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G243 Pinus contorta var. murrayana Woodland Group

Type Concept Sentence: This group includes forests dominated by Juniperus grandis, Pinus albicaulis, and/or Pinus contorta var. murrayana that occur on ridges and rocky slopes around timberline in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades, where these trees often occur as krummholz growth forms. In more protected sites, they form full-height woodland physiognomy.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sierra Lodgepole Pine Woodland Group

Colloquial Name: Sierra-Cascade Cold-Dry Subalpine Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This forested group occurs on ridges and rocky slopes around timberline at (1800-2450 m [6000-8000 feet] in the north and 2450-3600 m [8000-11,800 feet] in the south) up to 3600 m (11,800 feet) in the Sierra Nevada, and 2450 m (8000 feet) in the southern Cascades. It also occurs on extensive broad ridges and pumice plateaus of the southern Cascades in Oregon. Tree species often occur as krummholz growth forms with a wind-pruned, prostrate, and/or shrub-like appearance, but in more protected sites they form full-height woodland physiognomy. Soils are often shallow and coarse-textured. Avalanches, tree mortality from insect outbreak and disease, drought, and associated wildfire are drivers of vegetation structure and composition. Stands are dominated by Juniperus grandis, Pinus albicaulis, and/or Pinus contorta var. murrayana; other important conifers and locally dominant species include Pinus balfouriana (only in the Klamath Mountains and southern Sierra Nevada where it may replace Pinus albicaulis), Pinus flexilis (but only in small patches on the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada escarpment when it does occur), and Pinus monticola (not in Transverse or Peninsular ranges). Juniperus grandis occurs mostly in the central and southern Sierra Nevada but not in the Klamath Mountains. Important shrubs include Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Ceanothus cordulatus, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Chrysolepis sempervirens, Artemisia tridentata, Phyllodoce breweri, Ribes montigenum, and Holodiscus discolor. Grasses and forbs include Carex exserta, Carex rossii, Carex filifolia, Poa wheeleri, Eriogonum incanum, Penstemon newberryi, and Penstemon davidsonii. Due to landscape position and very thin soils, these are harsh sites exposed to desiccating winds with ice and snow blasts and rocky substrates. In addition, a short growing season limits plant growth. Understories are open, with scattered shrubs and herbaceous species, which do not provide a continuous fuel bed. Trees can be old and can attain diameters of 1.2 m (4 feet). The highest tree diversity occurs in the Klamath Mountains, with sometimes five or more conifers sharing codominance in one stand.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Coniferous trees on ridges and rocky slopes around upper timberline in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades; extensive broad ridges and pumice plateaus of the southern Cascades in Oregon. Dominance of Juniperus grandis, Pinus albicaulis, Pinus balfouriana, and/or Pinus contorta var. murrayana.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Sawyer et al. (2009) treat Juniperus occidentalis var. australis as Juniperus grandis. Quote from Sawyer et al. (2009): "Traditionally, Juniperus occidentalis has involved two forms, var. occidentalis (western juniper) and var. australis (mountain juniper) (Hickman 1993). Using sequence and RAPD data, Adams et al. (2006) have shown the varieties to be distant, now called Juniperus grandis and Juniperus occidentalis. In addition, they differ in their essential oils (Adams 2004), and in dioecy. Juniperus occidentalis is monoecious while Juniperus grandis dioecious. Both species hybridize with Juniperus osteosperma in the Warner and White mountains (Dealy 1990, Tirmenstein 1999a). We follow Adams and use the name Juniperus grandis." This group includes the Juniperus grandis stands at high elevations of the Sierra Nevada. Stands in the Cascades lack the juniper. The range of Juniperus grandis stops in northern Sierra Nevada. Juniperus grandis grows in the Cascades, Oregon and the Klamath Mountains.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Evergreen needle-leaved tree-dominated open-canopy woodlands with a generally sparse understory at high elevations in the mountains.

