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CEGL008638 Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber Sierran Chaparral Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Birchleaf Mountain-mahogany Sierran Chaparral Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This shrubland association is currently only known from Yosemite National Park in California, and the following description is based on occurrences there. Additional information will be added as it becomes available. This association is found in high slope positions on generally well-drained loam and sandy loam soils derived from granite and metamorphics. Elevations range from 910-1555 m (2980-5100 feet), and aspects are typically northerly at low elevations and westerly to southwesterly at higher elevations. Litter/duff cover averages 35%. Sites are upland and tend to have between 10 and 40% large rock or bedrock cover. It is debatable whether this should be considered a shrub or tree association. Although the average height for the dominant and characteristic species is around 4-5 m, the morphology is typically multi-stemmed and scraggly. The short-tree layer (2-5 m tall) averages 44% cover and is composed of Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber. Ceanothus cuneatus provides an average 10% cover in the short-shrub layer (1-2 m), but is only on 50% of the plots. Toxicodendron diversilobum is sometimes found at very low cover. In some stands that have not been sampled, Arctostaphylos viscida may be an important shrub. The herb layer is sparse, and no species are abundant. The most constant species include Pentagramma triangularis, Claytonia perfoliata, Galium parisiense, and Bromus hordeaceus.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: A similar, if not identical, association is being defined for the western foothills of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: It is debatable whether this should be considered a shrub or tree association. Although the average height for the dominant and characteristic species is around 4-5 m, the morphology is typically multi-stemmed and scraggly. The short-tree layer (2-5 m tall) averages 44% cover and is composed of Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (= Cercocarpus betuloides). Ceanothus cuneatus provides an average 10% cover in the short-shrub layer (1-2 m), but is only on 50% of the plots. Toxicodendron diversilobum is sometimes found at very low cover. In some stands that have not been sampled, Arctostaphylos viscida may be an important shrub. The herb layer is sparse, and no species are abundant. The most constant species include Pentagramma triangularis, Claytonia perfoliata, Galium parisiense, and Bromus hordeaceus.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is found in high slope positions on generally well-drained loam and sandy loam soils derived from granite and metamorphics. Elevations range from 910-1555 m (2980-5100 feet), and aspects are typically northerly at low elevations and westerly to southwesterly at higher elevations. Litter/duff cover averages 35%. Sites are upland and tend to have between 10 and 40% large rock or bedrock cover.
Geographic Range: This shrubland association is currently only known from Yosemite National Park, California. However, a similar, if not identical, association is being defined for the western foothills of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. It is likely that it occurs elsewhere in the Sierra Nevada.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684623
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4?
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.1 Chamise - Whiteleaf Manzanita - Scrub Oak Chaparral Macrogroup | M043 | 2.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 2.B.1.Na.1.b Scrub Oak - Eastwood''s Manzanita - California Ash Chaparral Group | G261 | 2.B.1.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A0587 Birchleaf Mountain-mahogany Mesic Chaparral Alliance | A0587 | 2.B.1.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL008638 Birchleaf Mountain-mahogany Sierran Chaparral Shrubland | CEGL008638 | 2.B.1.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Cercocarpus betuloides (Hickman 1993)
= Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (Sawyer et al. 2009) [76.100.03]
= Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (C. betuloides var. betuloides, Hickman 1993) Sierran Chaparral Shrubland (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber Sierran Chaparral Shrubland (Keeler-Wolf 2002)
= Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (Sawyer et al. 2009) [76.100.03]
= Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (C. betuloides var. betuloides, Hickman 1993) Sierran Chaparral Shrubland (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber Sierran Chaparral Shrubland (Keeler-Wolf 2002)
- Hickman, J. C. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Ltd., Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
- Keeler-Wolf, T. 2002. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Natural Heritage Program, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA. August 2002.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., M. Schindel, S. San, P. Moore, and D. Hickson. 2003a. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. Unpublished report by NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., P. E. Moore, E. T. Reyes, J. M. Menke, D. N. Johnson, and D. L. Karavidas. 2012. Yosemite National Park vegetation classification and mapping project report. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/YOSE/NRTR--2012/598. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.