Print Report

A0518 Pinus longaeva Forest & Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This widely scattered subalpine forest and woodland alliance occurs on mountain slopes throughout the Great Basin and is solely dominated by Pinus longaeva, although some stands may be codominated by Abies concolor and Pinus ponderosa.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Forest & Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Forest & Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This widely scattered subalpine forest and woodland alliance occurs on mountain slopes throughout the Great Basin. Canopies are typically solely dominated by Pinus longaeva, although some stands may be codominated by Abies concolor and Pinus ponderosa. Other canopy associates occurring at low cover may include Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus scopulorum, Picea engelmannii, Pinus edulis, Pinus flexilis, Populus tremuloides, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Shrubs are infrequent to conspicuous. Characteristic shrubs may include Amelanchier utahensis, Arctostaphylos patula, Cercocarpus intricatus, Ericameria discoidea, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, Purshia tridentata, and Ribes montigenum. The herbaceous is very sparse to open (5-35% cover) and may be dominated by graminoids or forbs. The most common graminoids are Carex rossii, Leymus salinus, and Poa fendleriana. A variety of forbs may be present and may include Aquilegia scopulorum, Arabis drummondii, Astragalus platytropis, Castilleja nana, Cymopterus nivalis, Erigeron jonesii, Oxytropis oreophila, Penstemon leiophyllus var. francisci-pennellii, Tetraneuris acaulis, Trifolium gymnocarpon, and Trisetum spicatum. These forests and woodlands grow on all slopes, especially ridges and upper slopes below timberline. They grow on dolomitic, limestone- or granite-derived soils. This woodland may occur under the driest conditions of the California subalpine woodlands. The growing season is limited by drought in the summer and cold in the winter. Precipitation, mostly as snow, falls in the winter. Stands are found between 2600 and 3600 m elevation.

Diagnostic Characteristics: The alliance is distinguished by an open canopy, typically 10-15 m tall of Pinus longaeva trees that range in cover from 15 to 60%. These forests and woodlands are small patch in size and occur near treeline on exposed, windswept positions of the Great Basin.

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 rounded-crowned, temperate or subpolar, needle-leaved evergreen forest and woodland forms an open tree canopy less than 18 m in height. Shrubs are infrequent to conspicuous. The herbaceous layer is sparse.

Floristics: Canopies are typically solely dominated by Pinus longaeva, although some stands may be codominated by Abies concolor (= var. concolor) and Pinus ponderosa. Canopy cover ranges from 15-60%. Other canopy associates occurring at low cover may include Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus scopulorum, Picea engelmannii, Pinus edulis, Pinus flexilis, Populus tremuloides, and Pseudotsuga menziesii. Shrubs are infrequent to conspicuous. Characteristic shrubs may include Amelanchier utahensis, Arctostaphylos patula, Cercocarpus intricatus, Ericameria discoidea, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum, Juniperus communis, Purshia tridentata, Ribes cereum, Ribes montigenum, Rubus idaeus, and Symphoricarpos oreophilus. The herbaceous layer is very sparse to open (5-35% cover) and may be dominated by graminoids or forbs. The most common graminoids are Carex rossii, Leymus salinus, and Poa fendleriana. A variety of forbs may be present and may include Aquilegia scopulorum, Arabis drummondii, Astragalus platytropis, Castilleja nana, Cymopterus nivalis, Erigeron jonesii, Oxytropis oreophila, Penstemon leiophyllus var. francisci-pennellii, Tetraneuris acaulis, Trifolium gymnocarpon, and Trisetum spicatum.

Dynamics:  This alliance is subject to long, intense droughts. Tree-ring data over the last 4000 years indicate that droughts of 200 years or more have occurred.
Environmental Description:  This widely scattered subalpine forest and woodland alliance grows on all slopes, especially ridges and upper slopes below timberline. It grows on dolomitic, limestone- or granite-derived soils. Soils are rapidly drained with low to moderate cover of rocks and gravel. This woodland may occur under the driest conditions of the California subalpine woodlands. The growing season is limited by drought in the summer and cold in the winter. Precipitation, mostly as snow, falls in the winter. Stands are found between 2600 and 3600 m elevation.
Geographic Range: Scattered stands of this subalpine woodland occur in California and Nevada''s White Mountains, in the Desert Range, and in isolated pockets throughout the Intermountain West.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, NV, UT


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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.h Limber Pine - Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Intermountain Basins Subalpine Woodland Group G224 1.B.2.Nb.5.h
Alliance A0518 Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Forest & Woodland Alliance A0518 1.B.2.Nb.5.h
Association CEGL002380 Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Woodland CEGL002380 1.B.2.Nb.5.h
Association CEGL002736 White Fir - Ponderosa Pine - Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Forest CEGL002736 1.B.2.Nb.5.h
Association CEGL005447 Great Basin Bristlecone Pine / (White-stem Goldenbush, Gooseberry Currant) Woodland CEGL005447 1.B.2.Nb.5.h
Concept Lineage: A.152, A.518.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus longaeva (Bristlecone pine woodland) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [87.140.00]
= Pinus longaeva Woodland Alliance (Evens et al. 2014)
= Pinus longaeva Woodland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [87.140.00]
= Bristlecone Pine Forest (#86400) (Holland 1986b)
= Bristlecone pine series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Western Needleleaf Forests: 5: Mixed Conifer Forest (Abies-Pinus-Pseudotsuga) (Küchler 1964)
Concept Author(s): M. Schindel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M.E. Hall

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-14-14
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