Name:
Pinus ponderosa Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This widespread group is most common throughout the cordillera of the Rocky Mountains, from the Greater Yellowstone region south. It is also found in the Colorado Plateau region, west into scattered locations of the Great Basin. Its easternmost extent in Wyoming is in the Bighorn Mountains. These woodlands occur at the lower treeline/ecotone between grassland or shrubland and more mesic coniferous forests typically in warm, dry, exposed sites. Elevations range from less than 1900 m in northern Wyoming to 2800 m in the New Mexico mountains. Occurrences are found on all slopes and aspects; however, moderately steep to very steep slopes or ridgetops are most common. This group generally occurs on soils derived from igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary material, with characteristic features of good aeration and drainage, coarse textures, circumneutral to slightly acidic pH, an abundance of mineral material, rockiness, and periods of drought during the growing season. <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> (primarily <i>var. scopulorum</i> and <i>var. brachyptera</i>) is the predominant conifer; <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus edulis, Pinus contorta, Populus tremuloides</i>, and <i>Juniperus</i> spp. may also be present in the tree canopy. The understory is usually shrubby, with <i>Artemisia nova, Artemisia tridentata, Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Cercocarpus montanus, Purshia stansburiana, Purshia tridentata, Quercus gambelii, Symphoricarpos</i> spp., <i>Prunus virginiana, Amelanchier alnifolia</i>, and <i>Rosa</i> spp. common. <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata, Pascopyrum smithii</i>, and species of <i>Hesperostipa, Achnatherum, Festuca, Muhlenbergia</i>, and <i>Bouteloua</i> are some of the common grasses. Mixed fire regimes and surface fires of variable return intervals maintain these woodlands, depending on climate, degree of soil development, and understory density.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40022-{D4F0145B-387C-4C99-A688-07BE9556F921}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