Floristics: Stands are dominated by Juniperus grandis (= Juniperus occidentalis var. australis) (mostly in the central and southern Sierra Nevada but not in the Klamath Mountains), Pinus albicaulis, and/or Pinus contorta var. murrayana; other important conifers and locally dominant species include Pinus balfouriana (only in the Klamath Mountains and southern Sierra Nevada where it may replace Pinus albicaulis), Pinus flexilis (but only in small patches on the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada escarpment when it does occur), and Pinus monticola (not in Transverse or Peninsular ranges). Important shrubs include Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Ceanothus cordulatus, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Chrysolepis sempervirens, Artemisia tridentata, Phyllodoce breweri, Ribes montigenum, and Holodiscus discolor (= Holodiscus microphyllus). Grasses and forbs include Carex exserta, Carex rossii, Carex filifolia, Poa wheeleri, Eriogonum incanum, Penstemon newberryi, and Penstemon davidsonii.

Dynamics:  Avalanches, tree mortality from insect outbreak and disease, drought, and associated wildfire are drivers of community structure and composition.
Environmental Description:  Soil/substrate/hydrology: Due to landscape position, rocky substrates and very thin soils, these are harsh sites exposed to desiccating winds with ice and snow blasts. In addition, a short growing season limits plant growth. Soil/substrate/hydrology: This forested group occurs on ridges and rocky slopes around upper timberline. It also occurs on extensive, broad ridges and pumice plateaus of the southern Cascades in Oregon. Soils are often shallow and coarse-textured.
Geographic Range: This group occurs in the southern Cascades, throughout the Sierra Nevada, and in the Transverse and Peninsular ranges. It also extends south into Baja California, Mexico, in the San Pedro Martir Mountains. Where present in Oregon, most likely locations are the southern Oregon Cascades. The broad ridges that form the Cascade Crest in southern Oregon tend to be dominated by extensive stands of lodgepole pine (south of Crater Lake and north maybe to Mount Bachelor). There are also relatively large areas of lodgepole pine along the broad crest from Mt. Jefferson to a little ways north of Olallie Butte. Group determination depends on the diversity of pine trees present. Stands dominated by Pinus contorta var. latifolia fit into the Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest & Woodland Group (G220), while stands dominated by Pinus contorta var. murrayana belong to this group.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN, NV, OR


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.2 Cool Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F008 1.B.2
Division 1.B.2.Nd Vancouverian Forest & Woodland Division D192 1.B.2.Nd
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Nd.4 California Red Fir - Mountain Hemlock - Sierra Lodgepole Pine Forest Macrogroup M025 1.B.2.Nd.4
Group 1.B.2.Nd.4.b Sierra Lodgepole Pine Woodland Group G243 1.B.2.Nd.4.b
Alliance A0509 Foxtail Pine Woodland Alliance A0509 1.B.2.Nd.4.b
Alliance A3621 Sierra Lodgepole Pine Subalpine Forest & Woodland Alliance A3621 1.B.2.Nd.4.b
Alliance A3622 Western Juniper - Whitebark Pine Woodland Alliance A3622 1.B.2.Nd.4.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< California Mixed Subalpine: 256 (Eyre 1980)
>< Lodgepole Pine Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Lodgepole Pine: 218 (Eyre 1980)
>< Western Juniper - Big Sagebrush - Bluebunch Wheatgrass (107) (Shiflet 1994) [Juniperus grandis woodlands are included in this group of the Sierra Nevada.]
>< Western Juniper: 238 (Eyre 1980) [Juniperus grandis stands are an important component of this group.]
>< Whitebark Pine Forest (#86600) (Holland 1986b)
>< Whitebark Pine Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Whitebark Pine-Lodgepole Pine Forest (#86220) (Holland 1986b)
>< Whitebark Pine-Mountain Hemlock Forest (#86210) (Holland 1986b)
>< Whitebark Pine: 208 (Eyre 1980) [Whitebark pine stands are a component of this group.]
Concept Author(s): F.H. Eyre (1980)

Author of Description: G. Kittel, M.S. Reid and D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: J. Sawyer and P. Moore

Version Date: 10-09-13
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