Name:
Juniperus osteosperma / Quercus gambelii Woodland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This woodland is known from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area but occurs more widely in the Colorado Plateau. It is characterized by an open canopy, typically 2 to 10 m tall, composed of <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> (with 4-20% cover). <i>Pinus edulis</i> is absent. The shrub layer is dominated by scattered, dense clones of <i>Quercus gambelii</i> with between 3 and 14% cover. Associated shrub diversity is high, with 19 species listed, although individual cover by species is generally low. The herbaceous layer has low to moderate cover and is a diverse mixture of native grasses and forbs that range from dry species such as <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Heterotheca villosa, Phlox austromontana, Pleuraphis jamesii</i>, and <i>Sporobolus cryptandrus</i>, to more mesic species such as <i>Eleocharis rostellata, Elymus canadensis, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Phragmites australis, Solidago</i> spp., <i>Sorghastrum nutans</i>, and <i>Typha domingensis</i> that are common along drainages. The exotic grasses <i>Bromus tectorum</i> and <i>Bromus rubens</i> are present with low cover in some stands. Stands occur on the deep soils of valley sides, canyon bottoms, canyon seeps, hills, steep dunes, terraces, and benches between 1165 and 1535 m elevation, but sites are frequently found on sheltered, steep slopes or along canyon bottom drainages. Sites are gentle to steeply sloping with eastern, southeastern, and occasionally western aspects. Bare soil, sand, and litter cover most of the unvegetated surface, with occasional to moderate cover of large rocks, gravel, bedrock, and biological soil crusts. Soils are rapidly drained sands or loamy sands derived from alluvial or eolian deposits, shales or sandstones.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:37402-{B08646B2-396B-4F73-B4DB-7BE853287DAF}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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