Chihuahuan Mixed Desert and Thornscrub
Geology
This system is particularly well-developed on limestone, but can occur on various other substrates.
Landform
Occupying limestone hills and slopes, gravel-capped ridges and slopes, as well as hills and slopes of igneous and sandstone substrates.
Soils
Rocky soils of Igneous Hill and Mountain, Limestone Hill and Mountain and other ecoclasses.
Parent Description
In this Chihuahuan Desert of Texas, this ecological system is widely distributed and often occupies footslopes and hilly landforms of limestones, sandstones, and igneous strata, though it is best developed on limestones. This shrubland can occur in proximity to Apacherian - Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland and Steppe, Chihuahuan Creosotebush Desert Scrub, and/or Chihuahuan Succulent Desert Scrub. Larrea tridentata (creosotebush), Parthenium incanum (mariola), Condalia ericoides (javelina bush), Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera (catclaw mimosa), Yucca torreyi (Torrey's yucca), Acacia constricta (whitethorn acacia), Agave lechuguilla (lechuguilla), Dasylirion leiophyllum (smooth sotol), Viguiera stenoloba (skeleton-leaf golden eye), Leucophyllum spp. (cenizo), and Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite) are often present to dominant, but numerous shrub species may be present. It differs from Chihuahuan Creosotebush Desert Scrub in having a diversity of shrub species present and is not a nearly monotypic stand of Larrea tridentata (creosotebush). Herbaceous cover is generally low with species such as Bouteloua eriopoda (black grama), Bouteloua ramosa (chino grama), Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama), Bouteloua trifida (red grama), Aristida purpurea (purple threeawn), Dasyochloa pulchella (fluffgrass), and Muhlenbergia setifolia (curlyleaf muhly).
Ecological Mapping Systems
Trans-Pecos: Mixed Desert Shrubland
As described for system.
Distribution Map
Photos
Public Land Occurrence
- Big Bend National Park: US National Park Service
- Big Bend Ranch State Park: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Black Gap Wildlife Management Area: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Davis Mountains State Park: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Fort Davis National Historic Site: US National Park Service
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park: US National Park Service
- Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Sierra Diablo Wildlife Management Area: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department