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G203 Pinus engelmannii - Pinus leiophylla - Pinus arizonica Forest & Woodland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This Madrean forest and woodland group occurs at mid elevations in mountains in northern Mexico and extends into mountains of Trans-Pecos Texas, southern New Mexico and southern Arizona and is characterized by an open to closed, conifer and mixed conifer - evergreen broad-leaved tree canopy typically composed of Madrean pines (Pinus arizonica, Pinus engelmannii, and Pinus leiophylla) and evergreen oaks (Quercus arizonica, Quercus emoryi, Quercus gravesii, Quercus grisea, Quercus hypoleucoides, or Quercus rugosa) sometimes with Arbutus arizonica, Arbutus xalapensis, or Hesperocyparis arizonica, present to dominant. Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum may replace Pinus arizonica; however, Madrean species still characterize the understory.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Apache Pine - Chihuahuan Pine - Arizona Pine Forest & Woodland Group
Colloquial Name: Madrean Lower Montane Pine - Oak Forest & Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This forest and woodland group occurs in mountains and plateaus generally at mid-elevations (1460-2400 m) in the Sierra Madre Occidentale and Sierra Madre Orientale in Mexico, Trans-Pecos Texas, southern New Mexico and Arizona, generally south of the Mogollon Rim. These forests and woodlands are composed of Madrean pines (Pinus arizonica, Pinus engelmannii, and Pinus leiophylla) or madrones (Arbutus arizonica, Arbutus xalapensis) and evergreen oaks (Quercus arizonica, Quercus emoryi, Quercus gravesii, Quercus grisea, Quercus hypoleucoides, or Quercus rugosa) intermingled with shrublands and pinyon-juniper woodlands. In northern stands and at higher elevations, Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum may replace Pinus arizonica; however, Madrean species still characterize the subcanopy or understory. This group also includes Hesperocyparis arizonica-dominated stands with Quercus hypoleucoides or Quercus rugosa in the understory. Other tree species may include Juniperus deppeana, Juniperus flaccida, Pinus cembroides, Pinus discolor, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Subcanopy and shrub layers may include typical encinal and chaparral species, such as Agave spp., Arctostaphylos pringlei, Arctostaphylos pungens, Garrya wrightii, Nolina spp., and Quercus turbinella. Some stands have moderate cover of perennial graminoids, such as Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia longiligula, Muhlenbergia straminea, and Schizachyrium cirratum. Sites are variable, ranging from warm to cool, xeric to dry-mesic, gentle to very steep slopes, and dry benches that occur at lower to mid-montane elevation (1460-2400 m). Substrates are generally lithic soils, but include finer-textured alluvial soils along streams. Fires are frequent with perhaps more crown fires than ponderosa pine woodlands, which tend to have more frequent ground fires on gentle slopes.
Diagnostic Characteristics: The Madrean pines Pinus arizonica, Pinus engelmannii, and Pinus leiophylla are characteristic species that indicate this lower montane Madrean forest and woodland type. Madrean evergreen oak trees are typically present to codominate in the tree canopy, but dominance by tree oaks indicates encinal. Stands dominated by Arbutus arizonica, Arbutus xalapensis, and Hesperocyparis arizonica are less common diagnostic species. In northern parts of the range, Pinus ponderosa may also dominate or codominate the tree canopy as long as Madrean evergreen oaks such as Quercus arizonica, Quercus emoryi, Quercus grisea, Quercus hypoleucoides, Quercus oblongifolia, or Quercus rugosa are present to codominant.
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: This warm-temperate upland group includes open to closed evergreen, needle-leaved or mixed needle-leaved and evergreen broad-leaved Madrean forests and woodlands. The upper tree canopy is 15-30 m tall, depending on the dominant tree species, and is typically dominated by needle-leaved trees. Subcanopy and tall-shrub layers are often dominated by evergreen oaks, pinyon and juniper trees. Short-shrub and herbaceous layers are often present, but cover varies inversely with tree density.
