Print Report

CEGL005650 Pinus edulis - Juniperus monosperma / Artemisia tridentata (ssp. wyomingensis, ssp. vaseyana) Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - One-seed Juniper / (Wyoming Big Sagebrush, Mountain Big Sagebrush) Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This broadly defined woodland occurs on dry foothills and mesas from north-central New Mexico and south-central Colorado west to the Mogollon Rim of Arizona. Elevations range from 1465 to 2500 m (4800-8200 feet). Stands occur most often on flat to gentle slopes on all aspects. The soils are generally poorly developed, moderately deep to deep, well-drained to rapidly drained loams and sands. Ground cover is variable; bare soil is common, but bedrock, litter, and large or small rocks can also be abundant on some sites. Parent material includes sandstone and shale. The vegetation is characterized by a typically open tree canopy (10-30% cover but ranges up to 50% cover) that is codominated by Pinus edulis and Juniperus spp. The species of Juniperus varies with geography and elevation. Juniperus monosperma is common in north-central New Mexico and southern-central Colorado. Juniperus scopulorum is more common in higher elevation stands and along drainages. Juniperus osteosperma is absent as this association occurs outside its range. Artemisia tridentata (either ssp. vaseyana or ssp. wyomingensis depending on location) strongly dominates the sparse to moderately dense short-shrub layer (10-35% cover). Purshia stansburiana is typically absent or scarce. Other shrubs present may include Amelanchier utahensis, Arctostaphylos patula, Cercocarpus montanus, Ephedra viridis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Quercus gambelii (typically <5% cover), or species of Yucca and Opuntia. Herbaceous cover is variable but generally sparse and dominated by graminoids (<5% cover) with scattered forbs.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These stands may be similar to open Artemisia tridentata shrublands with scattered pinyon and juniper trees but is considered to be a variation of the woodland type because of the ecological values of the trees.

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

Floristics: This woodland is characterized by a typically open tree canopy (usually 10-30% cover but ranges up to 50% cover) that ranges from 2 to 10 m tall in most stands. The tree canopy is codominated by Pinus edulis and Juniperus spp. The species of Juniperus varies with elevation. Juniperus monosperma is common in north-central New Mexico and south-central Colorado. Juniperus scopulorum is more common in higher elevation stands and along drainages. Artemisia tridentata strongly dominates the relatively sparse to moderately dense short-shrub layer (10-35% cover); either ssp. vaseyana or ssp. wyomingensis may be present, with ssp. vaseyana being more characteristic of higher elevations or more mesic conditions. Purshia stansburiana is typically absent or scarce. Other shrubs present may include Amelanchier utahensis, Arctostaphylos patula, Cercocarpus montanus, Ephedra viridis, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Quercus gambelii (typically <5% cover), or species of Yucca and Opuntia. Herbaceous cover is variable but is generally sparse and dominated by graminoids (<5% cover) with scattered forbs. Associated graminoids include Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Bouteloua gracilis, Carex filifolia, Hesperostipa comata, Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, and Poa fendleriana. Forbs include species of Cryptantha, Eriogonum, Penstemon, and Phlox. Cryptogram cover tends to be low, but some stands may have moderate cover.

Dynamics:  Fires in this association are thought to be infrequent because Pinus edulis, Juniperus monosperma, and Artemisia tridentata are killed by burns and do not resprout (Wright et al. 1979). Artemisia tridentata will re-establish relatively quickly (about 10-20 years) if a seed source is nearby (Bunting 1987). However, Pinus edulis, Juniperus osteosperma, and Juniperus monosperma are relatively slow to recover following fire, and sagebrush may dominate the sites for decades (Jameson et al. 1962, Erdman 1970). If fire-return intervals are more frequent than 10 years, then Artemisia tridentata has difficulty recovering (Bunting 1987, Everett 1987).
Environmental Description:  This broadly defined woodland association occurs on dry foothills and mesas across. Elevations range from 1459 to 2502 m. Stands occur most often on flat to gentle slopes but can be found on moderate to moderately steep slopes on all aspects. The soils are often deep, generally poorly developed, moderately well-drained to rapidly drained loams and sands, and skeletal. Ground cover is variable; bare soil is common, but bedrock, litter, and large or small rocks can also be abundant on some sites. Parent material includes sandstone and shale.
Geographic Range: This woodland association is common on the Colorado Plateau, occurring from north-central New Mexico and southern Colorado west to the Mogollon Rim of Arizona.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CO, NM


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.Nc Western North American Pinyon - Juniper Woodland & Scrub Division D010 1.B.2.Nc
Macrogroup 1.B.2.Nc.2 Two-needle Pinyon - One-seed Juniper Southern Rocky Mountain Woodland Macrogroup M897 1.B.2.Nc.2
Group 1.B.2.Nc.2.c Two-needle Pinyon - One-seed Juniper - Rocky Mountain Juniper Woodland Group G253 1.B.2.Nc.2.c
Alliance A3576 Two-needle Pinyon - One-seed Juniper Shrubby Woodland Alliance A3576 1.B.2.Nc.2.c
Association CEGL005650 Two-needle Pinyon - One-seed Juniper / (Wyoming Big Sagebrush, Mountain Big Sagebrush) Woodland CEGL005650 1.B.2.Nc.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Pinus edulis - Juniperus monosperma / Artemisia tridentata / Bouteloua gracilis Vegetation Type (Dick-Peddie 1993)
> Pinus edulis - Juniperus monosperma / Artemisia tridentata / Mesic Grass - Forb Vegetation Type (Dick-Peddie 1993)
< Pinus edulis / Artemisia tridentata (Stuever and Hayden 1997b)
= Pinus edulis / Artemisia tridentata Plant Association (Larson and Moir 1987)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz and M.S. Reid

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz, J. Drake and J. Coles

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-13-16
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