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CEGL000849 Pinus ponderosa / Carex inops ssp. heliophila Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ponderosa Pine / Sun Sedge Woodland

Colloquial Name: Ponderosa Pine / Sedge Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This ponderosa pine / sedge woodland is found in the Black Hills region, along the Rocky Mountain Front Range from Montana to Colorado, and in north-central and western New Mexico. Along the Rocky Mountains, this association occurs from the foothills to 2900 m (9500 feet) in elevation, although its elevation decreases farther north. Stands occur in relatively mesic savanna habitats, on gentle to moderate south- and west-facing slopes. In north-central New Mexico, this association occurs at mid-elevation (1920-2560 m [6300-8400 feet]) on sites with moderate to high solar exposure that increases with elevation. Aspects tend to be more northerly at lower elevation, more southerly on higher sites. Slopes range from gentle to moderate (8-20%), and occasionally very steep (>50%). Substrates are variable and may include the following soil types: poorly-developed and rocky Inceptisols from rhyolitic colluviums; finer-textured Alfisols from rhyolitic slope alluvium; gravely Mollisols from rhyolite tuff; or pumice slope alluvium. Some sites are predominantly rock outcrop. At El Malpais National Monument in west-central New Mexico, it typically occurs on gently rolling basalt lava plateaus and collapse features, though occasionally it is found on steep sideslopes of cinder cones and cinder fields. The ground surface is characterized by scattered bunchgrasses and sedges intermixed with litter, and some sites are very rocky. Diagnostic characteristics of this association are the open canopy of Pinus ponderosa over a graminoid layer dominated by Carex inops ssp. heliophila. Occasional canopy associates include Juniperus scopulorum, Pseudotsuga menziesii, or Quercus macrocarpa in the subcanopy, depending on which portion of the geographic range the stand is found. The understory has a characteristically sparse (<5%) cover of shrubs, most frequently Quercus x pauciloba, Ribes cereum, and Rhus trilobata. The herbaceous layer is dominated by Carex inops ssp. heliophila, with inclusions of Danthonia spicata, Poa fendleriana, Muhlenbergia montana, Schizachyrium scoparium, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Bouteloua gracilis, generally in areas with more open canopies. Within Bandelier National Monument in north-central New Mexico, canopy cover ranges from open woodland to closed-canopied forests (25% to >60% cover). Density of mature Pinus ponderosa is moderate and reproduction is rare or absent. Other conifers such as Abies concolor, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Pinus flexilis are rare or absent in the overstory. Shrubs are a minor component of the stands. The herbaceous layer is rich in species but variable in cover. The most diagnostic and abundant graminoid is Carex inops ssp. heliophila, with other abundant species including deer sedges (Carex occidentalis, Carex rossii, and Carex geophila). While forbs are diverse, composition is variable from stand to stand and usually less than 5% total cover.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The stands used by Hoffman and Alexander (1987) and Hansen and Hoffman (1988) to document the Pinus ponderosa / Carex inops ssp. heliophila Woodland habitat type had very high basal area and densities for a woodland, possibly due to their sampling procedure. The dense structure may have affected the floristic makeup of the stands. This type is expected to have an open canopy where natural fire disturbances occur.

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

Floristics: Diagnostic characteristics of this association are the canopy of Pinus ponderosa over a graminoid layer dominated by Carex inops ssp. heliophila. Juniperus scopulorum, Quercus macrocarpa, or Pseudotsuga menziesii are occasionally found in the subcanopy, depending on which portion of the geographic range the stand is found. The understory has a characteristically sparse (<5%) cover of shrubs, most frequently Quercus x pauciloba, Ribes cereum, and Rhus trilobata. The herbaceous layer is dominated by Carex inops ssp. heliophila, with other abundant species including deer sedges (Carex occidentalis, Carex rossii, and Carex geophila) and inclusions of Danthonia spicata, Poa fendleriana, Muhlenbergia montana, Schizachyrium scoparium, Pseudoroegneria spicata, and Bouteloua gracilis, generally in areas with more open canopies. Other common herbaceous species that occur with low cover include Artemisia ludoviciana, Piptatheropsis micrantha (= Oryzopsis micrantha), Nassella viridula, and Poa pratensis (H. Marriott pers. comm. 1999), as well as Andropogon gerardii, Muhlenbergia montana, Sporobolus heterolepis, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Heuchera richardsonii (CNHP 2000).

