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Cercocarpus ledifolius Woodland Alliance | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Cercocarpus ledifolius Woodland Alliance Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of... Description: Plant associations in this alliance occur in semi-arid, mountainous habitats of the interior western United States. Annual precipitation averages 25-45 cm, with a significant proportion falling as winter snow. These woodlands often form small patchy stands on rocky outcrops or escarpments in forested areas, or may form the only tree cover in steppe regions. Elevations where the alliance is found range from 600 m to over 2650 m. Soils are typically rocky and immature, and are always of coarser texture than soils of adjacent coniferous woodlands or forests. The vegetation in this alliance is characterized by an open canopy of Cercocarpus ledifolius. These woodlands may occur as scattered communities in arid steppe or on rocky outcrops or steep escarpments within forests. Steppe woodlands typically have only Cercocarpus ledifolius in the overstory canopy, but Juniperus occidentalis, Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus scopulorum, or Pinus monophylla occur in local areas. Evergreen or cold-deciduous shrubs often grow in these woodlands and include Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Purshia tridentata, Amelanchier alnifolia, Holodiscus dumosus, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Ribes spp., and Symphoricarpos spp. The understory is typically dominated by bunch grasses, including Festuca idahoensis, Leymus ambiguus, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Elymus elymoides, Calamagrostis rubescens, and Achnatherum spp. Adjacent vegetation is usually Pinus ponderosa forest, Artemisia shrublands, or Festuca - Achnatherum grassland.  Accession Code: VB.CC.18873.CERCOCARPUSLEDI Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: Cercocarpus ledifolius Woodland Alliance   Translated: Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.125014 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.586