Name:
Northern Andean Xeromorphic Scrub & Woodland Macrogroup
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This macrogroup includes the open woodlands and scrub of the dry to xeric intermontane valleys of the Andes in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and northwestern portions of Peru. These valleys, located between approximately 1500 and 2600 m, experience the rainshadow effect and get low amounts of rain during the year which, combined with high insolation, creates a xeric environment for the plant communities. The forest cover is open and the density of the shrub and herb layer cover depends on the moisture availability. Members of the Cactaceae are dominant in the understory. Trees are 6-8 m high and usually are covered with epiphytes of the Bromeliaceae. <i>Acacia macracantha</i> is the dominant tree accompanied by <i>Prosopis juliflora, Schinus molle, Xylosma velutinum, Cercidium praecox, Coursetia caribaea, Croton wagneri, Dodonaea viscosa, Condalia</i> sp., <i>Fourcraea</i> sp., and several cacti species, including <i>Mammillaria colombiana, Pilosocereus</i> spp., <i>Cleistocactus</i> spp., <i>Stenocereus griseus, Cereus hexagonus, Armatocereus griseus, Armatocereus humilis, Opuntia wentiana, Opuntia pittieri, Opuntia dillenii, Opuntia elatior, Opuntia pubescens, Cylindropuntia tunicata (= Opuntia tunicata)</i>, among many other. Also included in the macrogroup are the xeromorphic woodland and scrub of the lower reaches of the Andean valleys, between 800-1500 m elevation, where depending on the location they transition into lowland floras of different floristic affinities; therefore, the composition varies significantly.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40998-{978BA494-652F-4A6A-960A-29BAD11CCD84}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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