Name:
Juniperus osteosperma / Artemisia tridentata Woodland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This sparse woodland association has been reported from semi-arid foothills, plateaus and mountains throughout much of the western Rocky Mountains, Colorado Plateau, and Great Basin. Elevation ranges from 1220 to 2260 m (4000-7400 feet). This community generally occurs on a variety of slopes and aspects, often at the break between foothill and basin. Soils are generally coarse-textured, calcareous alluvial or eolian deposits derived from sandstone and shale. Evidence of erosion such as gullies and rills is not uncommon. There are generally significant amounts of bare ground, litter, and desert pavement at the soil surface. Rock cover is variable. The vegetation is characterized by an open tree canopy dominated by <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> with <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis</i> dominating the sparse to moderately dense short-shrub layer. Tree canopy cover values are over 5%, but typically less than 20%, and canopy height is usually 2-10 m. Other shrubs, such as <i>Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Artemisia nova, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra nevadensis, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia</i> spp., or <i>Purshia</i> spp., may be present but generally with low cover. The sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids such as <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida</i> spp., <i>Bouteloua</i> spp., <i>Carex filifolia, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Pascopyrum smithii, Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Sporobolus</i> spp., and introduced annual <i>Bromus</i> spp. Associated forbs may include <i>Artemisia frigida, Eriogonum</i> spp., <i>Gayophytum racemosum, Leptodactylon pungens, Phlox hoodii</i>, and <i>Plantago patagonica</i>.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.33710.CEGL000730
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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