Name:
Juniperus coahuilensis - Juniperus deppeana - Juniperus monosperma Open Woodland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This Madrean juniper savanna and woodland group occurs in northern Mexico, southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, extending into western Texas. These savannas and woodlands have juniper tree canopies (5-60% cover). The lack of pinyon trees and the presence of Madrean junipers <i>Juniperus coahuilensis</i> or <i>Juniperus deppeana</i> are diagnostic of this group. <i>Juniperus monosperma</i> may be present to sole dominant when diagnostic Madrean species are present. The understory may be dominated by shrubs or grasses. If present, the shrub layer may be open to dense with desert scrub, chaparral or mountain shrub species. Characteristic species include <i>Agave lechuguilla, Arctostaphylos pungens, Canotia holacantha, Ceanothus greggii, Cercocarpus montanus, Larrea tridentata, Nolina microcarpa, Prosopis glandulosa, Quercus grisea, Quercus turbinella</i>, or <i>Rhus trilobata</i>. The herbaceous layer is diverse and resembles ~Chihuahuan Desert Foothill-Piedmont & Lower Montane Grassland Group (G490)$$. Characteristic graminoid species include <i>Bouteloua eriopoda, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia pauciflora, Muhlenbergia setifolia, Piptochaetium fimbriatum</i>, or <i>Schizachyrium cirratum</i>. Some of the widespread graminoid species are similar to those found in ~Great Plains Shortgrass Prairie Group (G144)$$ and may be present to dominant, with <i>Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua gracilis</i>, and <i>Eragrostis intermedia</i> being most common. This group is found in lower foothills and plains. Savanna stands occur primarily on flat ridge summits and upper slopes of foothills, canyons and alluvial fans usually at about 1800 m elevation. Woodland sites are typically found on cool aspects of steep scarp slopes at elevations of 1700 to 2200 m. Substrates are generally shallow rocky soils, but include deeper loamy soils, especially on sites where junipers have recently colonized.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40195-{B139C622-B596-4DEB-BD12-4FC2BCEED5C6}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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