Print Report

CEGL005601 Juniperus scopulorum / Poa secunda - Penstemon deustus Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Rocky Mountain Juniper / Sandberg Bluegrass - Scabland Penstemon Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association of the intermountain western U.S. is characterized by an open tree canopy dominated by Juniperus scopulorum. Juniperus osteosperma is often present in the canopy as well, but with lower constancy and lower cover. Tree canopy cover values are more than 5%, but typically less than 20%, and canopy height is usually 2-10 m. Shrubs such as Purshia tridentata, Ericameria nauseosa, or Ericameria nana occur regularly in the shrub stratum but generally with very low cover. The sparse herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids such as Poa secunda and the introduced annual Bromus tectorum. Associated forbs may include Potentilla glandulosa and Linanthus pungens. Penstemon deustus is always present in the understory and is a characteristic species in this association; however, its cover is often very low, generally under 1%. Total forb cover is generally sparse. This association is included in ~Inter-Mountain Basins Volcanic Rock and Cinder Land (CES304.791)$$, which is limited to barren and sparsely vegetated volcanic substrates of basalt and basaltic andesite origin, including tuffs, cinder cones, spatter cones, pressure plateaus, or cinder fields. It may occur in large-patch, small-patch or linear spatial patterns.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The forb Penstemon deustus is always present and is a characteristic species in this association. However, its cover is often very low, generally under 1%.

This plant community description is based on data from Craters of the Moon (Bell et al. 2009) and on related plant communities that have been previously described. The description provided herein may vary slightly from similar plant communities found elsewhere due to the local scale at which data were collected. Additional global information will be added as it becomes available.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This association is characterized by an open tree canopy dominated by Juniperus scopulorum. Juniperus osteosperma is often present in the canopy as well, but with lower constancy and lower cover. Tree canopy cover values are more than 5%, but typically less than 20%, and canopy height is usually 2-10 m. Shrubs such as Purshia tridentata, Ericameria nauseosa, or Ericameria nana occur regularly in the shrub stratum but generally with very low cover. The sparse herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids such as Poa secunda and the introduced annual Bromus tectorum. Associated forbs may include Potentilla glandulosa and Linanthus pungens (= Leptodactylon pungens). Penstemon deustus is always present in the understory and is a characteristic species in this association; however, its cover is often very low, generally under 1%. Total forb cover is generally sparse. It may occur in large-patch, small-patch or linear spatial patterns.

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  This association is included in ~Inter-Mountain Basins Volcanic Rock and Cinder Land (CES304.791)$$, which is limited to barren and sparsely vegetated volcanic substrates of basalt and basaltic andesite origin, including tuffs, cinder cones, spatter cones, pressure plateaus, or cinder fields.

Geographic Range: This association has the potential to occur over the range of ~Inter-Mountain Basins Volcanic Rock and Cinder Land (CES304.791)$$, which occurs throughout the intermountain western U.S. and is limited to barren and sparsely vegetated volcanic substrates.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  ID




Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: = Rocky Mountain Juniper / Sandberg Bluegrass / Scabland Penstemon Woodland (Juniperus scopulorum / Poa secunda / Penstemon deustus Woodland) (Bell et al. 2009)

Concept Author(s): Bell et al. (2009)

Author of Description: Bell et al. (2009)

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 04-04-17

  • Bell, J., D. Cogan, J. Erixson, and J. Von Loh. 2009. Vegetation inventory project report, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/UCBN/NRTR-2009/277. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 358 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.