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CEGL002364 Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Achnatherum hymenoides Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Indian Ricegrass Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association currently is documented from Canyonlands, Glen Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks in southeastern Utah. The open woodland canopy consists of Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma trees with from 5 to 50% canopy coverage and a bunchgrass understory dominated by Achnatherum hymenoides with up to 25% cover. The total vegetation cover rarely exceeds 50%. Shrubs do not have high enough cover to constitute a layer (<5% total cover) but are often present. The herbaceous layer is moderate in terms of species diversity and is generally low in cover. This woodland occurs in basin floors, canyon bottoms, and channels, as well as on mesatops and hillslopes, therefore sites range from gentle to moderate (0-19%) slopes. Stands are documented between 1506 and 1940 m (4946-6365 feet) in elevation, and are oriented with southwestern and northwestern aspects. Parent materials include shale and sandstone formations, alluvium, outcrops and/or basalt boulders. Soils are rapidly drained and fine-textured.
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: Total vegetation cover generally does not exceed 50%. The open canopy consists of Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma trees that range in cover from 5 to 50%, with a bunchgrass understory dominated by Achnatherum hymenoides that ranges in cover up to 25%. Shrubs do not have high enough cover to constitute a layer (<5% total cover) but are often present; common species include scattered individuals of Atriplex confertifolia, Cercocarpus montanus, Ephedra cutleri, Ephedra viridis, Artemisia spp., Ericameria nauseosa, Fraxinus anomala, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Amelanchier utahensis, Rhus aromatica, and Opuntia polyacantha. The herbaceous layer is moderate in terms of species diversity and sparse to low in terms of cover. Achnatherum hymenoides is the most abundant species. Other graminoid species that may be present include Andropogon gerardii, Bouteloua gracilis, Muhlenbergia pungens, Pleuraphis jamesii, and Sporobolus cryptandrus.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: It occurs on basin floors, canyon bottoms, channels, mesatops, and hillslopes. Sites are gentle to moderate (0-19%), occur between 1506 and 1940 m (4946-6365 feet) elevation, and are oriented to southwestern and northwestern aspects. Parent materials include Moenkopi Formation (shale), Cedar Mesa sandstone, Navajo sandstone, new alluvium, outcrops and basalt boulders. Soils are rapidly drained and fine-textured.
Geographic Range: This Colorado Plateau association has been documented from Moenkopi Formation outcrops in the central part of Capitol Reef National Park, Gordon Flats, near Egypt, and in Silver Falls Creek in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and The Fins of Ernies Country, Teapot Rock, and Davis Canyon in Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: UT
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769179
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | A3572 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Grassy Open Woodland Alliance | A3572 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL002364 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Indian Ricegrass Woodland | CEGL002364 | 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: = Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Achnatherum hymenoides Woodland (Clark et al. 2009)
- Clark, D., M. Dela Cruz, T. Clark, J. Coles, S. Topp, A. Evenden, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Capitol Reef National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2009/187. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 882 pp.
- Romme, W. H., K. D. Heil, J. M. Porter, and R. Fleming. 1993. Plant communities of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. USDI National Park Service, Technical Report NPS/NAUCARE/NRTER-93/02. Cooperative Park Studies Unit, Northern Arizona University. 37 pp.
- Tendick, A., J. Coles, K. Decker, M. Hall, J. Von Loh, T. Belote, A. Wight, G. Wakefield, and A. Evenden. 2012. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Canyonlands National Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/NCPN/NRTR--2012/577. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Tendick, A., J. Spence, M. Reid, K. Shulz, G. Kittel, K. Green, A. Wight, and G. Wakefield. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRR—2017/1500. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 1464 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.