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Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Woodland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Woodland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This woodland association occurs in the upper montane and subalpine zone throughout much of the Rocky Mountains, although it is more common from along the Continental Divide east where climates are often drier. Sites are warm and dry and occur on nearly level benches, and gentle to very steep slopes. Aspects vary from south at high elevations to north aspect at lower elevations in canyons. Substrates are typically rocky, shallow to moderately deep, well- to excessively well-drained, gravelly or coarse-sandy loam or clay loam. Parent materials are variable, but are more often igneous or metamorphic rocks. The vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense (30-70% cover) tree canopy that is often solely dominated by <i>Pinus contorta</i>. However, scattered <i>Abies lasiocarpa, Picea engelmannii, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus flexilis, Pseudotsuga menziesii</i>, or <i>Populus tremuloides</i> trees may be present in some stands, especially in the subcanopy. The understory is typically depauperate and dominated by the conspicuous dwarf-shrub <i>Juniperus communis</i> with 5-15% cover. <i>Arctostaphylos uva-ursi</i> is often present with low cover. Other shrubs may be present in low cover. The herbaceous layer is usually sparse with a few scattered species. Diagnostic of this association is the dominance of <i>Pinus contorta</i> in the tree canopy with <i>Juniperus communis</i> dominating the understory. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29673-{173EB0D9-8011-4BBC-84D1-480218B3461E}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 2
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 03-Jun-2005 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686896 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL000764
  Translated: Lodgepole Pine / Common Juniper Woodland
  Scientific: Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Woodland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL000764
(similar) Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Woodland
(similar) Pinus contorta / Juniperus communis Woodland