Name:
Pinus leiophylla Woodland Alliance
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This woodland alliance occurs in mountains below the Mogollon Rim in southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and northern Mexico. Sites range from mesic, nearly level washes, stream terraces and toeslopes to very steep, rocky, xeric, mountain slopes. Aspect is variable depending on elevation. Soils range from moderately deep alluvium to shallow, lithic colluvium and residuum. Woodlands included in this alliance are characterized by a moderately sparse upper tree canopy, typically 10-20 m tall, with a moderately dense subcanopy. The upper canopy is dominated by Pinus leiophylla. Scattered Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii may be present in higher elevation stands. The subcanopy is a mixture of trees, such as Juniperus deppeana, Juniperus monosperma, Pinus discolor, or Madrean encinals, such as Quercus arizonica, Quercus emoryi or Quercus hypoleucoides. Mesic semi-riparian sites may include scattered individuals of Cupressus arizonica, Juglans major, Fraxinus velutina, Platanus wrightii, or Prunus serotina. The shrub layer is typically sparse depending on the density of the tree canopy. Shrub associates include Agave spp., Arbutus arizonica, Arctostaphylos spp., Ceanothus fendleri, Fallugia paradoxa, Garrya wrightii, Nolina microcarpa, Opuntia spp., Quercus spp., Rhus aromatica, Yucca schottii, and immature trees species. The herbaceous layer is composed primarily of perennial graminoids, particularly Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana (= Aristida orcuttiana), Cyperus spp., Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia spp., Panicum bulbosum, Piptochaetium fimbriatum, Schizachyrium cirratum, and Piptochaetium pringlei (= Stipa pringlei). Forb diversity may be high, but cover is low. Some of the more common forbs include Artemisia ludoviciana, Brickellia lemmonii, Erigeron neomexicanus, Gnaphalium spp., Penstemon barbatus, Packera neomexicana (= Senecio neomexicanus), and Solidago wrightii. Diagnostic of this woodland alliance is the tree canopy dominated byPinus leiophylla.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.17871.PINUSLEIOPHYLLA
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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