Pinyon Tree Guild

Mark Sheppard recommended the pinyon nut pine as the dominant tree species in a temperate dryland situation. So, the question I have for you fine folks is what would you put in guild under a pinyon tree. Right now some things that grow beneath the tree are three leaf sumac, wax currants, prickly pear and lambsquarter. What else could I do for the root, vine, and shrub layer? I am zone 5 and get 16 inches of annual precipitation.

You already have a nice list of plants that are there.

What about gooseberries or wild strawberries?

I'd add wolfberries (goji) and possibly gourd vines to that list.

Thank you all. Now, I am grateful for all the things that grow naturally under pinyon. I make tea and lemonade from sumac, I feed lambsquarter to my chickens, I enjoy the fruit of prickly pear, gooseberries, and the bland (oh so bland) wax currants. The problem that I really have is I need to find something that can I sell at a farmers market or at least get my kids to eat. I am grooving on the idea of wolf berries (or rather goji berries) and strawberries, but is there anything else that will sell to a general audience?

Also, can you recommend any specific varieties or species of strawberry? Also what is this vine gourd? Is that like a buffalo gourd? Do you have a link on that? Also, one more question, do you think grapes (or any vining fruit) could climb the pinyons? Has anyone ever seen vining fruit climb an evergreen tree?