distribution Map

Marsh

Photos

Example Marsh.jpg

Mud Flat

Mapping System ID: 9002

This mapped type is essentially unvegetated at the time of data collection, but annual variation in storm events and precipitation influence the ability of these low areas to support vegetation.

Distribution Map

Mud Flat

Photos

Example Mud Flat.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

  • None.

Native Invasive: Baccharis Shrubland

Mapping System ID: 9116

Distribution Map

Native Invasive: Baccharis Shrubland

Photos

Example Native Invasive: Baccharis Shrubland.jpg

Native Invasive: Catclaw Shrubland

Native Invasive: Common Reed

Native Invasive: Deciduous - Juniper Woodland

Native Invasive: Deciduous Shrubland

Mapping System ID: 9126

A variety of shrubs and generally small or sparse deciduous trees may be important in this successional type that was mapped on non-prairie soils. Important species may include Celtis laevigata (sugar hackberry), Quercus nigra (water oak), Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite), Triadica sebifera (Chinese tallow, south), Ilex vomitoria (yaupon), Baccharis spp. (baccharis), Rubus trivialis (southern dewberry), Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum), Quercus falcata (southern red oak), Ulmus alata (winged elm), or Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm). Small pine trees may be present in young, managed plantations.

Distribution Map

Native Invasive: Deciduous Shrubland

Photos

Example Native Invasive: Deciduous Shrubland.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

  • None.

Native Invasive: Deciduous Woodland

Mapping System ID: 9104

Distribution Map

Native Invasive: Deciduous Woodland

Photos

native invasive-deciduous woodland-160.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

Native Invasive: Huisache Woodland Or Shrubland

Mapping System ID: 9124

Distribution Map

Native Invasive: Huisache Woodland Or Shrubland

Photos

native invasive-huisache woodland or shrubland-113.jpg

Native Invasive: Juniper Shrubland

Mapping System ID: 9105

Various species of Juniperus (juniper) dominate these shrublands. Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar) is the primary dominant of these shrublands or low woodlands in the Blackland Prairie, Post Oak Savanna, and far northern Crosstimbers ecoregions. To the west, on the Rolling Plains, Juniperus pinchotii (redberry juniper) may be the dominant. In other areas, Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper) may dominate these shrublands. Other sites mapped as this type may be dominated by Ilex vomitoria (yaupon). A variety of deciduous species may also be present, including Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm), Ulmus alata (winged elm), Celtis laevigata (sugar hackberry), Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum), Quercus nigra (water oak), and Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite). To the east, sites dominated by young Pinus taeda (loblolly pine) may be mapped as this type.

Distribution Map

Native Invasive: Juniper Shrubland

Photos

native invasive-juniper shrubland-531.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

Native Invasive: Mesquite - Creosotebush Shrubland

Native Invasive: Juniper Woodland

Mapping System ID: 9101

This type may be dominated either by Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper) in the northwest, over Edwards Plateau limestones, or by Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar) in the northeast and east, or Juniperus pinchotii (redberry juniper) to the northwest. Quercus fusiformis (plateau live oak) is a common component, and species such as Celtis laevigata (sugar hackberry) and Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm) occur throughout. Quercus stellata (post oak) and Ilex vomitoria (yaupon) are commonly associated with Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar).

Distribution Map

Native Invasive: Juniper Woodland

Photos

Example Native Invasive: Juniper Woodland.png

Native Invasive: Mesquite Shrubland

Mapping System ID: 9106

Distribution Map

Native Invasive: Mesquite Shrubland

Photos

Example Native Invasive: Mesquite Shrubland.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

Native Invasive: Mesquite Woodland

Mapping System ID: 9114

Areas where Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) has invaded and grown to tree stature to dominate the canopy.

Distribution Map

Native Invasive: Mesquite Woodland

Photos

Example Native Invasive: Mesquite Woodland.jpg

Native Invasive: Pricklypear

Mapping System ID: 9128

Distribution Map

Native Invasive: Pricklypear

Photos

native invasive-pricklypear-698.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

  • None.

