Print Report

A0505 Juniperus pinchotii Chaparral Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense shrub canopy dominated by the diagnostic evergreen scrub tree Juniperus pinchotii. This alliance is found in northern Mexico, across Trans-Pecos Texas and extends into southeastern New Mexico in foothills, mountain slopes and canyons in drier habitats below the encinal and pine woodlands.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Pinchot''s Juniper Chaparral Alliance

Colloquial Name: Pinchot''s Juniper Chaparral

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Vegetation is characterized by an open to moderately dense shrub canopy dominated by the diagnostic evergreen scrub tree Juniperus pinchotii. Common associates include Dalea formosa, Prosopis glandulosa, Quercus havardii, Quercus mohriana, Quercus pungens, Viguiera stenoloba, Yucca spp., and Ziziphus obtusifolia. There is a sparse to moderate herbaceous layer dominated by Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, and Muhlenbergia setifolia. This alliance is found in the Sierra Madre Oriental in northern Mexico, in mountains across Trans-Pecos Texas and extends into southeastern New Mexico into the Guadalupe Mountains. Stands often dominate along the mid-elevation transition from the Chihuahuan Desert into mountains (1700-2500 m). Sites include foothills, mountain slopes and canyons in drier habitats below the encinal and pine woodlands.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is dominated by diagnostic species Juniperus pinchotii with 10-40% cover (Muldavin et al. 2003). Common associates include Dalea formosa, Prosopis glandulosa, Quercus havardii, Quercus mohriana, Quercus pungens, Viguiera stenoloba, Yucca spp., and Ziziphus obtusifolia. A sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer dominated by Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, and Muhlenbergia setifolia is usually present.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Previously this alliance was treated as a short woodland in the USNVC, however Juniperus pinchotii is scrubby and forms stands that are better classified as a shrubland or chaparral. Four associations from Natural Heritage of New Mexico need to be reviewed and added to this alliance: Juniperus pinchotii / Bouteloua curtipendula Woodland (NHNM000465), Juniperus pinchotii / Bouteloua eriopoda Woodland (NHNM000466), Juniperus pinchotii / Muhlenbergia setifolia Woodland (NHNM000467), and Juniperus pinchotii / Quercus pungens / Bouteloua curtipendula Woodland (NHNM000469). Muldavin et al. (2003) classified six associations from New Mexico.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by an open to moderately dense shrub canopy dominated by the diagnostic evergreen tall shrub / small scrub tree.

Floristics: This alliance is characterized by an open to moderately dense shrub canopy (10-40% cover) dominated by the diagnostic evergreen scrub tree Juniperus pinchotii. Common associates include Dalea formosa, Dasylirion leiophyllum, Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera, Opuntia phaeacantha, Prosopis glandulosa, Quercus havardii, Quercus mohriana, Quercus pungens, Viguiera stenoloba, Yucca torreyi, and Ziziphus obtusifolia. There is a typically sparse (<15% cover) to moderate herbaceous layer dominated by Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, Eragrostis intermedia, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia setifolia, Pleuraphis mutica, Sporobolus spp., and Tridens spp. This alliance often occurs in a grassland-scrub matrix.

Dynamics:  Most chaparral species are fire-adapted, resprouting vigorously after burning or producing fire-resistant seeds. Stands occurring within montane woodlands are seral and a result of recent fires. The relatively recent invasion of Juniperus pinchotii into plains grasslands is thought to be caused by the reduction of fires and heavy livestock grazing (Wright and Bailey 1982b).
Environmental Description:  This alliance is found in the Madrean Oriental in northern Mexico, in mountains across Trans-Pecos Texas and extends into southeastern New Mexico into the Guadalupe Mountains. Stands often dominate along the mid-elevation transition from the Chihuahuan Desert into mountains (1160-2500 m). Sites include foothills, mountain slopes and canyons in drier habitats below the encinal and pine woodlands. Substrates often include gypsum or caliche-influenced soils.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Sierra Madre Oriental in northern Mexico, in mountains across Trans-Pecos Texas and extends into southeastern New Mexico into the Guadalupe Mountains. This alliance occurs primarily in the Trans-Pecos and Rolling Plains of Texas, but ranges into Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  NM, OK, TX


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Ng Western North American Interior Chaparral Division D061 2.B.2.Ng
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Ng.2 Sonoran Scrub Oak - Pointleaf Manzanita - Desert Ceanothus Warm Interior Chaparral Macrogroup M091 2.B.2.Ng.2
Group 2.B.2.Ng.2.a Dwarf Oak - Lacey Oak - Pungent Oak Chaparral Group G280 2.B.2.Ng.2.a
Alliance A0505 Pinchot''s Juniper Chaparral Alliance A0505 2.B.2.Ng.2.a
Association CEGL002122 Pinchot''s Juniper / Blue Grama Scrub CEGL002122 2.B.2.Ng.2.a
Association CEGL004940 Pinchot''s Juniper / Sideoats Grama - Hairy Grama Scrub CEGL004940 2.B.2.Ng.2.a
Concept Lineage: This new alliance includes associations from Old Alliance II.A.4.N.a. Juniperus pinchotii Woodland Alliance (A.505).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Juniperus pinchotii woodland alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
< Pinchot Juniper (Juniperus pinchotii) Shrubland Alliance (Muldavin et al. 2003a) [Described as chaparral.]
Concept Author(s): E. Muldavin et al. (2003)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by D. Diamond.

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Adams, D. B. 1979. Vegetation-environment relationships in Palo Duro Canyon, West Texas. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Oklahoma, Norman. 123 pp.
  • Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
  • Hoagland, B. W. 1998a. Classification of Oklahoma vegetation types. Working draft. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 43 pp.
  • Muldavin, E., P. Neville, P. Arbetan, Y. Chauvin, A. Browder, and T. Neville. 2003a. A vegetation map of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico. Final report submitted in partial fulfillment of Cooperative Agreement No. Ca-7170-99-004. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 102 pp.
  • Wright, H. A., and A. W. Bailey. 1982b. Fire ecology: United States and southern Canada. Wiley-Interscience Publication, John Wiley & Sons, New York. 501 pp.