Print Report

A3275 Juniperus ashei Ozark Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes evergreen woodlands dominated by Juniperus ashei, occurring in the Ozarks of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma and the adjacent Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas, on shallow, rocky soils, often with much exposed bedrock and lichen coverage. These woodlands are found on dolomite, on rimrock bluffs, as part of glade complexes, on chalk outcrops, and on slopes with shallow soils over limestone.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ashe''s Juniper Ozark Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Ozark Ashe''s Juniper Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes evergreen woodlands primarily dominated by Juniperus ashei, occurring in the Ozarks of Arkansas and Missouri, the Arbuckle Mountains of Oklahoma, in the Edwards Plateau of Texas, and in the adjacent Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas. In the Ozarks, the canopy is dominated by Juniperus ashei, although Juniperus virginiana may be present, and Quercus muehlenbergii and Fraxinus quadrangulata may form a minor component. Other associated woody species may include Celtis tenuifolia, Cercis canadensis, Quercus stellata, and Ulmus alata. Some other characteristic plants include Cotinus obovatus, Carex eburnea, and Rudbeckia missouriensis. In Texas, associated species include evergreen oaks Quercus fusiformis, Quercus vaseyana, and deciduous oaks Quercus sinuata var. breviloba and Quercus buckleyi, as well as Bouteloua curtipendula, Carex planostachys, Celtis laevigata var. reticulata, Diospyros texana, Fraxinus albicans, Lespedeza texana, Mahonia trifoliolata, Nolina texana, Rhus virens, Schizachyrium scoparium, Toxicodendron pubescens, and Yucca rupicola. Woodlands in the Arbuckle Mountains of Oklahoma have a grassy understory dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium. Fire, climate and edaphic factors are thought to play important roles in maintaining these woodlands. These woodlands occur on shallow, rocky soils, often with much exposed bedrock and lichen coverage. Habitats include dolomite, on rimrock bluffs, as part of glade complexes (in the Ozarks), on chalk outcrops, and on slopes with shallow soils over limestone (in the Edwards Plateau and Arbuckle Mountains).

Diagnostic Characteristics: These are Ozarkian woodlands dominated by Juniperus ashei. This distinguishes the alliance, as the primary range of this species is to the west in Texas.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: One association included here, ~Juniperus virginiana Alkaline Bluff Woodland (CEGL002426)$$, has the range and habitat of the other associations in this alliance, but the primary dominant species is recorded as being Juniperus virginiana rather than Juniperus ashei.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Most examples are primarily dominated by Juniperus ashei. In the Ozarks, the canopy is dominated by Juniperus ashei, although Juniperus virginiana may be present, and Quercus muehlenbergii and Fraxinus quadrangulata may form a minor component. Other associated woody species may include Celtis tenuifolia, Cercis canadensis, Quercus stellata, and Ulmus alata. In the Edwards Plateau of Texas, associated species include the evergreen oaks Quercus fusiformis and Quercus vaseyana (= Quercus pungens var. vaseyana), along with the deciduous oaks Quercus sinuata var. breviloba and Quercus buckleyi, as well as Bouteloua curtipendula, Carex planostachys, Celtis laevigata var. reticulata, Diospyros texana, Fraxinus albicans (= Fraxinus texensis), Lespedeza texana, Mahonia trifoliolata (= Berberis trifoliolata), Nolina texana, Rhus virens, Schizachyrium scoparium, Toxicodendron pubescens (= Rhus toxicodendron), and Yucca rupicola. Woodlands in the Arbuckle Mountains of Oklahoma have a grassy understory dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium.

Dynamics:  Fire, climate and edaphic factors are thought to play important roles in maintaining these woodlands.
Environmental Description:  These woodlands occur on shallow, rocky soils, often with much exposed bedrock and lichen coverage. Habitats include dolomite, on rimrock bluffs, as part of glade complexes (in the Ozarks), on chalk outcrops, and on slopes with shallow soils over limestone (in the Edwards Plateau and Arbuckle Mountains).
Geographic Range: Stands of this alliance occur in the Ozarks of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma and the adjacent Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR, MO, OK


Confidence Level: Low

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.Na Eastern North American Forest & Woodland Division D008 1.B.2.Na
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Na.1 White Oak - Southern Red Oak - Shortleaf Pine Forest & Woodland Macrogroup M016 1.B.2.Na.1
Group 1.B.2.Na.1.e Chinquapin Oak - Shumard Oak - Blue Ash Forest & Woodland Group G601 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Alliance A3275 Ashe''s Juniper Ozark Woodland Alliance A3275 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL002426 Eastern Red-cedar Alkaline Bluff Woodland CEGL002426 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL004672 Ashe''s Juniper Ozark Clifftop Woodland CEGL004672 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL007833 Ashe''s Juniper / American Smoketree / Bristleleaf Sedge - Missouri Orange Coneflower Woodland CEGL007833 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Association CEGL007967 Ashe''s Juniper Dry Chalk Outcrop Woodland CEGL007967 1.B.2.Na.1.e
Concept Lineage: Primarily from A.501 (3/7); one association from A.545 (1/11)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Juniperus ashei woodland alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
>< Ashe Juniper - Redberry (Pinchot) Juniper: 66 (Eyre 1980)
? T2B3aII3a. Juniperus ashei (Foti et al. 1994)
Concept Author(s): M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by D.J. Allard and J. Teague.

Version Date: 09-26-14
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  • Cogan, D. 2007c. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SOPN/NRTR--2007/073. National Park Service, Johnson City, TX. 118 pp.
  • Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
  • Diamond, D., G. Rowell, and D. Keddy-Hector. 1995. Conservation of Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei Buchholz) woodlands of the Central Texas Hill Country. Natural Areas Journal 15:189-197.
  • Eyre, F. H., editor. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and Canada. Society of American Foresters, Washington, DC. 148 pp.
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  • Faber-Langendoen, D., and Midwest State Natural Heritage Program Ecologists. 1996. Terrestrial vegetation of the midwest United States. International classification of ecological communities: Terrestrial vegetation of the United States. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA.
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  • Hoagland, B. W. 1997. Preliminary plant community classification for Oklahoma. Unpublished draft document, version 35629. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 47 pp.
  • Hoagland, B. W. 1998a. Classification of Oklahoma vegetation types. Working draft. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 43 pp.