Figure 5. Photograph taken by G. Rogers February 29, 2008. Two fires (1974 and 1987) transformed the saguaro-paloverde (Carnegiea gigantea-Parkinsonia microphylla) woodland of this Sonoran Desert site to a triangle bursage-brittlebush (Ambrosia deltoidea-Encelia farinosa) shrubland. Before the 1974 fire, tall saguaro and rounded paloverde and ironwood in a matrix of shrubs covered and crowned the slopes and ridges. The small shrubs in the foreground of the 2008 photograph are triangle bursage, and brittlebush. They occur in a matrix of small weeds consisting mainly of redstem filaree (Erodium cicutarium). Later in the growing season, this site may be dominated by red brome grass (Bromus rubens). The teddy bear cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) in the center of the scene is the sole survivor of a once extensive stand of thorny cactus that protected nesting dove and covered the ground, defending this ridge from erosion and invasive plants. Photograph © Garry Rogers.