Print Report

CEGL001393 Juniperus horizontalis / Carex inops ssp. heliophila Dwarf-shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Creeping Juniper / Sun Sedge Dwarf-shrubland

Colloquial Name: Creeping Juniper / Sedge Dwarf-shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This creeping juniper community type is found in the northwestern Great Plains of the United States. Stands occur on moderate to steep (35-80%) north-facing slopes. The soils are sandy loam. This community is dominated by the prostrate shrub Juniperus horizontalis. Other shrubs, such as Artemisia frigida and Symphoricarpos occidentalis, are often present but not abundant. Mid grasses, short grasses, and sedges are abundant, especially Carex inops ssp. heliophila but including Schizachyrium scoparium, Carex filifolia, Koeleria macrantha, and Elymus lanceolatus. Common forbs include Campanula rotundifolia, Thermopsis rhombifolia, Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida, Galium boreale, and Dalea purpurea.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type may be a seral stage of ~Juniperus horizontalis / Schizachyrium scoparium Dwarf-shrubland (CEGL001394)$$ (D. Ode pers. comm. 1998).

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

Floristics: This community is dominated by the prostrate shrub Juniperus horizontalis. Other shrubs, such as Artemisia frigida and Symphoricarpos occidentalis, are often present but not abundant. Mid grasses, short grasses, and sedges are abundant, especially Carex inops ssp. heliophila but also including Schizachyrium scoparium, Carex filifolia, Koeleria macrantha, and Elymus lanceolatus. Common forbs include Campanula rotundifolia, Thermopsis rhombifolia, Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida (= Anemone patens), Galium boreale, and Dalea purpurea.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This community is found on moderate to steep (35-80%) north-facing slopes (Johnston 1987, MTNHP 1988). The soils are sandy loam.
Geographic Range: This community type is found in the northwestern Great Plains of the United States, ranging from southeastern Montana to South Dakota.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MT, ND, SD


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D023 2.B.2.Nb
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nb.2 Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass - Plains Rough Fescue Grassland Macrogroup M051 2.B.2.Nb.2
Group 2.B.2.Nb.2.c Western Wheatgrass - Needle-and-Thread - Little Bluestem Mixedgrass Prairie Group G141 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Alliance A4383 Creeping Juniper - Skunkbush Sumac - Shrubby-cinquefoil Shrubland Alliance A4383 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Association CEGL001393 Creeping Juniper / Sun Sedge Dwarf-shrubland CEGL001393 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Juniperus horizontalis / Carex heliophila Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Juniperus horizontalis / Carex inops ssp. heliophila Dwarf-shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: J. Drake

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-28-95
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
  • Hansen, P. L. 1985. An ecological study of the vegetation of the Grand River/Cedar River, Sioux, and Ashland districts of the Custer National Forest. Unpublished dissertation, South Dakota State University. 257 pp.
  • Hansen, P. L., G. R. Hoffman, and A. J. Bjugstad. 1984. The vegetation of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota: A habitat type classification. General Technical Report RM-113. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 35 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]. 1988. Draft guide to the natural vegetation of Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 389 pp.
  • MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
  • Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
  • NDNHI [North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory]. 2018. Unpublished data. Vegetation classification of North Dakota. North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory, North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department, Bismarck.
  • SDNHP [South Dakota Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, Pierre, SD.