Within Bandelier National Monument in north-central New Mexico, canopy cover ranges from open woodland to closed-canopied forests (25% to >60% cover). Density of mature Pinus ponderosa is moderate and reproduction is rare or absent. Other conifers such as Abies concolor, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Pinus flexilis are rare or absent in the overstory. Shrubs are a minor component (rarely exceeding 3% total cover), and, in particular, Quercus gambelii is usually poorly represented or absent. The herbaceous layer is rich in species but variable in cover (5-40%). The graminoids are the most abundant with Carex inops ssp. heliophila and other deer sedges (Carex occidentalis, Carex rossii, and Carex geophila) diagnostic and often abundant. Elymus elymoides, Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia montana, and Poa fendleriana are frequent and often well-represented associates. While forbs are diverse, composition is variable from stand to stand and usually less than 5% total cover. The most frequent and abundant forb species include Achillea millefolium, Allium cernuum, Antennaria parvifolia, Artemisia ludoviciana, Erigeron speciosus, Erigeron subtrinervis, Heterotheca villosa, Penstemon barbatus, and Psoralidium tenuiflorum.

Dynamics:  Carex inops ssp. heliophila is an obligate climax species (Ahlenslager 1988). This type probably develops from little bluestem prairie in the Black Hills area as pines become established. Disturbances such as fire convert stands back to prairies (Marriott and Faber-Langendoen 2000). The canopy in this type is usually moderately open due to occasional fires but can become nearly closed in stands where the natural fire disturbance regime has been disrupted.
Environmental Description:  This community is often found on gentle and moderate south- to west-facing slopes in the western Dakotas and eastern parts of Wyoming and Montana (Hoffman and Alexander 1987, Hansen and Hoffman 1988). Along the Rocky Mountains from Montana to Colorado, this association occurs from the foothills to 2900 m (9500 feet) in elevation, although its elevation decreases farther north. Stands occur in relatively mesic savanna habitats, on gentle to moderate south- and west-facing slopes. In north-central New Mexico, this association occurs at mid-elevation (1920-2560 m [6300-8400 feet]) on sites with moderate to high solar exposure that increases with elevation. Aspects tend to be more northerly at lower elevation, more southerly on higher sites. Slopes range from gentle to moderate (8-20%) and occasionally very steep (>50%). Substrates are variable and may include the following soil types: poorly-developed and rocky Inceptisols from rhyolitic colluviums; finer-textured Alfisols from rhyolitic slope alluvium; gravely Mollisols from rhyolite tuff; or pumice slope alluvium. Some sites are predominantly rock outcrop (Hibner 2009). At El Malpais National Monument in west-central New Mexico, it typically occurs on gently rolling basalt lava plateaus and collapse features, though occasionally it is found on steep sideslopes of cinder cones and cinder fields. The ground surface is characterized by scattered bunch grasses and sedges intermixed with litter, and some sites are very rocky.
Geographic Range: This ponderosa pine / sun sedge woodland is found in the Black Hills region, along the Rocky Mountain Front Range from Montana to Colorado, and in north-central and western New Mexico.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, MT, NM, SD, WY


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

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.b Ponderosa Pine Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Group G228 1.B.2.Nb.1.b
Alliance A3398 Ponderosa Pine Southern Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Alliance A3398 1.B.2.Nb.1.b
Association CEGL000849 Ponderosa Pine / Sun Sedge Woodland CEGL000849 1.B.2.Nb.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus ponderosa / Carex heliophila Habitat Type (Hansen and Hoffman 1988)
= Pinus ponderosa / Carex heliophila Habitat Type (Hansen 1985)
= Pinus ponderosa / Carex heliophila Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Pinus ponderosa / Carex inops ssp. heliophila Woodland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Pinus ponderosa / Carex inops ssp. heliophila Woodland (Muldavin and Tonne 2003)
= Pinus ponderosa / Carex inops ssp. heliophila Woodland Habitat Type (Hoffman and Alexander 1987)
Concept Author(s): G. Hoffman and R. Alexander (1987)

Author of Description: A.G. McAdams, S.L. Neid, K.S. King and M.E. Hall

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 05-24-10
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