Print Report
CEGL000971 Empetrum nigrum - Gaultheria shallon Dwarf-shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Crowberry - Salal Dwarf-shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is a dwarf-shrubland occurring on windswept coastal headlands and promontories along the entire Oregon and the northern California coasts. This community occurs as a thin band, maintained by heavy offshore winds, or by shallow soils. Empetrum nigrum is the primary dominant, making up 50-80% of the vegetation cover. Gaultheria shallon is always present, although the cover is variable and ranges from very low to almost 50%. Vaccinium ovatum and Baccharis pilularis also can be codominant. Forbs (Maianthemum dilatatum, Erigeron glaucus, Angelica spp., Lathyrus spp.) and Calamagrostis nutkaensis are often found popping up through the fairly dense shrub cover. Inland, the Empetrum nigrum community is replaced by taller shrublands dominated by Vaccinium ovatum or Baccharis pilularis, or by forests of Picea sitchensis or Pinus contorta. On the steep coastal bluffs, the community is replaced by Festuca rubra or forb-dominated headland communities.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is a very local community, but is very distinct. Throughout most of its range, Empetrum nigrum is found in bogs. However, in this association it is found along the immediate coast of Oregon and northern California, on dry windswept bluffs growing with dwarfed Gaultheria shallon, Vaccinium ovatum and Baccharis pilularis as a codominants.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Empetrum nigrum is the primary dominant, making up 50-80% of the vegetation cover. Gaultheria shallon is always present, although the cover is variable and ranges from very low to almost 50%. Vaccinium ovatum and Baccharis pilularis also can be codominant. Forbs (Maianthemum dilatatum, Erigeron glaucus, Angelica spp., Lathyrus spp.) and Calamagrostis nutkaensis are often found popping up through the fairly dense shrub cover. Inland, the Empetrum nigrum community is replaced by taller shrublands dominated by Vaccinium ovatum or Baccharis pilularis, or by forests of Picea sitchensis or Pinus contorta. On the steep coastal bluffs, the community is replaced by Festuca rubra or forb-dominated headland communities.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association is a dwarf-shrubland occurring on windswept coastal headlands and promontories along the entire Oregon and the northern California coasts. This community occurs as a thin band, maintained by heavy offshore winds, or by shallow soils.
Geographic Range: This community has been described in Oregon, mostly from the southern Oregon coast. A small occurrence (less than 1 ha) is known from the central Oregon coast. It also occurs in northern California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687655
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.4 Southern Vancouverian Lowland Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup | M050 | 2.B.2.Nf.4 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.4.a Manzanita species / Roemer''s Fescue - California Oatgrass Shrubland & Grassland Group | G488 | 2.B.2.Nf.4.a |
| Alliance | A3739 Red Fescue - Pacific Reedgrass Exposed Coastal Headland Grassland Alliance | A3739 | 2.B.2.Nf.4.a |
| Association | CEGL000971 Black Crowberry - Salal Dwarf-shrubland | CEGL000971 | 2.B.2.Nf.4.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Kagan, J. S., E. M. Nielsen, M. D. Noone, J. C. van Warmerdam, L. K. Wise, G. Kittel, and C. Copass. 2012. Lewis and Clark National Historic Park vegetation classification and mapping project report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCCN/NRR--2012/597. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, D. Vandershaaf, and J. H. Titus. 1998. Inventory of the vegetation, rare species and habitats of Curry County Parks. Unpublished report to Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation, Salem, by Oregon Natural Heritage Program, Portland.
- Kagan, J. S., J. A. Christy, M. P. Murray, and J. A. Titus. 2004. Classification of native vegetation of Oregon. January 2004. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center, Portland. 52 pp.
- ORNHP [Oregon Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data files. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Portland, OR.
- Peck, M. E. 1920. Vegetation of Cape Blanco. Iowa Academy of Science, Volume XXVII:85-89.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.