Print Report

CEGL001394 Juniperus horizontalis / Schizachyrium scoparium Dwarf-shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Creeping Juniper / Little Bluestem Dwarf-shrubland

Colloquial Name: Creeping Juniper / Little Bluestem Dwarf-shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This creeping juniper community type is found in the northwestern Great Plains of the United States and Canada. Stands occur on moderate to steep slopes, usually on upper slopes. Soils are silty loam, sandy loam, or clay loam. In North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota it occurs on north- and, rarely, west-facing slopes. In Manitoba it is thought to occur on dry south-facing slopes. Parent materials are sandstone, siltstone, claystone, and sandy glacial till. This community is dominated by short shrubs and graminoids. Vegetation cover is moderate to high. The dominant species is usually Juniperus horizontalis, a mat-forming shrub. Other low shrubs include Artemisia frigida, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and Rosa arkansana. Rhus trilobata and Prunus virginiana are taller shrubs that may be present. The most abundant graminoid is Schizachyrium scoparium. Other common graminoids include Calamovilfa longifolia, Carex filifolia, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Carex duriuscula, Koeleria macrantha, and Muhlenbergia cuspidata. Some of the forbs that are associated with this community are Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida, Campanula rotundifolia, Comandra umbellata, Echinacea angustifolia, Dalea purpurea, Galium boreale, Packera plattensis, and Linum perenne.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: ~Juniperus horizontalis / Carex inops ssp. heliophila Dwarf-shrubland (CEGL001393)$$ may be a seral stage of ~Juniperus horizontalis / Schizachyrium scoparium Dwarf-shrubland (CEGL001394)$$ (D. Ode pers. comm. 1998). See also Hansen and Hoffman (1988).

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

Floristics: This community is dominated by short shrubs and graminoids. Vegetation cover is moderate to high. In 11 stands in western North Dakota the average cover of shrubs was 44%, graminoids 32%, and forbs 2% (USFS 1992). The dominant species is usually Juniperus horizontalis, a mat-forming shrub. Other low shrubs include Artemisia frigida, Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (= Pentaphylloides floribunda), Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and Rosa arkansana. Rhus trilobata and Prunus virginiana are taller shrubs that may be present. The most abundant graminoid is Schizachyrium scoparium. Other common graminoids include Calamovilfa longifolia, Carex filifolia, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Carex duriuscula (= Carex eleocharis), Koeleria macrantha, and Muhlenbergia cuspidata. Some of the forbs that are associated with this community are Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida (= Anemone patens), Campanula rotundifolia, Comandra umbellata, Echinacea angustifolia, Dalea purpurea, Galium boreale, Packera plattensis (= Senecio plattensis), and Linum perenne. Bare ground may occupy 25-45% of the surface (Hirsch 1985).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands occur on moderate to steep slopes, usually on upper slopes (Hansen et al. 1984, USFS 1992). Typically, in the northern plains, stands occur on north and, rarely, west-facing slopes (Johnston 1987), but in Manitoba it is thought to occur on dry south-facing slopes (Greenall 1995). Parent materials are sandstone, siltstone, claystone, and sandy glacial till (USFS 1992). Soil textures include shallow silty loam, sandy loam, or clay loam soil. Hirsch (1985) reported significant amounts of gravel and scoria near the surface.
Geographic Range: This community type is found in the northwestern Great Plains of the United States and Canada, ranging from Montana and South Dakota to North Dakota and southern Manitoba.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  MB, MT, ND, SD


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D023 2.B.2.Nb
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nb.2 Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass - Plains Rough Fescue Grassland Macrogroup M051 2.B.2.Nb.2
Group 2.B.2.Nb.2.c Western Wheatgrass - Needle-and-Thread - Little Bluestem Mixedgrass Prairie Group G141 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Alliance A4383 Creeping Juniper - Skunkbush Sumac - Shrubby-cinquefoil Shrubland Alliance A4383 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Association CEGL001394 Creeping Juniper / Little Bluestem Dwarf-shrubland CEGL001394 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juniperus horizontalis / Andropogon scoparius Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
= Juniperus horizontalis / Andropogon scoparius Habitat Type (USFS 1992)
= Juniperus horizontalis / Andropogon scoparius Habitat Type (Hirsch 1985)
= Juniperus horizontalis / Carex heliophila Habitat Type (Hansen and Hoffman 1988)
= Juniperus horizontalis / Schizachyrium scoparium Dwarf-shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Juniperus horizontalis / Schizachyrium scoparium Dwarf-shrubland (Cooper et al. 2001)
= Juniperus horizontalis / Schizachyrium scoparium Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: J. Drake

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-28-95
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