Where are pinyon-juniper woodlands?
Pinyon and juniper woodlands occupy over 70,000 square miles of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, extending across a climatic gradient from eastern Oregon to the Four Corners of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Why do pinyon and juniper grow together?
Pinyon and juniper trees make use of what are generally moisture- and nutrient-limited environments by concentrating soil, soil moisture, organic material, and nutrients beneath their canopies over time, creating “islands” of higher fertility (Barth 1980).
What plants are in the pinyon-juniper woodland?
Typical shrub species associated with pinyon-juniper wooded shrubland include big sage (Artemisia tridentata) and other Artemisia species, antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp. and Ericameria spp.), mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.), and snakeweed (Gutierrezia spp.)
Is the Pinyon-Juniper Tree invasive?
In spite of pinyon-juniper woodland being recognized as a natural vegetation community by ecologists, the BLM is referring to it as “weedy” and “invasive”. The BLM claims that removal is necessary to restore historic fire regimes as well as enhance wildlife habitat for species like the sage grouse.
Is piñon a juniper?
Pinyon–juniper woodland, also spelled piñon–juniper woodland, is a vegetation type (biome) of Western United States higher elevation deserts, characterized by being an open forest dominated by low, bushy, evergreen junipers (Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus californica, Juniperus grandis), pinyon pines (Pinus …
Is a piñon tree a juniper?
The most common species within piñon-juniper woodlands are Colorado piñon pine (Pinus edulis) and Utah (Juniperus osteosperma) and one-seed (Juniperus monosperma) juniper, although Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) may codominate or replace one-seed juniper at high elevations.
What kind of juniper do I have?
A helpful way to perfect juniper tree identification is by looking at its cones. Juniper cones on male trees are small and either yellow or tan. The female plants produce colorful berries, which are actually modified cones. Northwest species berries turn blue at maturity, but some species have red berries.
How do you identify pinyon pines?
You can quickly identify the Pinyon pine with its numerous branches, thick trunk, and rounded crown. The yellow-green needles will reach 2 inches long and remain on the pine for up to nine years. The needles are slightly curved and come to a point at the tip of the branch.
Does juniper trees grow in the desert?
In the USA, junipers are one of the most widespread plant groups in all of the four desert regions, which include: Great Basin Desert, Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Desert. These trees were very important resource to the Native American Indians.
What does the juniper tree look like?
Juniper has evergreen, prickly, small, blue-green needles with a central white stripe, stiff, arranged in clusters of three. It slightly resembles gorse in its appearance, especially by its bushiness but unlike gorse, it does not regenerate readily after fires.
What does a juniper tree or bush look like?
Junipers are evergreen, coniferous plants with scaly leaves, but the height and presentation vary considerably among varieties. You’ll find junipers that look like ground cover, shrubs, or tall trees. Growing juniper trees or bushes is not difficult.
What is a pinon tree look like?
Pinyon pine grows yellow-green needles, about 2 inches (5 cm.) long, that remain on the tree for some 8 or 9 years. The cones are small and resemble brown roses. Inside the cones you will find the treasured pine nuts, so it is no surprise that it is also written “pinon,” meaning pine nut in Spanish.