Print Report

CEGL000738 Juniperus osteosperma / Pseudoroegneria spicata Open Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Utah Juniper / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Open Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This juniper woodland association occurs on moderate to steep talus slopes, foothills, benches, plateaus, and canyons in Idaho, Montana, north-central and western Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Nevada. Elevation ranges from 1520 to 2140 m (4985-7020 feet), and sites are typically oriented to the south or west. Soils are generally clay loam, sandy loam or sandy clay and are generally shallow and often gravelly or rocky. They are derived from limestone, sandstone or shale. The open tree canopy is dominated by Juniperus osteosperma; in Wyoming, Cercocarpus ledifolius or Juniperus scopulorum are sometimes also present. If Pinus edulis is present, it is as seedlings or scattered individuals with minimal cover. Tree canopy cover ranges between 10 and 40%. There is no developed shrub layer, but scattered individuals of Artemisia nova, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra viridis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Opuntia polyacantha may be present, as may Juniperus osteosperma seedlings. Pseudoroegneria spicata dominates the herbaceous understory with 2 to 30% cover. Other herbaceous species commonly present with lesser cover include graminoids Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, and Bromus tectorum. Forbs are generally sparse; species likely to be present include Arenaria hookeri, Linanthus pungens, Phlox hoodii, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Stenotus acaulis.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Johnston (1987) describes a similar community from the Piceance Basin of northwestern Colorado in which the canopy is codominated by Pinus edulis.

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

Floristics: This woodland association is dominated by Juniperus osteosperma; in Wyoming, Cercocarpus ledifolius or Juniperus scopulorum are sometimes also present in the canopy. If Pinus edulis is present, it is as seedlings or scattered individuals with minimal cover. Tree canopy cover ranges between 10 and 40%. There is no developed shrub layer, but scattered individuals of Artemisia nova, Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ephedra viridis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Opuntia polyacantha may be present, as may Juniperus osteosperma seedlings. Pseudoroegneria spicata dominates the herbaceous understory with 2 to 30% cover. Other herbaceous species commonly present with lesser cover include graminoids Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua gracilis, Hesperostipa comata, Pleuraphis jamesii, Poa fendleriana, Poa secunda, and Bromus tectorum. Forbs are generally sparse; species likely to be present include Arenaria hookeri, Linanthus pungens (= Leptodactylon pungens), Phlox hoodii, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Stenotus acaulis.

Dynamics:  Fire converts these woodlands to mixed grassland communities; Tausch and Tueller (1977) determined that fires at 50- to 60-year intervals were sufficient to suppress juniper invasion in the Great Basin. Some examples of this association are clearly grasslands that are being invaded by Juniperus osteosperma (Knight et al. 1987). According to Baker and Kennedy (1985), domestic livestock grazing results in reduced cover of Pseudoroegneria spicata and Poa fendleriana in favor of Bromus tectorum and Poa secunda.
Environmental Description:  This association occurs on moderate to steep talus slopes, foothills, benches, plateaus, and canyons in throughout much of the Intermountain western U.S. Elevation ranges from 1520 to 2140 m (4985-7020 feet), and sites are typically oriented to the south or west. Gravel and rocks cover 50% of the soil surface in most stands, but in some stands, cryptobiotic crusts may cover much of the soil surface. Soils are generally clay loam or sandy clay, are generally shallow and often gravelly or rocky, and are derived from limestone, sandstone or shale.
Geographic Range: This association has been documented from throughout much of the Intermountain western U.S., including Idaho, Montana, north-central and western Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Nevada.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Low

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.Nc Western North American Pinyon - Juniper Woodland & Scrub Division D010 1.B.2.Nc
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Nc.1 Singleleaf Pinyon - Utah Juniper - Western Juniper Intermountain Woodland Macrogroup M896 1.B.2.Nc.1
Group 1.B.2.Nc.1.a Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Woodland Group G900 1.B.2.Nc.1.a
Alliance A3497 Utah Juniper Grassy Open Woodland Alliance A3497 1.B.2.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL000738 Utah Juniper / Bluebunch Wheatgrass Open Woodland CEGL000738 1.B.2.Nc.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juniperus osteosperma / Agropyron spicatum Community (Baker 1984a)
= Juniperus osteosperma / Agropyron spicatum Community (Baker and Kennedy 1985)
= Juniperus osteosperma / Agropyron spicatum Community (Jones 1992b)
= Juniperus osteosperma / Agropyron spicatum Community (Marriott and Jones 1989)
> Juniperus osteosperma / Roegneria spicata var. inerme Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
Concept Author(s): J.J. Coles

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

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-06-07
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