Name:
Pinus cembroides - Pinus discolor - Pinus edulis / Grass Understory Woodland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This Madrean pinyon-juniper woodland alliance occurs in foothills and lower montane zones of southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, extending into western Texas and Mexico. The vegetation is characterized by a very open (wooded savanna) to moderately dense tree layer (10-70% cover) composed of pinyon and juniper trees 3-5 m tall. <i>Pinus cembroides, Pinus discolor</i>, or <i>Pinus remota</i> are diagnostic and often dominant species. Juniper trees may be absent to dominant. <i>Juniperus coahuilensis, Juniperus deppeana</i>, or <i>Juniperus pinchotii</i> are differential species. In more northern stands, <i>Pinus edulis</i> and <i>Juniperus monosperma</i> may be present to dominant when diagnostic Madrean species are present. Evergreen oaks such as <i>Quercus arizonica, Quercus emoryi</i>, or <i>Quercus grisea</i> are often present in the tree canopy but have lower cover than conifers. Scattered shrubs may be present but typically do not form a layer. The herbaceous layer dominates the understory with moderate to dense cover (25-80% cover) of perennial graminoids. Characteristic species include <i>Bouteloua eriopoda, Eragrostis intermedia, Muhlenbergia dubia, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia montana, Muhlenbergia pauciflora, Muhlenbergia setifolia, Nassella tenuissima, Piptochaetium fimbriatum, Piptochaetium pringlei</i>, and <i>Schizachyrium cirratum</i>. Forbs are typically sparse. Some of the more common forbs include species of <i>Ageratina, Artemisia, Cheilanthes, Chenopodium, Geranium, Hedeoma, Senecio, Thalictrum</i>, and <i>Viguiera</i>. Stands occur on gently to moderately sloping alluvial plains, bajadas and canyon bottoms to moderately steep slopes in canyons, piedmont hills and mountains. Elevation ranges from 1460-2010 m (4780-6600 feet). Soils are shallow, gravelly or stony sandy loams or sandy clay loams, derived from a mixture of alluvium and colluviums mostly associated with igneous substrates.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38420-{84DD2B51-AD50-44B7-9757-08AE60A6F6EF}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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