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Pinus flexilis - Pinus longaeva Intermountain Basins Subalpine Woodland Group | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Pinus flexilis - Pinus longaeva Intermountain Basins Subalpine Woodland Group
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This group extends from the Mojave Desert and eastern Sierra Nevada across the central Great Basin to the high plateaus of southwestern and central Utah. These open woodlands are typically found on high-elevation ridges and rocky slopes above subalpine forests and woodlands, sometimes extending down into the montane zone. Site are harsh, exposed to desiccating winds with rocky substrates and a short growing season that limit plant growth. Parent materials include dolomitic, limestone or granitic rocks. Occurrences can be found on all aspects but are more common on southwestern exposures on steep convex slopes and ridges between 2530 and 3600 m (8300-12,000 feet) elevation. Vegetation is characterized by a typically open tree canopy (&lt;25% cover) with heights ranging from 1-2 m (krummholz) to over 10 m. <i>Pinus flexilis</i> and/or <i>Pinus longaeva</i> dominate the tree canopy, alone or in combination. <i>Pinus longaeva</i> stands tend to occur at higher elevation with less mixed canopies. Other trees present to codominant include <i>Picea engelmannii, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus tremuloides</i>, or <i>Abies concolor</i>. In the Sierra Nevada stands, <i>Pinus albicaulis, Pinus balfouriana</i>, and/or <i>Pinus contorta var. murrayana</i> may be present. Understory layers, if present, are sparse to moderately dense and composed of xeric shrubs, graminoids and cushion plants. Characteristic shrubs include <i>Arctostaphylos patula, Artemisia arbuscula, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana, Ericameria discoidea, Juniperus communis, Ribes cereum</i>, and <i>Ribes montigenum</i>. <i>Cercocarpus intricatus, Cercocarpus ledifolius</i>, or <i>Chrysolepis sempervirens</i> frequently occur in stands in the Sierra Nevada. The herbaceous layer is typically sparse. Associated herbaceous species are diverse given the wide elevational range, with alpine species occurring near the upper treeline and montane and subalpine species below. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40019-{3CA8D825-1108-473F-9C07-7A83C41753E1}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 17-Mar-2010 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.836523 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: G224
  Scientific: Pinus flexilis - Pinus longaeva Intermountain Basins Subalpine Woodland Group