Name:
Pinus edulis - Juniperus monosperma Grassy Woodland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This woodland and savanna alliance is characterized by diagnostic tree species <i>Pinus edulis</i> that forms a very open to moderately dense tree layer often with <i>Juniperus monosperma</i>. <i>Juniperus monosperma</i> may also dominate stands as long as there is significant presence of <i>Pinus edulis</i> (not accidental) to characterize the stand as a pinyon-juniper stand and not the more xeric, typically lower elevation <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> woodland and savanna. At higher elevations and relatively mesic sites, such as along drainages, <i>Juniperus scopulorum</i> may be present and sometimes dominant. In southern transitional areas with ~Madrean Pinyon - Juniper Woodland Group (G200)$$ in central New Mexico, <i>Juniperus deppeana</i> may be present but not dominant. Other conifers are absent or accidental with very low cover. Scattered shrubs may be present but do not form a layer and do not exceed cover of herbaceous layer. The understory is characterized by an open to dense herbaceous layer composed of grasses often with diverse but low cover of forbs. Characteristic species may include <i>Achnatherum nelsonii, Achnatherum scribneri, Andropogon hallii, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Festuca arizonica, Hesperostipa comata, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Leymus ambiguus, Muhlenbergia montana</i>, and <i>Pleuraphis jamesii</i>. This alliance occurs on warm, dry mountains and foothills in southern Colorado east of the Continental Divide and in mountains and plateaus of northern and central New Mexico, extending east on breaks in the southeastern Great Plains. Stands typically occur on nearly level to steep (to 80%), rocky slopes on hillsides and ridgetops on all aspects except in elevational extremes for a given latitude where low-elevation stands are restricted to the more mesic north slopes; canyons and high-elevation stands occur on south aspects. Sites are typically dry with shallow, rocky, calcareous and alkaline soils. Other sites include eroded "badlands," lava flows, scree slopes, and deep sands.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38797-{10DB1B2A-E950-41A4-B593-C204ED4F7A23}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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