Name:
Pinus ponderosa / Sparse Understory Woodland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This open woodland association has been described from Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon national parks. It occurs on the bottoms and sides of intermittent stream drainages, in depressions between small hills and in valleys. Sites are gentle to moderately steep (2- to 27-degree slopes), occur between 2111 and 2592 m in elevation, and are oriented to all aspects. The unvegetated ground surface has low to high cover of litter and duff, low to high cover of small rocks, sparse to low amounts of bare soil, and sparse to moderate cover of downed wood. Litter and duff depths range from 0.2-2.8 cm in one stand. Soils are moderately well-drained and are derived from Navajo sandstone, the Kaiparowitz, Claron and Straight Cliff formations, and are often re-deposited as alluvium. Total vegetation cover ranges up to 65% and is characterized by an open canopy, typically 15-20 m tall, of <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> trees that range in cover from 4-60%. A subcanopy layer of 2- to 5-m tall <i>Pinus edulis, Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus scopulorum</i>, and <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> trees provides sparse cover. Shrubs that may be present include <i>Artemisia frigida, Arctostaphylos patula, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Purshia tridentata, Tetradymia canescens, Artemisia nova, Symphoricarpos oreophilus</i>, and <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae</i>. The herbaceous layer is floristically diverse and provides sparse cover. Common graminoids include <i>Poa fendleriana, Carex rossii, Leymus salinus (= Elymus salinus)</i>, and <i>Muhlenbergia montana</i>. Forbs commonly present are <i>Stephanomeria minor (= Stephanomeria tenuifolia, Erysimum capitatum (= Erysimum asperum)</i>, and <i>Lithospermum multiflorum</i>. Tree saplings may provide sparse cover stand and include <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> and <i>Juniperus scopulorum</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.32001.CEGL002384
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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