Name:
Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma Woodland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This woodland group occurs in dry mountains and foothills of the Colorado Plateau region, including the Western Slope of Colorado and the Wasatch Range, south to the Mogollon Rim, and east into the northwestern corner of New Mexico. These woodlands are typically composed of a mix of <i>Pinus edulis</i> and <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> in the tree canopy. Either tree may dominate 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 typically more xeric lower-elevation <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> woodland and savanna. <i>Juniperus scopulorum</i> may replace <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> and codominate at higher-elevation/less xeric sites.<br /><br />In the southern portion of the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico, hybrids of <i>Juniperus monosperma</i> and <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> or both juniper species may dominate or codominate the tree canopy. Understory layers are variable and may be dominated by shrubs, graminoids, or be absent. Associated species include <i>Arctostaphylos patula, Artemisia tridentata, Cercocarpus intricatus, Cercocarpus montanus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Purshia stansburiana, Purshia tridentata, Quercus gambelii, Bouteloua gracilis, Pleuraphis jamesii, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Poa secunda</i>, or <i>Poa fendleriana</i>. This group occurs at higher elevations than ~Great Basin Pinyon - Juniper Woodland Group (G899)$$ where sympatric on the Colorado Plateau.<br /><br />Stands are typically found at lower elevations but ranges from 1500-2440 m. These woodlands occur on warm, dry sites 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. Soils supporting this group vary in texture, ranging from stony, cobbly, gravelly, or sandy loams to clay loam or clay.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40431-{87D51CF0-CE95-4640-A95B-ED5F5E7571DF}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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