Print Report

CEGL000859 Pinus ponderosa / Juniperus communis Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Common Juniper Woodland

Colloquial Name: Ponderosa Pine / Common Juniper Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This ponderosa pine / common juniper community type is found on moderate north- and west-facing slopes in the northern Rocky Mountain foothills and adjacent Great Plains of the United States. The parent material is most often limestone but it can be igneous rock. The soils are shallow and loamy. This community is a woodland dominated by Pinus ponderosa with occasional individuals of Juniperus scopulorum, Picea glauca, Betula papyrifera, and Populus tremuloides in the canopy. There is a prominent low-shrub layer composed largely of Juniperus communis, although Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and Mahonia repens are frequently represented in this type. The herb layer is sparse and made up mostly of graminoids such as Schizachyrium scoparium and Carex inops ssp. heliophila.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type conceptually grades into ~Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Woodland (CEGL000844)$$ and several other types because of the ubiquity of Juniperus communis. At Rocky Mountain National Park, stands were separated by requiring Arctostaphylos uva-ursi to have twice the cover of Juniperus communis; mixed stands defaulted to ~Pinus ponderosa / Juniperus communis Woodland (CEGL000859)$$ (data from Rocky Mountain National Park were from Accuracy Assessment so full species information was not collected). In the Black Hills, this woodland is distinguished from ~Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Woodland (CEGL000844)$$ by the greater abundance of Juniperus communis, Mahonia repens, and Lupinus argenteus, and lesser amounts of Lathyrus ochroleucus and Oryzopsis asperifolia. While ~Pinus ponderosa / Juniperus communis Woodland (CEGL000859)$$ often includes coverages >5% of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, in most cases ~Pinus ponderosa / Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Woodland (CEGL000844)$$ has cover percentages of less than 5% for Juniperus communis (McAdams et al. 1998, unpubl. data). Distinction between these two ponderosa pine associations (as well as some others) is not clear, and rangewide review of these associations is needed to clarify their concepts.

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

Floristics: This community is dominated by Pinus ponderosa in the overstory. Other tree species that may be present are Picea glauca and Populus tremuloides. The canopy is usually moderately closed but can become nearly closed in stands that are not disturbed for long periods. There is a prominent low-shrub layer whose most abundant component is Juniperus communis. This species covered an average of 25% (range of 4-42%) in 7 stands in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming (Hoffman and Alexander 1987). Other shrub species found in this community across its range are Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Mahonia repens, Spiraea betulifolia, and Symphoricarpos albus. Total average cover by the shrub layer was 51% and by the herb layer was 8%. Typical herbaceous species are Achillea millefolium, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Schizachyrium scoparium, Fragaria spp., and Lathyrus ochroleucus (McAdams et al. 1998). Invasive and/or exotic Bromus inermis, Melilotus officinalis, and Poa pratensis may be present in disturbed stands (Jones 1992). One site of this community in the Black Hills was reported to have significant Pinus flexilis in it (Thilenius 1970).

Dynamics:  The canopy in this type is usually moderately closed but can become nearly closed in undisturbed stands (i.e., where the natural fire disturbance regime has been disrupted).
Environmental Description:  This community is most often found on moderate north- and west-facing slopes (Hoffman and Alexander 1976, 1987, Hansen and Hoffman 1988). The soils are shallow and loamy. They develop from limestone or igneous rock.
Geographic Range: This ponderosa pine / common juniper community type is found on moderate north- and west-facing slopes in the northern Rocky Mountain foothills and adjacent Great Plains of the United States, extending from the Big Horn Mountains of northern Wyoming and portions of the Missouri Plateau in eastern Montana to the Black Hills of eastern Wyoming and western South Dakota. Stands have also been described from the southern Rocky Mountains.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, MT, SD, WY


