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CEGL001728 Juniperus occidentalis / Pseudoroegneria spicata Wooded Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Juniper / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Wooded Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is a broadly defined open steppe community which is widespread in eastern Oregon, somewhat restricted in Idaho, and may occur in California, Washington, and Nevada. Stands occur at elevations of 1070-1680 m (3500-5500 feet) on all aspects and slopes. Soils are loams, clay loams, and silt loams that are shallow and stony. About 55% of the surface is bare of vegetation. Vegetation is typically dominated by a graminoid layer with Juniperus occidentalis presence varying from as little as 2 individuals per acre to 32% canopy cover. The sparse to moderately dense graminoid layer is composed of Pseudoroegneria spicata, Festuca idahoensis, and Poa secunda with 3-30%, 0-20%, and 0-28% cover, respectively. Bare ground can occupy as much as 51% of the ground cover. Shrubs are sparse with Artemisia tridentata accounting for less than 4% cover. This association is distinguished from similar associations by the dominance of Pseudoroegneria spicata in the grass layer and by the lack of Artemisia tridentata or Purshia tridentata which are present in most Juniperus occidentalis stands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is synonymous with Juniperus occidentalis / Festuca idahoensis - Agropyron spicatum (Johnson and Simon 1987, Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992), Juniperus occidentalis / Agropyron spicatum - Festuca idahoensis and Juniperus occidentalis / Agropyron spicatum (Driscoll 1964a), and Juniperus occidentalis - Agropyron - Festuca (Hall 1973). This association has noticeably less shrub cover than other Juniperus occidentalis associations. For now, it represents the only regional Juniperus occidentalis / bunchgrass association, and perhaps Juniperus occidentalis / Pseudoroegneria spicata - Festuca idahoensis would be a better name.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation is typically dominated by a graminoid layer with Juniperus occidentalis presence varying from as little as 2 individuals per acre to 32% canopy cover. The sparse to moderately dense graminoid layer is composed of Pseudoroegneria spicata, Festuca idahoensis, and Poa secunda with 3-30%, 0-20%, and 0-28% cover, respectively. Bare ground can occupy as much as 51% of the ground cover. Shrubs are sparse with Artemisia tridentata accounting for less than 4% cover.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur at elevations of 1070-1680 m (3500-5500 feet) on all aspects and slopes. Soils are loams, clay loams, and silt loams that are shallow and stony. About 55% of the surface is bare of vegetation.
Geographic Range: This association is found in central Oregon, northeast Oregon, barely into Washington, and in southwestern Idaho. Stands may also occur in northern Nevada and northeastern California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, ID, NV?, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683862
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.Nc Western North American Pinyon - Juniper Woodland & Scrub Division | D010 | 1.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nc.1 Singleleaf Pinyon - Utah Juniper - Western Juniper Intermountain Woodland Macrogroup | M896 | 1.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nc.1.b Western Juniper Open Woodland Group | G248 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Alliance | A3500 Western Juniper Grassy Open Woodland Alliance | A3500 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Association | CEGL001728 Western Juniper / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Wooded Grassland | CEGL001728 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juniperus occidentalis - Agropyron - Festuca (Hall 1973)
= Juniperus occidentalis / Agropyron spicatum - Festuca idahoensis (Driscoll 1964a)
= Juniperus occidentalis / Agropyron spicatum (Driscoll 1964a)
= Juniperus occidentalis / Festuca idahoensis - Agropyron spicatum (Johnson and Simon 1987)
= Juniperus occidentalis / Festuca idahoensis - Agropyron spicatum (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
= Juniperus occidentalis / Agropyron spicatum - Festuca idahoensis (Driscoll 1964a)
= Juniperus occidentalis / Agropyron spicatum (Driscoll 1964a)
= Juniperus occidentalis / Festuca idahoensis - Agropyron spicatum (Johnson and Simon 1987)
= Juniperus occidentalis / Festuca idahoensis - Agropyron spicatum (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
- 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.
- Driscoll, R. S. 1964a. Vegetation-soil units in the central Oregon juniper zone. Research Paper PNW-19. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Portland, OR. 60 pp.
- Hall, F. C. 1973. Plant communities of the Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. R6 Area Guide 3-1. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR. 62 pp.
- Johnson, C. G., Jr., and S. A. Simon. 1987. Plant associations of the Wallowa-Snake Province Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Technical Paper R6-ECOL-TP-255A-86. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 399 pp. plus appendices.
- Johnson, C. G., and R. R. Clausnitzer. 1992. Plant associations of the Blue and Ochoco mountains. R6-ERW-TP-036-92. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 163 pp. plus appendices.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- WNHP [Washington Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data files. Washington Natural Heritage Program, Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.
- Winward, A. H., and B. A. Youtie. 1976. Ecological inventory of the Lawrence Memorial Grassland Preserve. A report presented to the Pacific Northwest chapter of The Nature Conservancy. 43 pp.