Name:
Juniperus osteosperma / Mixed Shrubs Talus Woodland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This association is known from Arches National Park and Colorado National Monument but likely is widespread in the canyons of the Colorado Plateau. Stands occur on midslopes, ledges, benches, bottoms and especially talus or rockfall slopes of canyons and midslopes of ridges. Elevations range between 1376 and 1585 m. Sites are moderately steep to very steep (16-84% slopes) and include all aspects. Soils are shallow, poorly developed, rapidly drained sandy clays, clay loams and sandy loams. The unvegetated surface has low to moderate cover of litter and bare soil and high cover of bedrock and large and small rocks. Parent materials are sandstones, shale, and Precambrian gneiss. This woodland is characterized by an open tree canopy of stunted <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> that ranges in cover from 5 to 40%, but may be less if juniper cover is still significant relative to total vegetation and stand appears wooded. <i>Pinus edulis</i> and <i>Fraxinus anomala</i> may occasionally be present. The shrub layer is highly variable in cover and composition among stands and can include <i>Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia bigelovii, Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata, Atriplex canescens, Brickellia microphylla, Cercocarpus montanus, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ephedra torreyana, Ephedra viridis, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, Eriogonum microthecum, Fendlera rupicola, Fraxinus anomala, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Rhus trilobata</i>, and a number of succulents. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse to low in terms of cover but high in species diversity. Common graminoids provide sparse to low cover and include <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bromus tectorum, Elymus elymoides, Vulpia octoflora, Hesperostipa comata, Leymus salinus, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa fendleriana</i>, and <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>. <i>Pleuraphis jamesii</i> consistently provides the highest cover of the graminoid species. Common forbs include scattered <i>Eriogonum inflatum</i> and <i>Chamaesyce fendleri</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.31997.CEGL002266
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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