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CEGL005416 Pinus flexilis / Festuca arizonica - Muhlenbergia montana Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Limber Pine / Arizona Fescue - Mountain Muhly Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is only known from the Sangre de Cristo Range in southern Colorado, but likely is more widespread in the southern Rocky Mountains. Stands occur on colluvial slopes and ridges between 2780 and 3150 m in elevation. Sites are located on warm aspects, southeast through northwest, and on slopes ranging from 6° on a high ridge to 38° on a steep colluvial slope. The ground cover is generally over 50% bare soil, gravel and rock, with about 30% litter and <10% each of basal area and wood (although one sample plot had 76% litter and few rocks). Soils are well-drained and high in sand. Past fires were noted at several plots taken at Great Sand Dunes National Park. Vegetation is characterized by an open tree canopy dominated by Pinus flexilis with an herbaceous understory dominated by graminoids Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana. The tree strata may have scattered individuals of Pinus ponderosa, Pinus aristata, Pinus edulis, Abies concolor, Pseudotsuga menziesii, or Juniperus scopulorum. Stands on ridgetops or otherwise on the edge of sharp gradients are more prone to mixing. Short shrubs are often present with up to 15% cover, but do not exceed herbaceous cover. Species can include Symphoricarpos spp., Juniperus communis, Ribes cereum, Cercocarpus montanus, and Rosa woodsii. The herbaceous layer is diverse, often supporting more than 30-40 forb and graminoid species. Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana typically codominate, but one or the other may be absent. Frequently encountered graminoids include Koeleria macrantha, Elymus elymoides, Blepharoneuron tricholepis, Carex siccata, Poa fendleriana, and Bromus ciliatus. Forbs found in at least half of the plots include Heterotheca villosa, Packera fendleri, Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Eriogonum alatum, Penstemon sp., Artemisia frigida, Potentilla hippiana, Astragalus sp., Castilleja linariifolia, Antennaria parvifolia, Erigeron spp., and Eriogonum jamesii. Other trace species include Artemisia ludoviciana, Arenaria fendleri, Clematis hirsutissima var. scottii, Frasera speciosa, Machaeranthera bigelovii, Oreochrysum parryi, Sedum lanceolatum, Comandra umbellata, Draba smithii, Penstemon linarioides ssp. coloradoensis, Thermopsis sp., and many others. Stands may border or contain inclusions of ~Festuca arizonica - Muhlenbergia montana Grassland (CEGL001606)$$.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
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: No Data Available
Floristics: Vegetation is characterized by an open tree canopy dominated by Pinus flexilis with an herbaceous understory dominated by graminoids Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana. The tree strata may have scattered individuals of Pinus ponderosa, Pinus aristata, Pinus edulis, Abies concolor, Pseudotsuga menziesii, or Juniperus scopulorum. Stands on ridgetops or otherwise on the edge of sharp gradients are more prone to mixing. Short shrubs are often present with up to 15% cover, but do not exceed herbaceous cover. Species can include Symphoricarpos spp., Juniperus communis, Ribes cereum, Cercocarpus montanus, and Rosa woodsii. The herbaceous layer is diverse, often supporting more than 30-40 forb and graminoid species. Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana typically codominate, but one or the other may be absent. Frequently encountered graminoids include Koeleria macrantha, Elymus elymoides, Blepharoneuron tricholepis, Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Poa fendleriana, and Bromus ciliatus. Forbs found in at least half of the plots include Heterotheca villosa, Packera fendleri, Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis, Eriogonum alatum, Penstemon sp., Artemisia frigida, Potentilla hippiana, Astragalus sp., Castilleja linariifolia, Antennaria parvifolia, Erigeron spp., and Eriogonum jamesii. Other trace species include Artemisia ludoviciana, Arenaria fendleri, Clematis hirsutissima var. scottii, Frasera speciosa, Machaeranthera bigelovii, Oreochrysum parryi, Sedum lanceolatum, Comandra umbellata, Draba smithii, Penstemon linarioides ssp. coloradoensis, Thermopsis sp., and many others.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands occur on colluvial slopes and ridges between 2780 and 3150 m in elevation. Sites are located on warm aspects, southeast through northwest, and on slopes ranging from 6° on a high ridge to 38° on a steep colluvial slope. The ground cover is generally over 50% bare soil, gravel and rock, with about 30% litter and <10% each of basal area and wood (although one sample plot had 76% litter and few rocks). Soils are well-drained and high in sand. Past fires were noted at several plots taken at Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Geographic Range: This association is only known from the Sangre de Cristo Range in southern Colorado, but likely is more widespread in the southern Rocky Mountains.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: AB, CO, MT, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.834643
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.Nb Rocky Mountain Forest & Woodland Division | D194 | 1.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.2.Nb.5 Subalpine Fir - Engelmann Spruce - Whitebark Pine Rocky Mountain Forest Macrogroup | M020 | 1.B.2.Nb.5 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nb.5.e Limber Pine - Bristlecone Pine Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Woodland Group | G221 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.e |
| Alliance | A0540 Limber Pine Rocky Mountain Woodland Alliance | A0540 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.e |
| Association | CEGL005416 Limber Pine / Arizona Fescue - Mountain Muhly Woodland | CEGL005416 | 1.B.2.Nb.5.e |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus flexilis / Festuca arizonica - Muhlenbergia montana Woodland (Salas et al. 2010b)
- Salas, D. E., J. Stevens, K. Schulz, M. Artmann, B. Friesen, S. Blauer, E. W. Schweiger, and A. Valdez. 2010b. Vegetation classification and mapping project report: Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMN/NRR--2010/179. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.