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CEGL005652 Pinus edulis - Juniperus osteosperma / Hesperostipa comata Open Woodland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Needle-and-Thread Open Woodland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This woodland association is known from western Colorado and eastern Utah. Stands occur on a variety of sites from flat or gentle lower slopes, benches, wash terraces, mesatops to steep colluvial slopes to montane alluvial fans. Parent materials are frequently sandstone or shale. This woodland is characterized by the dominance or codominance of Pinus edulis in an open evergreen tree canopy. Juniperus osteosperma may codominate some stands, and Juniperus scopulorum may also be present. The sparse to moderately dense herbaceous layer is dominated by the perennial bunchgrass Hesperostipa comata, with Achnatherum hymenoides, Koeleria macrantha, Bouteloua gracilis, Pleuraphis jamesii, and Pascopyrum smithii often present to common. Forb cover is generally sparse but may include Heterotheca villosa, Hymenoxys spp., Artemisia dracunculus, Oxytropis lambertii, Castilleja sp., Eriogonum jamesii, and Sphaeralcea coccinea. Scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may also be present, such as Cercocarpus montanus, Quercus gambelii, Atriplex canescens, Artemisia frigida, Ephedra viridis, or Gutierrezia sarothrae. Opuntia polyacantha and Yucca glauca are often present. Diagnostic of this woodland association is the dominance or codominance of Pinus edulis in the tree canopy and a Hesperostipa comata-dominated herbaceous layer.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is typically dominated or codominated by Juniperus osteosperma. If Juniperus monosperma-codominated stands occur then they are restricted to northern Arizona within the ranges of Juniperus osteosperma.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This woodland association occurs on sandy, sometimes rocky soils in the northern Colorado Plateau. Total vegetation cover ranges between 10% to at least 70%. This woodland association is characterized by an open to somewhat closed canopy, typically 2-5 m tall, of Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma trees, and an understory dominated by the bunchgrass Hesperostipa comata. Scattered shrubs such as Ephedra viridis and Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus are present but do not form a layer. The herbaceous layer is diverse and provides up to 15% cover. Achnatherum hymenoides may be codominant with Hesperostipa comata, and Pleuraphis jamesii or Bouteloua gracilis may be present with low cover. Forbs are more diverse but contribute little cover and may include Heterotheca villosa, Hymenoxys spp., Artemisia dracunculus (= Artemisia dracunculoides), Oxytropis lambertii, Castilleja sp., Eriogonum jamesii, and Sphaeralcea coccinea. Scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs may also be present, such as Cercocarpus montanus, Quercus gambelii, Atriplex canescens, Artemisia frigida, Ephedra viridis, or Gutierrezia sarothrae. Opuntia polyacantha and Yucca glauca are often present. Diagnostic of this woodland association is the dominance or codominance of Pinus edulis in the tree canopy and a Hesperostipa comata-dominated herbaceous layer. Biological crusts are present in some stands.
Dynamics: When burned, these stands are sometimes converted to ~Hesperostipa comata Great Basin Grassland (CEGL001705)$$ or related shrub-herbaceous associations.
Environmental Description: This woodland association occurs on slopes, benches and ridges and wash terraces with coarse-sandy, sometimes rocky soils. Elevations range between 1490 and 2739 m (4900-7070 feet); slopes are level to steep and may be oriented to any aspect. The unvegetated soil surface may be rocky, gravelly, or mostly bare ground, or biological soil crusts can have high cover in areas that have been protected from grazing. The sandy or silty soils are generally derived from sandstone, less often from shale, alluvial or eolian deposits.
Geographic Range: This association is known from four counties (Montrose, San Miguel, Mesa, and Saguache) in western portion of Colorado (Isaacson 1967, P. Lyon pers. comm.). It also occurs in southeastern Utah.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM?, UT, WY?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.959310
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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.1 Singleleaf Pinyon - Utah Juniper - Western Juniper Intermountain Woodland Macrogroup | M896 | 1.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Woodland Group | G900 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A3572 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper Grassy Open Woodland Alliance | A3572 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005652 Two-needle Pinyon - Utah Juniper / Needle-and-Thread Open Woodland | CEGL005652 | 1.B.2.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Pinus edulis / Stipa comata (Isaacson 1967)
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- WNDD [Wyoming Natural Diversity Database]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.
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