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.2 Ponderosa Pine - Douglas-fir - Limber Pine Central Rocky Mountain Dry Forest Macrogroup M501 1.B.2.Nb.2
Group 1.B.2.Nb.2.e Ponderosa Pine Northwestern Great Plains Forest & Woodland Group G216 1.B.2.Nb.2.e
Alliance A3464 Ponderosa Pine Dry-Mesic Black Hills Forest & Woodland Alliance A3464 1.B.2.Nb.2.e
Association CEGL000859 Ponderosa Pine / Common Juniper Woodland CEGL000859 1.B.2.Nb.2.e
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus ponderosa / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1976)
= Pinus ponderosa / Juniperus communis Community (Jones 1992b)
= Pinus ponderosa / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
= Pinus ponderosa / Juniperus communis Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1987)
= Pinus ponderosa / Juniperus communis Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Pinus ponderosa / Juniperus communis Woodland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: J. Drake and K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-01-05
  • BHCI [Black Hills Community Inventory]. 1999. Unpublished element occurrence and plot data collected during the Black Hills Community Inventory. Available upon request from the South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, Pierre, and Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Laramie.
  • Cogan, D., H. Marriott, J. Von Loh, and M. J. Pucherelli. 1999. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-98-08. USDI Bureau of Reclamation Technical Services Center, Denver, CO. 225 pp.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
  • Hansen, P. L. 1985. An ecological study of the vegetation of the Grand River/Cedar River, Sioux, and Ashland districts of the Custer National Forest. Unpublished dissertation, South Dakota State University. 257 pp.
  • Hansen, P. L., G. R. Hoffman, and A. J. Bjugstad. 1984. The vegetation of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-113. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 35 pp.
  • Hansen, P. L., and G. R. Hoffman. 1988. The vegetation of the Grand River/Cedar River, Sioux, and Ashland districts of the Custer National Forest: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-157. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 68 pp.
  • Hoffman, G. R., and R. R. Alexander. 1976. Forest vegetation of the Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming: A habitat type classification. Research Paper RM-170. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 38 pp.
  • Hoffman, G. R., and R. R. Alexander. 1987. Forest vegetation of the Black Hills National Forest of South Dakota and Wyoming: A habitat type classification. Research Paper RM-276. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 48 pp.
  • Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
  • Jones, G. 1992b. Wyoming plant community classification (Draft). Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Laramie, WY. 183 pp.
  • Jones, G., and S. Ogle. 2000. Characterization abstracts for vegetation types on the Bighorn, Medicine Bow, and Shoshone national forests. Prepared for USDA Forest Service, Region 2 by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming.
  • Lynn, R., M. Larson, D. Hoeft, L. Todd, T. Raetz, L. Fager, and G. Barranco. No date. Black Hills National Forest ecological land units study. USDA Forest Service, Black Hills National Forest, SD.
  • MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
  • Marriott, H. J., D. Faber-Langendoen, A. McAdams, D. Stutzman, and B. Burkhart. 1999. The Black Hills Community Inventory: Final report. The Nature Conservancy, Midwest Conservation Science Center, Minneapolis, MN.
  • McAdams, A. G., D. A. Stutzman, and D. Faber-Langendoen. 1998. Black Hills Community Inventory, unpublished data. The Nature Conservancy, Midwest Regional Office, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
  • SDNHP [South Dakota Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, Pierre, SD.
  • Salas, D. E., and M. J. Pucherelli. 1998a. USGS-NPS vegetation mapping, Devil''s Tower National Monument, Wyoming. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Technical Memorandum No. 8260-98-08. Denver, CO.
  • Salas, D. E., and M. J. Pucherelli. 1998b. USGS-NPS vegetation mapping, Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Technical Memorandum No. 8260-98-06. Denver, CO.
  • Salas, D., J. Stevens, and K. Schulz. 2005. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-05-02. USDI Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO. 161 pp. plus Appendices A-L (733 pp.).
  • TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. [1998] f. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Classification of the vegetation of Devils Tower National Monument. The Nature Conservancy, Midwest Regional Office, Minneapolis, MN, and International Headquarters, Arlington, VA. 28 pp.
  • Terwilliger, C., Jr., K. Hess, and C. H. Wasser. 1979b. The habitat types of Region II. USDA Forest Service: A preliminary list and description. Unpublished initial progress report for Habitat Type Classification, Region 2, USDA Forest Service.
  • Terwilliger, C., K. Hess, and C. Wasser. 1979a. Key to the preliminary habitat types of Region 2. Addendum to initial progress report for habitat type classification. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO.
  • Thilenius, J. F. 1970. An isolated occurrence of limber pine (Pinus flexilis James) in the Black Hill of South Dakota. The American Midland Naturalist 84(2):411-417.
  • Thilenius, J. F. 1971. Vascular plants of the Black Hills of South Dakota and adjacent Wyoming. General Technical Report RM-71. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO.
  • Thilenius, J. F. 1972. Classification of the deer habitat in the ponderosa pine forest of the Black Hills, South Dakota. Research Paper RM-91. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 28 pp.