Name:
Pinus ponderosa / Muhlenbergia montana Woodland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This widespread woodland occurs at foothill and lower montane elevations in the southern Rocky Mountains, extending south to the mountains of western Texas, and west to the Mogollon Rim and Colorado Plateau of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Elevation ranges from 1890 to 2870 m (6190-9400 feet). Stands occur on bottomlands, elevated plains, cinder cones, piedmont slopes, mesas, foothills, and mountains. Sites include gentle to steep slopes on all aspects, but are more common on southern and western aspects, especially at higher elevations. Substrates are variable but are typically shallow, rocky, coarse-textured soils derived from granitic or cinder parent materials. There is considerable cover of bare soil and exposed bedrock. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense evergreen, needle-leaved tree canopy to 10-30 m tall that is dominated or codominated by <i>Pinus ponderosa</i>. Associated tree species vary geographically. <i>Pinus edulis, Pinus discolor</i>, and <i>Juniperus</i> spp. may be important in the tree canopy. <i>Pseudotsuga </i><i>menziesii, Pinus flexilis</i>, and <i>Populus tremuloides</i> may also be present but are considered accidental. <i>Quercus gambelii</i> may be present with low cover (to 5%) in the sparse shrub layer (<10% cover). Other scattered shrubs may include <i>Artemisia tridentata, Ceanothus fendleri, Cercocarpus montanus, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Juniperus communis, Purshia tridentata, Rhus trilobata, Ribes cereum</i>, or <i>Yucca baccata</i>. The typically moderately dense herbaceous layer has greater cover than the shrub layer and is dominated by graminoids. <i>Muhlenbergia montana</i>, a warm-season, medium-tall perennial, typically dominates the herbaceous layer and is diagnostic of this association. Common graminoid associates include <i>Aristida</i> spp., <i>Blepharoneuron tricholepis, Bouteloua gracilis, Carex geophila, Carex rossii, Elymus elymoides, Koeleria macrantha, Poa fendleriana</i>, and <i>Schizachyrium scoparium</i>. <i>Festuca arizonica, Muhlenbergia virescens, Muhlenbergia dubia, Muhlenbergia emersleyi</i>, and <i>Hesperostipa</i> spp. are typically absent. Forb cover is typically sparse and highly variable.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.33261.CEGL000862
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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