Floristics: This warm-temperate upland group includes open to closed evergreen, conifer and mixed conifer evergreen broad-leaved Madrean forests and woodlands. The upper tree canopy is 15-30 m tall depending on dominant species and is typically dominated or codominated by conifers such as Pinus arizonica, Pinus engelmannii, Pinus leiophylla, Hesperocyparis arizonica (= Cupressus arizonica), and occasionally Pinus ponderosa at higher elevations or in the northern range extent. The subcanopy is often dominated by evergreen oak trees such as Quercus albocincta, Quercus arizonica, Quercus emoryi, Quercus fulva, Quercus grisea, Quercus hypoleucoides, Quercus rugosa, or Quercus viminea. This group also includes Arbutus arizonica or Arbutus xalapensis. Other tree species may include Juniperus deppeana, Juniperus flaccida, Pinus cembroides, and Pinus discolor; Pseudotsuga menziesii is accidental or absent. A moderately dense shrub layer is often present and includes encinal, chaparral, or montane shrub species, such as Agave spp., Arctostaphylos pringlei, Arctostaphylos pungens, Garrya wrightii, Nolina spp., and Quercus turbinella. If deciduous oak species are present, such as Quercus gambelii or Quercus x pauciloba, then Madrean oak species are present. Open stands often have moderate to dense cover of perennial graminoids, such as Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia longiligula, Muhlenbergia straminea (= Muhlenbergia virescens), and Schizachyrium cirratum, between trees.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This woodland and forest group occurs in mountains and plateaus in the Sierra Madre Occidentale and Sierra Madre Orientale in Mexico, Trans-Pecos Texas, southern New Mexico and Arizona, generally south of the Mogollon Rim. Sites are variable, ranging from warm to cool, xeric to dry-mesic, gentle to very steep slopes, and dry benches that occur at lower to mid-montane elevation (1460-2400 m). Occasionally stands dominated by Pinus ponderosa may extend into the upper montane zone (2700 m elevation). Aspect tends to be southern at higher elevation and northerly at lower elevation. Substrates are generally rocky and lithic soils, but include finer-textured alluvial soils along streams. Soils are derived from a variety of parent material, including granite, rhyolite, and their metamorphic derivatives. Stands with a grass-dominated understory tend to occur on less steep and rocky slopes and have finer-textured soils.
Geographic Range: This Madrean woodland and forest group occurs in mountains and plateaus in the Sierra Madre Occidentale and Sierra Madre Orientale in Mexico, Trans-Pecos Texas, and southern New Mexico and Arizona, generally south of the Mogollon Rim.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: AZ, MXCHH, MXCOA, MXNLE, MXSON, NM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.833208
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Nd Madrean-Balconian Forest & Woodland Division | D060 | 1.B.1.Nd |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Nd.2 Chihuahuan Pine - Douglas-fir / Silverleaf Oak Madrean Montane Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M011 | 1.B.1.Nd.2 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a Apache Pine - Chihuahuan Pine - Arizona Pine Forest & Woodland Group | G203 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a |
| Alliance | A0163 Arizona Cypress Forest & Woodland Alliance | A0163 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a |
| Alliance | A0368 Texas Madrone - Bigtooth Maple - Oak species Forest & Woodland Alliance | A0368 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a |
| Alliance | A3112 Arizona Pine - Apache Pine - Chihuahuan Pine Woodland Alliance | A3112 | 1.B.1.Nd.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Madrean Evergreen Forest and Woodland, Oak-Pine Series - 123.32 (Brown et al. 1979)
> Relict Conifer Forest and Woodland, Cypress Series - 123.52 (Brown et al. 1979)
> Relict Conifer Forest and Woodland, Cypress Series - 123.52 (Brown et al. 1979)
- Barbour, M. G., and W. D. Billings, editors. 2000. North American terrestrial vegetation. Second edition. Cambridge University Press, New York. 434 pp.
- Brown, D. E., C. H. Lowe, and C. P. Pase. 1979. A digitized classification system for the biotic communities of North America with community (series) and association examples for the Southwest. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 14:1-16.
- Brown, D. E., F. Reichenbacher, and S. E. Franson. 1998. A classification of North American biotic communities. The University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City. 141 pp.
- Brown, D. E., editor. 1982a. Biotic communities of the American Southwest-United States and Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 4(1-4):1-342.
- Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Muldavin, E. H., R. L. DeVelice, and F. Ronco, Jr. 1996. A classification of forest habitat types of southern Arizona and portions of the Colorado Plateau. General Technical Report RM-GTR-287. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 130 pp.