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CEGL000781 Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Coleogyne ramosissima Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Blackbrush Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association occurs extensively across the Colorado Plateau from southwestern Colorado through southern Utah into Arizona. This woodland has variable cover, ranging from very open and sparsely vegetated (<10% total cover) to relatively dense (80% cover). Sparsely vegetated stands also tend to have dwarfed trees not exceeding 2 m in height. Typically, stands have an open (5-25% cover) tree canopy 3-6 m tall with both Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma. The shrub layer has 5 to 55% cover and is dominated by Coleogyne ramosissima. Other common shrub species may include Agave utahensis, Cercocarpus montanus, Ephedra viridis, Glossopetalon spinescens, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Purshia stansburiana, Quercus turbinella, and Yucca spp. The herbaceous layer is sparse and composed of graminoids such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum speciosum, Elymus elymoides, Poa fendleriana, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Aristida species. Forbs are typically variable and scattered, contributing little cover. Sites occur in valley bottoms, terraces, benches, slopes, mesa rims, elevated plains and rolling terrain sometimes interrupted by bedrock. Sites occur on flat to moderate slopes (0-20%) between 1070 and 1890 m (3500-6200 feet) elevation on all aspects. Cryptogam cover can be as high as 45%. Soils are typically shallow, rocky sandy loams derived from sandstone, eolian sands, alluvium or limestone.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this association can vary greatly in appearance, ranging from sparsely vegetated (<10% total cover) to relatively dense (80% cover). Sparsely vegetated stands also tend to have dwarfed trees not exceeding 2 m in height. Typically, stands have an open (5-25% cover) tree canopy 3-6 m tall that contains both Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma, although one or the other tree may dominate. The shrub layer has 5 to 55% cover and is dominated by Coleogyne ramosissima. In some parts of the range, Mortonia sempervirens may be codominant. Other shrub species present may include Agave utahensis, Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia bigelovii, Cercocarpus intricatus, Cercocarpus montanus, Ephedra viridis, Glossopetalon spinescens var. aridum (= Glossopetalon nevadense), Glossopetalon spinescens, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Purshia stansburiana, Quercus turbinella, Rhus trilobata var. trilobata, Shepherdia rotundifolia, Symphoricarpos longiflorus, Yucca angustissima, Yucca baccata, Yucca harrimaniae, and Yucca elata (= Yucca utahensis). Scattered cacti are often present, including Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea (= Opuntia erinacea), Opuntia phaeacantha, Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha, Echinocereus triglochidiatus, and Echinocereus engelmannii. The sparse herbaceous layer is composed of graminoids such as Achnatherum hymenoides, Achnatherum speciosum (= Stipa speciosa), Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua curtipendula, Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Poa fendleriana, Pleuraphis jamesii, and native Aristida species. Forbs are typically variable and include Packera multilobata, Psilostrophe sparsiflora, and Streptanthella longirostris. On disturbed sites non-native introduced species such as Bromus rubens, Bromus tectorum, and Vulpia octoflora may be present to abundant.
Dynamics: Sites occupy bedrock with sand-filled fissures and pockets, deep soils of eolian dunes, and shallow soils over bedrock ledges. Soil depth controls plant distribution. Fire could eliminate overstory short shrubs and canopy trees but may not carry well in these sparsely vegetated stands. Disturbance could result in invasion by cheatgrass.
Environmental Description: This woodland association has been described from valley bottoms, terraces, benches, sand dunes, slopes, mesa rims, elevated plains and rolling terrain sometimes interrupted by bedrock. It likely occurs extensively across the Colorado Plateau from southwestern Colorado through southern Utah into Nevada. Sites are on flat to moderate slopes (0-20%) between 1070 and 1890 m (3500-6200 feet) elevation on all aspects. Bare soil covers most of the unvegetated surface, although cryptogam cover can be as high as 45%. Soils are typically shallow, rocky sandy loams derived from sandstone, eolian sands, alluvium or limestone. A few stands occur on deep or clay-textured soils derived from shale. Parent materials are variable and include eolian deposits derived from Chinle Formation, White Rim sandstone, Cedar Mesa, Dakota or Navajo sandstones and the Morrison Formation (Salt Wash Member), Kayenta Formation, and Moenkopi Formation.
Geographic Range: This woodland association occurs extensively across the Colorado Plateau from southwestern Colorado through southern Utah into Arizona. It is likely to occur in California and Nevada. More survey work is needed to assess the range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NV?, UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.690047
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.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 | A3573 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Colorado Plateau Shrubby Open Woodland Alliance | A3573 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL000781 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Blackbrush Woodland | CEGL000781 | 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: = Coleogyne ramosissima - Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma - Ephedra viridis Association (122.4147) (Warren et al. 1982)
= Pinus edulis / Coleogyne ramosissima (Stuever and Hayden 1997b)
= Pinus edulis / Coleogyne ramosissima Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
= Pinus edulis / Coleogyne ramosissima (Stuever and Hayden 1997b)
= Pinus edulis / Coleogyne ramosissima Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
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