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CEGL000705 Juniperus monosperma / Artemisia bigelovii Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: One-seed Juniper / Bigelow''s Sagebrush Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association ranges from southern Colorado to northern New Mexico and Arizona, and possibly extreme southern Utah. Stands occur in the mesas and hillslopes, piedmonts, canyons, escarpments, and other geographic breaks in the southern Colorado Plateau to foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains and breaks in the southwestern Great Plains. Elevation ranges from 1520-2130 m (5000-7000 feet). Sites are on nearly level surfaces to steep, rocky slopes in canyons and on hillsides. Stands occur on all aspects except in elevational extremes where low-elevation stands are restricted to the more mesic north slopes, whereas high-elevation stands occur on southern aspects. Sites are typically dry with shallow, rocky, calcareous, alkaline soils. Soil textures range from sandy loam to clay soils typically derived from limestone, sandstone or shale. The vegetation is characterized by a typically open (5-15% cover) to occasionally moderately dense evergreen, scale-leaved tree canopy 2-7 m tall composed of Juniperus monosperma. Sparse canopy stands have trees distributed in patches, resembling a savanna, whereas the tree crowns touch in the moderately dense stands. Occasional Pinus edulis trees may also be present. At higher elevations, Juniperus scopulorum may be present, and in the southern extent, Madrean evergreen woodland elements such as Juniperus deppeana and Juniperus coahuilensis may be present but not codominant. The understory is typically a sparse and patchy dwarf-shrub layer dominated by Artemisia bigelovii. Other shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may be present such as Atriplex canescens, Ephedra spp., Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Opuntia spp., Parryella filifolia, Purshia stansburiana, Yucca spp., and Mahonia fremontii, depending on geography. A sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grasses may be present. The most abundant species are Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Aristida spp., Pleuraphis jamesii, Achnatherum hymenoides, Piptatheropsis micrantha, Sporobolus spp., Hesperostipa comata, Hesperostipa neomexicana, and introduced annual grass Bromus tectorum. Many forb species can occur, but few have much cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This plant association has Artemisia bigelovii in the understory, and a Juniperus monosperma overstory which seldom exceeds 10% canopy cover. Pinus edulis may be accidental.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stuever and Hayden (1997b) suggest that this association may occur in southern Utah; however, Welsh et al. (1993) state that all identifications of Juniperus monosperma in Utah are tentative.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by a typically open (5-15% cover) to occasionally moderately dense evergreen, scale-leaved tree canopy 2-7 m tall composed of Juniperus monosperma. Sparse canopy stands have trees distributed in patches, resembling a savanna, whereas the tree crowns touch in the moderately dense stands. Occasional Pinus edulis trees may also be present. At higher elevations, Juniperus scopulorum may be present, and in the southern extent, Madrean evergreen woodland elements such as Juniperus deppeana and Juniperus coahuilensis (= Juniperus erythrocarpa var. coahuilensis) may be present but not codominant. The understory is typically a sparse and patchy dwarf-shrub layer dominated by Artemisia bigelovii. Other shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may be present such as Atriplex canescens, Ephedra spp., Gutierrezia sarothrae, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Opuntia spp., Parryella filifolia, Purshia stansburiana, Yucca spp., and Mahonia fremontii, depending on geography. A sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grasses may be present. The most abundant species are Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Aristida spp., Dasyochloa pulchella, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Piptatheropsis micrantha (= Oryzopsis micrantha), Sporobolus spp., Hesperostipa comata, Hesperostipa neomexicana, and introduced annual grass Bromus tectorum. Many forb species can occur, but few have much cover. Common forbs include Chaetopappa ericoides, Chamaesyce fendleri, Cryptantha sp., Chaetopappa ericoides, Eriogonum corymbosum, Eriogonum jamesii, Lesquerella fendleri, and Zinnia grandiflora.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur in the mesas and hillslopes, piedmonts, canyons, escarpments, and other geographic breaks in the southern Colorado Plateau to foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains and breaks in the southwestern Great Plains. Elevation ranges from 1520-2130 m (5000-7000 feet). Sites are on nearly level surfaces to steep, rocky slopes in canyons and on hillsides. Stands occur on all aspects except in elevational extremes where low-elevation stands are restricted to the more mesic north slopes, whereas high-elevation stands occur on southern aspects. Sites are typically dry with shallow, rocky, calcareous, alkaline soils. Soil textures range from sandy loam to clay soils typically derived from limestone, sandstone or shale.
Geographic Range: This juniper woodland association occurs in the southern Colorado Plateau, foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains, and extends out on limestone and sandstone breaks in the southwestern Great Plains ranging from northeastern Arizona and northern New Mexico into southeastern Colorado, and possibly extreme southern Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM, UT?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687850
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.2 Two-needle Pinyon - One-seed Juniper Southern Rocky Mountain Woodland Macrogroup | M897 | 1.B.2.Nc.2 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b One-seed Juniper Open Woodland Group | G252 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b |
| Alliance | A3574 One-seed Juniper Shrubby Woodland Alliance | A3574 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b |
| Association | CEGL000705 One-seed Juniper / Bigelow''s Sagebrush Woodland | CEGL000705 | 1.B.2.Nc.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juniperus monosperma / Artemisia bigelovii / Bouteloua gracilis - Hilaria jamesii Savanna Vegetation Type (Dick-Peddie 1993)
= Juniperus monosperma / Artemisia bigelovii (Stuever and Hayden 1997b)
= Juniperus monosperma / Artemisia bigelovii Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
< Juniperus monosperma / Oryzopsis micrantha Plant Association (Shaw et al. 1989) [B Included stands with Artemisia bigelovii-dominated shrub layer.]
= Juniperus monosperma / Artemisia bigelovii (Stuever and Hayden 1997b)
= Juniperus monosperma / Artemisia bigelovii Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
< Juniperus monosperma / Oryzopsis micrantha Plant Association (Shaw et al. 1989) [B Included stands with Artemisia bigelovii-dominated shrub layer.]
- 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.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
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- USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1987a. Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of northern New Mexico and northern Arizona. USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Albuquerque, NM. Second edition, 170 pp. plus insert.
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- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.