Native Invasive: Sand Sagebrush Shrubland

Mapping System ID: 9206

Shrublands dominated by Artemisia filifolia (sand sagebrush), usually in overgrazed and/or fire suppressed prairie soils. This species occupying deep sands would likely be mapped as Western Great Plains Sandhill Steppe (CES303.671).

Photos

Example Native Invasive: Sand Sagebrush Shrubland.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

  • None.

Native Invasive: Yucca - Succulent Shrubland

Mapping System ID: 9118

Distribution Map

Native Invasive: Yucca - Succulent Shrubland

Public Land Occurrence

  • None.

Non-Native Invasive: Chinese Tallow Forest, Woodland, and Shrubland

Mapping System ID: 9204

Distribution Map

Non-Native Invasive: Chinese Tallow Forest, Woodland, and Shrubland

Photos

Example Non-Native Invasive: Chinese Tallow Forest, Woodland, and Shrubland.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

  • None.

Non-Native Invasive: Elm - Olive Woodland

Mapping System ID: 9224

This woodland typically occupies sites that do not naturally support woodland, but they may occur in floodplains or riparian sites as well. This type is often found on fence rows, home sites, and shelterbelt plantings typically of the High Plains and Rolling Plains. It is often dominated by Ulmus pumila (Siberian elm) and Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive), though Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) and Celtis spp. (hackberries) may also be present.

Distribution Map

Non-Native Invasive: Elm - Olive Woodland

Public Land Occurrence

  • None.

Non-Native Invasive: Rose Shrubland

Mapping System ID: 9205

Distribution Map

Non-Native Invasive: Rose Shrubland

Photos

non-native invasive-rose hedge shrubland-1177.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

  • None.

Non-Native Invasive: Salt Cedar Shrubland

Open Water

Mapping System ID: 9600

In addition to large lakes, rivers, and marine water, ephemeral ponds may be mapped as open water. Some mapped areas may support vegetation with pioneering species such as Salix nigra (black willow), Populus deltoides (eastern cottonwood), Triadica sebifera (Chinese tallow), Suaeda spp. (seepweeds), Borrichia frutescens (sea ox-eye daisy), Batis maritima (saltwort), Juncus spp. (rushes), sedges, Typha spp. (cattails), and Eleocharis spp. (spikerushes).

Distribution Map

Open Water

Photos

open water-367.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

Pineywoods: Disturbance Or Tame Grassland

Mapping System ID: 9197

This grass dominated vegetation type occurs within a landscape that would naturally be dominated by forest or woodland. Natural occurrences would be short-lived following natural disturbances, such as fire. The predominant cover often consists of non-native grass species such as Cynodon dactylon (bermudagrass), Paspalum notatum (Bahia grass), Lolium perenne (Italian ryegrass), Schedonorus phoenix (tall fescue), and/or Bromus catharticus (rescuegrass). However, native grasses such as Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) and Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge bluestem) may also have significant cover. Various forbs and some woody species may also be present. These sites will develop significant woody cover in the absence of active management.

Distribution Map

Pineywoods: Disturbance Or Tame Grassland

Photos

Example Pineywoods: Disturbance or Tame Grassland.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

  • None.

South Texas: Disturbance Grassland

Mapping System ID: 9187

Distribution Map

South Texas: Disturbance Grassland

Photos

Example South Texas: Disturbance Grassland.png

Swamp (Or Non-Riverine Swamp)

Mapping System ID: 9004

Typically forested, wet or alternately wet and dry soils at the upper ends of reservoirs, or on stock tanks or ponds. A variety of species, including Taxodium distichum (baldcypress), Ulmus americana (American elm), Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm), Salix nigra (black willow), Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak), and Quercus nigra (water oak), Liquidambar styraciflua (sweetgum), or Cephalanthus occidentalis (common buttonbush) may be present.

Distribution Map

Swamp (Or Non-Riverine Swamp)

Photos

swamp-2036a.jpg