Name:
Pinus flexilis Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
Woodlands included in this alliance occur intermittently from timberline to lower montane zones throughout much of the Rocky Mountains on escarpments and other geographic breaks. The vegetation is characterized by an open canopy typically 3-10 m tall, but individuals may reach 15 m. Stands are solely dominated or codominated by the evergreen needle-leaved tree <i>Pinus flexilis</i>. Other trees species that may be present to codominant vary by geography and elevation zones throughout the woodland's range and include <i>Pinus albicaulis, Picea engelmannii, Populus tremuloides</i>, or <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> in the subalpine, and <i>Pinus contorta, Pinus ponderosa</i>, or <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> in the montane zone. The understory vegetation is typically sparse because sites are dry and have a large cover of rock. A sparse shrub layer may be present that includes tall shrubs such as <i>Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Jamesia americana, Rhus trilobata</i>, and <i>Shepherdia canadensis</i>. <i>Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, Ribes cereum</i>, and <i>Yucca glauca</i> are the most frequent low shrubs. The herbaceous layer often dominates the understory and is composed primarily of graminoids such as <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Calamagrostis purpurascens, Carex rossii, Festuca idahoensis, Festuca campestris, Leucopoa kingii</i>, and <i>Koeleria macrantha</i>. Sites are typically xeric on exposed, windswept rocky slopes and ridges from montane to subalpine. Elevations range from 1385-3350 m. These open woodlands occur on all aspects, but are most common on dry south- and west-facing slopes. Soils are typically shallow, skeletal and coarse-textured, such as gravelly, sandy loams or loams, but may include alkaline clays. Exposed bedrock is common and many stands have over 50% bare soil.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38073-{DF52ED80-2BF8-431A-8985-24820DBF7BE2}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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