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CEGL000745 Juniperus scopulorum / Cercocarpus montanus Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Rocky Mountain Juniper / Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This Juniperus scopulorum-dominated open woodland has been described from dry rocky ridges and upper slopes in the foothills and lower montane zone of the northern Front Range of Colorado. It also occurs in Montana and possibly Wyoming. Elevation ranges from 1900-2290 m. Stands occur on moderate to steep slopes with a variety of exposures, but are primarily found on northern exposures. Sites have shallow, rocky, coarse-textured soils derived from granitic or Fountain Formation parent materials. This association is characterized by a relatively sparse tree canopy (10% cover) of Juniperus scopulorum less than 5 m tall with scattered Pseudotsuga menziesii and a moderately sparse short-shrub layer (20-25% cover) that is dominated by Cercocarpus montanus. Scattered Ribes cereum, Rubus deliciosus, Rhus trilobata, Purshia tridentata, and the subshrub Artemisia frigida may also be present. The sparse herbaceous layer (<25% cover) is dominated by the graminoids Hesperostipa comata, Elymus lanceolatus, Poa secunda, and Bouteloua gracilis. Forb cover is generally very sparse (<10%) but may be relatively diverse. Common species include Potentilla fissa, Heuchera bracteata, Helianthus pumilus, Eriogonum umbellatum, and the cactus Opuntia polyacantha. Stands included in this association may be separated from other Juniperus scopulorum-dominated woodlands by an understory dominated by Cercocarpus montanus.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands included in this association have too sparse a tree canopy to be classified as woodland. Re-evaluation of the classification of this vegetation type is needed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by a relatively sparse tree canopy (10% cover) of Juniperus scopulorum less than 5 m tall with scattered Pseudotsuga menziesii and a moderately sparse short-shrub layer (20-25% cover) that is dominated by Cercocarpus montanus. Scattered Ribes cereum, Rubus deliciosus, Rhus trilobata, Purshia tridentata, and the subshrub Artemisia frigida may also be present. The sparse herbaceous layer (<25% cover) is dominated by the graminoids Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Elymus lanceolatus, Poa secunda, and Bouteloua gracilis. Forb cover is generally very sparse (<10%) but may be relatively diverse. Common species include Potentilla fissa, Heuchera bracteata, Helianthus pumilus, Eriogonum umbellatum, and the cactus Opuntia polyacantha.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This open woodland has been described from dry rocky ridges and upper slopes in the foothills and lower montane zone at elevation ranging from 1900-2290 m. Stands occur on moderate to steep slopes with a variety of exposures, but are primarily found on northern exposures. Sites have shallow, rocky, coarse-textured soils derived from granitic or Fountain Formation parent materials.
Geographic Range: This regionally endemic association has been documented in the northern Front Range of north-central Colorado in Larimer and Boulder counties. It also occurs in Montana and possibly Wyoming.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, MT, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688363
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.d Limber Pine - Rocky Mountain Juniper Rocky Mountain Foothill Woodland Group | G209 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.d |
| Alliance | A3426 Rocky Mountain Juniper - Utah Juniper / Shrub Understory Central Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance | A3426 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.d |
| Association | CEGL000745 Rocky Mountain Juniper / Alderleaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland | CEGL000745 | 1.B.2.Nb.2.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juniperus scopulorum / Cercocarpus montanus Habitat Type (Wasser and Hess 1982)
= Juniperus scopulorum / Cercocarpus montanus Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Juniperus scopulorum / Cercocarpus montanus Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Juniperus scopulorum / Cercocarpus montanus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Juniperus scopulorum / Cercocarpus montanus Plant Association (Baker 1984a)
= Juniperus scopulorum / Cercocarpus montanus Habitat Type (Hess and Alexander 1986)
= Juniperus scopulorum / Cercocarpus montanus Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Juniperus scopulorum / Cercocarpus montanus Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Juniperus scopulorum / Cercocarpus montanus Plant Association (Baker 1984a)
- Baker, W. L. 1984a. A preliminary classification of the natural vegetation of Colorado. Great Basin Naturalist 44(4):647-676.
- 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/]
- Hess, K. 1981. Phyto-edaphic study of habitat types of the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. 558 pp.
- Hess, K., and R. R. Alexander. 1986. Forest vegetation of the Arapaho and Roosevelt national forests in northcentral Colorado: A habitat type classification. Research Paper RM-266. 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.
- MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
- Wasser, C. H., and K. Hess. 1982. The habitat types of Region II. USDA Forest Service: A synthesis. Final report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 140 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.