Name:
Pinus edulis - Juniperus monosperma - Juniperus scopulorum Woodland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This southern Rocky Mountain woodland group occurs on dry mountains and foothills in southern Colorado east of the Continental Divide, in mountains and plateaus of northern and central New Mexico, and extends east on breaks in the southeastern Great Plains. The vegetation is characterized by <i>Pinus edulis</i> that dominates or codominates the tree canopy with <i>Juniperus monosperma</i>. <i>Juniperus monosperma</i> may dominate stands provided <i>Pinus edulis</i> is present with significant cover. <i>Juniperus scopulorum</i> may codominate or replace <i>Juniperus monosperma</i> at higher elevations. Stands with mixed <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> are representative of the Colorado Plateau and are not included in this group. In southern transitional areas with ~Madrean Pinyon - Juniper Woodland Group (G200)$$ in central New Mexico, <i>Juniperus deppeana</i> may be present but not codominant. Understory layers are variable and may be dominated by shrubs, graminoids, or be absent. Associated species are generally more typical of the southern Rocky Mountains than the Colorado Plateau. Common species include <i>Artemisia bigelovii, Cercocarpus montanus, Fallugia paradoxa, Quercus gambelii, Quercus x pauciloba</i>, and grasses such as <i>Achnatherum nelsonii, Achnatherum scribneri, Bouteloua gracilis, Festuca arizonica</i>, or <i>Pleuraphis jamesii</i>. Stands in this group are found on mountain slopes, mesas, plateaus, and ridges. Severe climatic events occurring during the growing season, such as frosts and drought, are thought to limit the distribution of pinyon-juniper woodlands to relatively narrow altitudinal belts on mountainsides. Elevationally, stands typically occur above the <i>Juniperus monosperma</i> only-dominated woodlands and savannas. Stands range from near 1500 to 2900 m with high-elevation stands restricted to relatively warm, dry ridges and south and west aspects. Soils vary in texture, ranging from stony, cobbly, gravelly sandy loams to clay loam or clay.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40032-{8A40BEF9-F91C-4B2D-BD78-8F5C5AB393A7}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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