Print Report
CEGL003464 Nassella pulchra - Baccharis pilularis Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Purple Needlegrass - Coyotebrush Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is known from the Point Reyes National Seashore and from the Santa Cruz Mountains of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. Stands may occur further north and south along the California coast. This vegetation is found at low elevations (72-86 m [237-281 feet]), on undulating lower to upper parts of southeast- to west-southwest-facing slopes (18-32°). It is found on medium silt loam to moderately fine sandy loam often with chert parent material derived from the Franciscan Formation. Parent material may also be marine sediments or granitic. Stands of this grassland association at Point Reyes National Seashore form an intermittent to continuous herbaceous layer of 20-50% cover at 0-25 cm tall, and 25-45% cover at 25-50 cm tall and an open shrub layer of with 0-10% cover at 0.5-1 m tall. It is dominated by Nassella pulchra and Baccharis pilularis. A variety of other herbaceous species that may be present include Plantago lanceolata, Anagallis arvensis, Vulpia bromoides, Plantago erecta, Dichondra donelliana, Melica californica, Artemisia californica, Achillea millefolium, Eriogonum latifolium, Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum, Diplacus aurantiacus, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. It is often found adjacent to Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica communities.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is known from the Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the adjacent Santa Cruz Mountains to the south. Unpublished information on the presence of this association suggests it occurs southward in the Coast Ranges to at least central Santa Cruz County (C. Johnson pers. comm. 1998).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this grassland association at Point Reyes National Seashore form an intermittent to continuous herbaceous layer of 20-50% cover at 0-25 cm tall, and 25-45% cover at 25-50 cm tall and an open shrub layer of with 0-10% cover at 0.5-1 m tall. It is dominated by Nassella pulchra and Baccharis pilularis (= ssp. consanguinea). A variety of other herbaceous species that may be present include Plantago lanceolata, Anagallis arvensis, Vulpia bromoides, Plantago erecta, Dichondra donelliana, Melica californica, Artemisia californica, Achillea millefolium, Eriogonum latifolium, Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum (= Lolium multiflorum), Diplacus aurantiacus (= Mimulus aurantiacus), and Toxicodendron diversilobum. It is often found adjacent to Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica communities.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This vegetation is found at low elevations (72-86 m [237-281 feet]), on undulating lower to upper parts of southeast- to west-southwest-facing slopes (18-32°). It is found on medium silt loam to moderately fine sandy loam often with chert parent material derived from the Franciscan Formation. Parent material may also be marine sediments or granitic.
Geographic Range: This association is known from the Point Reyes National Seashore and from the Santa Cruz Mountains of San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. Stands may occur further north and south along the California coast.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683783
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.1 Mediterranean Scrub & Grassland Formation | F038 | 2.B.1 |
| Division | 2.B.1.Na Californian Scrub & Grassland Division | D327 | 2.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.1.Na.3 Purple Needlegrass - Harvest Brodiaea - Rusty Popcorn-flower Native Grassland Macrogroup | M045 | 2.B.1.Na.3 |
| Group | 2.B.1.Na.3.b Purple Needlegrass - California Melicgrass - Giant Wildrye Grassland Group | G496 | 2.B.1.Na.3.b |
| Alliance | A1289 Purple Needlegrass Grassland Alliance | A1289 | 2.B.1.Na.3.b |
| Association | CEGL003464 Purple Needlegrass - Coyotebrush Grassland | CEGL003464 | 2.B.1.Na.3.b |
Concept Lineage: Upgraded to Standard during screening.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Nassella pulchra - Baccharis pilularis Association (Schirokauer et al. 2003)
= Nassella pulchra / Baccharis pilularis (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.150.14]
= Nassella pulchra / Baccharis pilularis (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.150.14]
- CNDDB [California Natural Diversity Data Base]. No date. Unpublished data files. California Natural Diversity Data Base, California Natural Heritage Division, Sacramento.
- Keeley, J. E. 1990. The California valley grassland. Pages 2-23 in: A. A. Schoenherr, editor. Endangered plant communities of southern California: Proceedings of the 15th annual symposium; 1989 October 28; Fullerton, CA. Special Publication No. 3. Southern California Botanists, Claremont, CA.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Schirokauer, D., T. Keeler-Wolf, J. Meinke, and P. van der Leeden. 2003. Plant community classification and mapping project. Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco Water Department Watershed Lands, Mount Tamalpais, Tomales Bay, and Samuel P. Taylor State Parks. Final report. California State Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, National Park Service, Point Reyes Station, and Aerial Information Systems, Redlands, CA. 82 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/pore_goga/index.html]
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.