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A.135 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.135
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This forest alliance occurs in the foothills and lower montane zone in the southern Rocky Mountains; mountains, mesas, piedmonts and canyons in the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts and the Colorado Plateau; and breaks and escarpments in the southwestern Great Plains. Stands typically occur on nearly level to steep, rocky slopes on hillsides and ridgetops. Aspects tend to be northerly, where the less xeric conditions allow for denser tree growth. Higher elevations stands may occur on southern aspects. Sites are dry, typically with shallow, rocky, calcareous and alkaline soils. Soil textures are variable. Forests included in this alliance are characterized by a moderately dense to dense tree canopy typically 3-12 m tall. Mature individuals range from 2-3 m tall 'scrub' to large trees up to 21 m tall. ~Pinus edulis$ dominates the upper canopy, but individuals of several species of ~Juniperus$ or ~Quercus$ may be present depending on geography. The understory is typically absent or very sparse because of shading by the dense tree canopy, but scattered shrubs, grasses and forbs may be present. If present, shrub and dwarf-shrub associates tend to be more shade- and cold-tolerant species and may include ~Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus$ spp., ~Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra viridis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia$ spp., ~Purshia$ spp., ~Rhus trilobata$, and ~Quercus gambelii$. Shrubs restricted to warmer southern latitudes include ~Agave$ spp., ~Arctostaphylos pungens, Garrya$ spp., ~Nolina microcarpa, Quercus turbinella$, and ~Yucca baccata$. The herbaceous layer is absent to sparse and primarily composed of scattered perennial grasses. Annual grasses and forbs are seasonally present. Diagnostic of this forest alliance is the ~Pinus edulis$-dominated, closed-canopy tree layer. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.1123.A135
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: I.A.8.N.b
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: PINUS EDULIS FOREST ALLIANCE
  Code: A.135
  Common: Two-needle Pinyon Forest Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Pinus edulis Forest Alliance