Name:
Pinus edulis - (Juniperus monosperma) / Bouteloua gracilis Woodland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This widespread woodland association occurs in Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and possibly Texas and east-central Arizona. It is known from the foothills and mountains of the southern Colorado Front Range, New Mexico, and the hills, canyons, escarpments and other breaks in the southwestern Great Plains. Elevations range from 1525-2444 m (5000-8000 feet), but may be higher in stands in southern New Mexico. Stands occur on flat to moderate slopes along drainages and on mesa tops, and on moderate to steep rocky slopes of foothills, mountains and canyons. The soils are variable but are typically shallow, gravelly calcareous, finer-textured soils (clay loam or silty clay) with a caliche layer or bedrock outcrops not uncommon. Parent materials include limestone, sandstone, and basalt. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense tree canopy (10-60% cover) codominated by Pinus edulis and Juniperus monosperma with a grassy understory dominated by Bouteloua gracilis. Pinus edulis may be present with relatively small cover in some stands. Juniperus deppeana or Juniperus coahuilensis may replace Juniperus monosperma in southern stands. Other species of Juniperus such as Juniperus scopulorum may be present at upper elevations. The shrub layer is sparse. If Quercus gambelii is present, it has less than 5% cover. Scattered Agave spp., Cercocarpus montanus, Dasylirion wheeleri, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia spp., or Yucca spp. may be present. The herbaceous layer is moderately dense to dense and is dominated by the warm-season, perennial short grass Bouteloua gracilis. Associated graminoids include Aristida spp., Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Elymus elymoides, Koeleria macrantha, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Hesperostipa neomexicana (= Stipa neomexicana), Muhlenbergia torreyi, and Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii). Muhlenbergia montana is absent or scarce (<1% cover). Forb cover is typically low, but may be moderately diverse. Species such as Cryptantha cinerea var. jamesii (= Cryptantha jamesii), Eriogonum jamesii, Hymenopappus filifolius, and Mentzelia spp. are common.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.19932.PINUSEDULISJUNI
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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