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CEGL000768 Pinus discolor / Piptochaetium fimbriatum Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Border Pinyon / Pinyon Speargrass Woodland
Colloquial Name: Madrean Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Madrean conifer woodland occurs in the "Borderlands" of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and extends into central New Mexico and probably adjacent Texas and northern Mexico. Stands are naturally small and patchy in distribution, and limited to moist microsites of canyons or cooler open slopes. It occupies alluvial slopes and benches, upper slopes, drainages and washes, often with cooler northern aspects. Elevation is roughly 1680-2100 m. Sampled stands in the Animas Mountains are on 12%, northwest-facing slopes. The substrate is loam derived from andesite with surface rock and gravel, together averaging 15% cover. Litter dominates the ground cover (72%). The tree canopy has 25-60% cover and is codominated by Pinus discolor and Juniperus deppeana with Quercus grisea or Quercus x organensis [arizonica x grisea] hybrid typically present. Scattered shrubs (<10% cover) are common, often with high diversity, and may include Nolina microcarpa, Rhus trilobata, Cercocarpus montanus, Yucca baccata, Garrya wrightii, Quercus toumeyi, and Fendlera rupicola. The moderately dense herbaceous layer (25-45% cover) is dominated by perennial grasses, such as Piptochaetium fimbriatum, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua curtipendula, or Eragrostis intermedia, but is typically diverse and includes sparse cover of many other grass and forb species. The perennial grass-dominated herbaceous layer is diagnostic of this late successional Pinus discolor / Juniperus deppeana woodland.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This woodland is found in washes, drainages, and other alluvial settings. Pinus discolor is the dominant tree species. The understory is dominated by grasses and may include Piptochaetium fimbriatum, although it is not always present. The shrub layer may be minor or significant and includes oaks and yuccas.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Piptochaetium fimbriatum is the diagnostic perennial grass species of the graminoid layer, but may not be present in all stands.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The tree canopy has 25-60% cover and is codominated by Pinus discolor and Juniperus deppeana with Quercus grisea or Quercus x organensis [arizonica x grisea] hybrid typically present. Scattered shrubs (<10% cover) are common, often with high diversity, and may include Nolina microcarpa, Rhus trilobata, Cercocarpus montanus, Yucca baccata, Garrya wrightii, Quercus toumeyi, and Fendlera rupicola. The moderately dense herbaceous layer (25-45% cover) is dominated by perennial grasses, such as Piptochaetium fimbriatum, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua curtipendula, or Eragrostis intermedia, but is typically diverse and includes sparse cover of many other grass and forb species. The perennial grass-dominated herbaceous layer is diagnostic of this late-successional Pinus discolor / Juniperus deppeana woodland.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands are naturally small and patchy in distribution, and limited to moist microsites of canyons or cooler open slopes. It occupies alluvial slopes and benches, upper slopes, drainages and washes, often with cooler northern aspects. Elevation is roughly 1680-2100 m. Sampled stands in the Animas Mountains are on 12%, northwest-facing slopes. The substrate is loam derived from andesite with surface rock and gravel, together averaging 15% cover. Litter dominates the ground cover (72%).
Geographic Range: This Madrean conifer woodland occurs in the "Borderlands" of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and extends into central New Mexico and probably adjacent Texas and northern Mexico.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AZ, MXCHH?, NM, TX?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685038
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.1 Alligator Juniper - Mexican Pinyon - Arizona White Oak Madrean Lowland Evergreen Woodland Macrogroup | M010 | 1.B.1.Nd.1 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Nd.1.c Mexican Pinyon - Border Pinyon - Redberry Juniper Woodland Group | G200 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.c |
| Alliance | A3132 Mexican Pinyon - Border Pinyon - Two-needle Pinyon / Grass Understory Woodland Alliance | A3132 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.c |
| Association | CEGL000768 Border Pinyon / Pinyon Speargrass Woodland | CEGL000768 | 1.B.1.Nd.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus discolor / Piptochaetium fimbriatum (Stuever and Hayden 1997b)
= Pinus discolor / Piptochaetium fimbriatum Woodland (Bassett et al. 1987)
= Pinus discolor / Piptochaetium fimbriatum Woodland (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., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1993b. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy by the Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. (Volume I and II).
- Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1995a. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Desert Plants 11(2-3):3-68.
- 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.
- Stuever, M. C., and J. S. Hayden. 1997b. Plant associations of Arizona and New Mexico. Volume 2: Woodlands. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Habitat Typing Guides. 196 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.