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CEGL000821 Pinus leiophylla / Piptochaetium fimbriatum Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chihuahuan Pine / Pinyon Speargrass Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Madrean conifer woodland occurs in the mountains of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and possibly northern Mexico. Stands are naturally small and patchy in distribution being restricted to flat to gently sloping streamsides and alluvial benches along drainages and washes. Elevation is roughly 1520-1830 m. Soils are fluventic and derived from alluvial sediments. The open to moderately dense (25-60% cover) tree canopy has an overstory of Pinus leiophylla (8% cover), with a subcanopy codominated by Pinus discolor (10%) and Juniperus deppeana (13%) with evergreen oaks present such as Quercus arizonica or Quercus x organensis [arizonica x grisea] hybrid, Quercus hypoleucoides, and Quercus emoryi. Occasional Platanus wrightii, Juglans major, Prunus serotina, and Fraxinus velutina may also occur in the tree canopy. The shrub layer is typically moderately dense (>25%) and is dominated by tree regeneration and shrubs such as Quercus toumeyi, Quercus rugosa, and Rhus trilobata. Other species, including Arctostaphylos pungens, Nolina microcarpa, Frangula betulifolia, Garrya wrightii, and the vine Vitis arizonica, are also present in low cover. The moderately dense herbaceous layer (25-60% cover) is dominated by the perennial grass Piptochaetium fimbriatum. Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana, Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Bromus porteri, Carex geophila, and Muhlenbergia longiligula are also common, but the herbaceous layer is typically very diverse and includes sparse cover of many other grass and forb species. The Pinus leiophylla overstory and Piptochaetium fimbriatum-dominated herbaceous layer are diagnostic of this late-successional woodland.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Piptochaetium fimbriatum is mostly well-represented or abundant. Pinus leiophylla is present, although Pinus engelmannii is not present.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The open to moderately dense (25-60% cover) tree canopy has an overstory of Pinus leiophylla (8% cover), with a subcanopy codominated by Pinus discolor (10%) and Juniperus deppeana (13%) with evergreen oaks present such as Quercus arizonica or Quercus x organensis [arizonica x grisea] hybrid, Quercus hypoleucoides, and Quercus emoryi. Occasional Platanus wrightii, Juglans major, Prunus serotina, and Fraxinus velutina may also occur in the tree canopy. The shrub layer is typically moderately dense (>25%) and is dominated by tree regeneration and shrubs such as Quercus toumeyi, Quercus rugosa, and Rhus trilobata. Other species, including Arctostaphylos pungens, Nolina microcarpa, Frangula betulifolia, Garrya wrightii, and the vine Vitis arizonica, are also present in low cover. The moderately dense herbaceous layer (25-60% cover) is dominated by the perennial grass Piptochaetium fimbriatum. Aristida schiedeana var. orcuttiana (= Aristida orcuttiana), Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Bromus porteri (= Bromopsis porteri), Carex geophila, and Muhlenbergia longiligula are also common, but the herbaceous layer is typically very diverse and includes sparse cover of many other grass and forb species. The Pinus leiophylla overstory and Piptochaetium fimbriatum-dominated herbaceous layer are diagnostic of this late-successional woodland.
Dynamics: Pinus leiophylla has some serotinous cones and sprouting potential and is considered to be more dominant on sites where fires have occurred (Pavek 1994d).
Environmental Description: Stands are naturally small and patchy in distribution being restricted to flat to gently sloping streamsides and alluvial benches along drainages and washes. Elevation is roughly 1520-1830 m. Soils are fluventic and derived from alluvial sediments.
Geographic Range: Only documented from the southwestern corner of New Mexico and southeastern Arizona, but it probably occurs elsewhere in the "Borderlands" region.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ, MXCHH?, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683069
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Nd Madrean-Balconian Forest & Woodland Division | D060 | 1.B.1.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Nd.2 Chihuahuan Pine - Douglas-fir / Silverleaf Oak Madrean Montane Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M011 | 1.B.1.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a Apache Pine - Chihuahuan Pine - Arizona Pine Forest & Woodland Group | G203 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a |
| Alliance | A3112 Arizona Pine - Apache Pine - Chihuahuan Pine Woodland Alliance | A3112 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a |
| Association | CEGL000821 Chihuahuan Pine / Pinyon Speargrass Woodland | CEGL000821 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus leiophylla / Piptochaetium fimbriatum Habitat Type (Muldavin et al. 1996)
= Pinus leiophylla / Piptochaetium fimbriatum (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Pinus leiophylla / Piptochaetium fimbriatum Habitat Type (Bassett et al. 1987)
= Pinus leiophylla / Piptochaetium fimbriatum (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Pinus leiophylla / Piptochaetium fimbriatum Habitat Type (Bassett et al. 1987)
- Bassett, D., M. Larson, and W. Moir. 1987. Forest and woodland habitat types of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. Edition 2. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM.
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Muldavin, E. H., R. L. DeVelice, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1996. A classification of forest habitat types of southern Arizona and portions of the Colorado Plateau. General Technical Report RM-GTR-287. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 130 pp.
- Pavek, D. S. 1994d. Pinus leiophylla var. chihuahuana. In: Fire Effects Information System [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/]
- Stuever, M. C., and J. S. Hayden. 1997a. Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico, edition 3. Volume 1: Forests. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region. Habitat Typing Guides. 291 pp.
- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1987b. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of Arizona south of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 168 pp. plus insert.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.