Bosque

Bosque is the name for areas of riparian forest found along the flood plains of stream and river banks in the southwestern United States. It derives its name from the Spanish word for woodlands.

Related Topics:
Riparian forest - Flood plain - Southwestern United States - Spanish

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In the predominantly arid or semi-arid southwestern United States, the bosque is an oasis like ribbon of green vegetation, often canopied, that exists near rivers, streams, or other water courses. The most notable bosque is a 200 mile-long ecosystem along the middle Rio Grande in New Mexico that extends from Santa Fe past Socorro.

Related Topics:
Arid - Semi-arid - Oasis - Canopied - Ecosystem - Rio Grande - New Mexico - Santa Fe - Socorro

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The trees in the bosque habitat are generally smaller species such as mesquite which rarely exceed 10 meters. Larger Cottonwood trees are also common in some areas. Because there is only a single canopy layer and because the tree species found in the bosque are generally deciduous, a wide variety of shrubs, grasses, and other understory vegetation is also supported. Desert hackberry, blue palo verde, graythorn, mexican elder, virgin's bower, and indian root all flourish in the bosque. The habitat also supports a large variety of lichens. An incredible number of species exist at the interface of the bosque and desert ecosystems,

Related Topics:
Mesquite - Cottonwood - Deciduous - Lichen - Desert

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