Print Report

CEGL000856 Pinus ponderosa / Festuca arizonica Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Arizona Fescue Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This ponderosa pine woodland association is known from mountains in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and the Trans-Pecos (Mt. Livermore in the Davis Mountains) of Texas. It occurs on all aspects and landscape positions within an elevational range of 2195-2900 m (7200-9500 feet). Slopes are gentle to very steep. This association is the coolest and wettest of grassy Pinus ponderosa types, and soils are typically deeper than other related Pinus types. This woodland has an open parklike character with scattered trees (not more then 50% cover) and an abundant herbaceous understory. Pinus ponderosa is the dominant tree and the climax overstory species. In the southern portion of its range, other species may be present in the canopy, including Pinus edulis, Pinus cembroides, and Pinus strobiformis. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Juniperus deppeana are occasionally present. Shrubs are scarce but are often present; species vary with latitude and include Quercus gambelii, Artemisia tridentata, Chrysothamnus depressus, Ribes cereum, Ceanothus fendleri, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Mahonia repens. Dominance by grasses and sometimes forbs is diagnostic for this type. Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana are consistently present. Bouteloua gracilis and Danthonia parryi can be very abundant in relatively dry or wet stands, respectively.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Must have Festuca arizonica, or if grazing history includes persistent use which can explain the absence of Festuca arizonica, then Poa pratensis is present. Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies concolor, pinyon, and juniper are generally absent or accidental. The Danthonia parryi phase may contain Pseudotsuga menziesii, usually in microsites, and the Bouteloua gracilis phase may contain some pinyon and junipers.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Stuever and Hayden (1997a) identify four phases: Festuca arizonica phase, Danthonia parryi phase, Bouteloua gracilis phase, and Quercus gambelii phase.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Pinus ponderosa is the dominant tree and the climax overstory species. Pseudotsuga menziesii and Juniperus deppeana are occasionally present. Dominance by grasses and sometimes forbs is diagnostic for this type. Shrubs, when present never exceed 5% cover. Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana are consistently present. Bouteloua gracilis and Danthonia parryi can be very abundant in relatively dry or wet stands, respectively. At high elevations in the Trans-Pecos mountains of Texas and on sky islands of Arizona, other species may be present in the canopy, including Pinus edulis, Pinus cembroides, and Pinus strobiformis. Shrubs are scarce but are often present; species vary with latitude and include Quercus gambelii, Artemisia tridentata, Chrysothamnus depressus, Ribes cereum, Ceanothus fendleri, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Mahonia repens. The understory is densely grassy with medium-tall grasses, including Festuca arizonica, Bouteloua gracilis, Danthonia parryi, Piptochaetium fimbriatum, Piptochaetium pringlei, Achnatherum lobatum (= Stipa lobata), Bothriochloa barbinodis (= var. barbinodis), Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium (= Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. neomexicanum), Muhlenbergia rigida, Muhlenbergia montana, Elymus elymoides, and Panicum bulbosum. Other species include Allium cernuum, Campanula rotundifolia, Silene laciniata, and Ageratina rothrockii (= Eupatorium rothrockii).

Dynamics:  The heavy grass cover in the understory favors surface fires; the absence of fire would tend to result in denser tree canopy cover and subsequently reduced grass cover (DeVelice et al. 1986). Overgrazing has been widespread and has reduced, and in many cases even eliminated, Festuca arizonica from stands. Weedy species such as Bromus tectorum, Tetraneuris acaulis, Poa pratensis, Taraxacum officinale, and Gutierrezia sarothrae indicate overgrazing. Burning can stimulate Ceanothus fendleri on some sites in northern New Mexico and central Arizona.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs on all aspects and landscape positions within an elevational range of 2195-2900 m (7200-9500 feet). Slopes are gentle to very steep. Soils are predominantly Borolls, with low coarse fragments. The habitat is the coolest and wettest of grassy Pinus ponderosa types, and soils are typically deeper than other related Pinus types.
Geographic Range: This association is known from mountains in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and the Trans-Pecos Mountains (Mt. Livermore in the Davis Mountains) of Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CO, NM, TX


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F008 1.B.2
Division 1.B.2.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division D194 1.B.2.Nb
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Nb.1 White Fir - Douglas-fir - Blue Spruce Forest Macrogroup M022 1.B.2.Nb.1
Group 1.B.2.Nb.1.a Ponderosa Pine / Fescue species - Muhly species Southern Rocky Mountain Open Woodland Group G229 1.B.2.Nb.1.a
Alliance A3419 Ponderosa Pine / Grass Understory Southern Rocky Mountain Open Woodland Alliance A3419 1.B.2.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL000856 Ponderosa Pine / Arizona Fescue Woodland CEGL000856 1.B.2.Nb.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus ponderosa / Festuca arizonica (Stuever and Hayden 1997a)
= Pinus ponderosa / Festuca arizonica Habitat Type (Fitzhugh et al. 1987)
= Pinus ponderosa / Festuca arizonica Woodland (DeVelice et al. 1986)
Concept Author(s): DeVelice et al. (1986)

Author of Description: G. Kittel and M.E. Hall

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-24-18
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