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Gulf of California xeric scrub (WWF ecoregion NA1306)

desert vegetation near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico
desert vegetation near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico (c) 2005 Wendy Anderson

Gulf of California xeric scrub map
Source of bioregions data: Olson, D. M. and E. Dinerstein. The Global 200: Priority ecoregions for global conservation. (PDF file) Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89:125-126.

Distinctiveness (1=highest,4=lowest):  (3) bioregionally important

Conservation Status (1=most endangered, 5=most intact):  (4) relatively stable

Characteristic species
Larrea tridentata (creosote bush)

Ambrosia dumosa (desert burr sage)
Jatropha cinerea (limber bush)

Olneya tesota (desert ironwood or palo fierro)

Acacia brandegeana (Baja California acacia)
Parkinsonia florida or Cercidium floridum (blue paloverde)
Pithecellobium undulatum (palos eba)
Washingtonia robusta (palma de taco)
Typha domingensis (southern cattail)

Phragmites communis or

Phragmites australis

  (common reed)

Phoenix dactylifera (common date palm)
 

Associated habitats

desert vegetation, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico

cholla, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico ocatillo, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico desert vegetation, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico desert vegetation, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico
Far left: cholla cacti (Opuntia sp.), middle left: Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo) (c) 2005 Wendy Anderson   hires   hires   hires   hires

desert vegetation, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico desert vegetation, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico desert vegetation, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico
(c) 2005 Wendy Anderson   hires   hires   hires

 

canyon, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico

canyon, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico
 (c) 2005 Wendy Anderson   hires

 

cardón cacti (Pachycereus pringlei), near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico

cardon cacti, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico cardon cacti, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico cardon cacti, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico cardon cacti, near Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico
These cacti are similar in appearance to Carnegia gigantea (giant saguaro), but are a different species which only grows in Baja California.  They are said to be the world's largest species of cactus and are a typical sight in this ecoregion.  (c) 2005 Wendy Anderson   hires   hires   hires   hires

 

islands, Gulf of California, near Bahia de los Angeles, Mexico

island, Gulf of California, near Bahia de los Angeles, Mexico islands, Gulf of California, near Bahia de los Angeles, Mexico
  (c) 2005 Wendy Anderson   hires   hires

 

Except as noted, images copyright 2002-2005 Steve Baskauf - Terms of use