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CEGL000724 Juniperus occidentalis / Cercocarpus ledifolius / Carex geyeri Wooded Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Western Juniper / Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany / Geyer''s Sedge Wooded Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: In this association Juniperus occidentalis and Cercocarpus ledifolius (and occasionally Pinus ponderosa) compose the canopy over Carex geyeri and other graminoids. Grasses are the most common associated species, due to the proximity of grasslands. Principal grasses include Pseudoroegneria spicata, Poa secunda, and Koeleria macrantha. This association is often transitional between deep soil bunchgrass-dominated vegetation and Pinus ponderosa forests. Increasing with disturbance are Achillea millefolium, Balsamorhiza sagittata and annual Bromus species, such as the non-native Bromus tectorum. This association occurs at moderate elevations, around 1650 m (5400 feet). It occurs on gentle to steep slopes at moderate soil depths and on varying substrates. Fire may severely damage this association due to the susceptibility of Juniperus occidentalis and Cercocarpus ledifolius to mortality from burning, and as a result many occurrences are adjacent to steep bluffs, canyons and other natural firebreaks.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This is a poorly described woodland savanna association. The evergreen needle-leaved trees Juniperus occidentalis and Pinus ponderosa form an open canopy over a tall-shrub layer composed of the broad-leaved deciduous species Cercocarpus ledifolius. The herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids; the indicator and most abundant is the sedge Carex geyeri. The perennial bunchgrasses Pseudoroegneria spicata, Poa secunda, and Koeleria macrantha are the most common associates. Achillea millefolium, Balsamorhiza sagittata, and annual Bromus species increase with disturbance. This is a transitional association between deep soil bunchgrass-dominated vegetation at lower elevations and Ponderosa pine forest at higher elevations.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs on the southern slopes of this mountainous region, which is characterized by a temperate continental climate. Summers are cool (mean temperature of the warmest month is <72°F). Annual precipitation is light, between 20 and 38 cm (8-15 inches) annually, most falling as snow during winter months. The region has a high frequency of dry lightning storms in late summer. This association is found at approximately 1650 m (5400 feet) elevation on gentle to steep slopes. Soil depths are moderate and derived from varying substrates, but most likely there are components of ash and loess layers of varying depths.
Geographic Range: This association is restricted to the central and southern Blue and Ochoco mountains, in the Blue Mountains section of the Idaho Batholith ecoregion.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688439
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.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.b Western Juniper Open Woodland Group | G248 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Alliance | A3500 Western Juniper Grassy Open Woodland Alliance | A3500 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.b |
| Association | CEGL000724 Western Juniper / Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany / Geyer''s Sedge Wooded Grassland | CEGL000724 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juniperus occidentalis / Cercocarpus ledifolius / Carex geyeri Plant Association (Johnson and Clausnitzer 1992)
- 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.
- Johnson, C. G., and R. R. Clausnitzer. 1992. Plant associations of the Blue and Ochoco mountains. R6-ERW-TP-036-92. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. 163 pp. plus appendices.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.