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CEGL000959 Arctostaphylos viscida - Ceanothus cuneatus / Festuca idahoensis - Achnatherum lemmonii Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita - Buckbrush / Idaho Fescue - Lemmon''s Needlegrass Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a valley margin and bottomland chaparral community found in the interior valleys and margins of southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. It occurs on stony, shallow soil, occasionally on alluvial plains, or more commonly valley margin hillslopes at moderate elevations of between 370 and 915 m (1200-3000 feet). It also is found on south-facing river canyon slopes. Most occurrences are on clay soils, but the association may occasionally be found in serpentine areas. Native dominant grasses include Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri in many areas, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Achnatherum lemmonii, and Elymus elymoides. These last two grasses tend to be the most resistant to grazing, and increase in the poor condition stands. Pseudoroegneria spicata does not appear to be important in the valley bottom stands, nor has it been reported from California stands. Forbs in this community include Phacelia hastata, Achillea millefolium, Lomatium macrocarpum, Lomatium utriculatum, Calochortus tolmiei, and annuals such as Plagiobothrys and Lasthenia species.
This chaparral type, as is often the case, is fire-dependent. Both dominant shrubs require fire for re-establishment. After fire, Ceanothus cuneatus comes back quickest and can completely dominate young stands. Arctostaphylos viscida is codominant in older stands and can eventually overtop and replace the Ceanothus, often forming very tall, dense thickets in which the bunchgrass and forb cover also declines. These two tend to be the only important shrubs, although occasionally Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Ceanothus integerrimus, and Toxicodendron diversilobum are found. In many areas, the habitat is an edaphic climax due to the shallow, stony soils. However, often these chaparral stands will be replaced by Pinus ponderosa or Quercus kelloggii and/or Quercus garryana woodlands.
This chaparral type, as is often the case, is fire-dependent. Both dominant shrubs require fire for re-establishment. After fire, Ceanothus cuneatus comes back quickest and can completely dominate young stands. Arctostaphylos viscida is codominant in older stands and can eventually overtop and replace the Ceanothus, often forming very tall, dense thickets in which the bunchgrass and forb cover also declines. These two tend to be the only important shrubs, although occasionally Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Ceanothus integerrimus, and Toxicodendron diversilobum are found. In many areas, the habitat is an edaphic climax due to the shallow, stony soils. However, often these chaparral stands will be replaced by Pinus ponderosa or Quercus kelloggii and/or Quercus garryana woodlands.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No chaparral communities have been adequately inventoried in the Northwest. This type is fairly distinctive, although with more sampling, it might be split into two types. For now, it represents the most common, low-elevation, non-serpentine chaparral community dominated by Ceanothus cuneatus with or without Arctostaphylos viscida. The real problem is that fire suppression has drastically reduced the extent of this and other low-elevation, chaparral types, so that there are few natural remnants to sample.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Almost nothing is known about the species composition of this chaparral shrubland association. It is dominated by the broad-leaved evergreen shrubs Arctostaphylos viscida and Ceanothus cuneatus, typically forming a dense layer 1-3 m tall. Total canopy cover is greater than 50%. There is an herbaceous layer, composed of perennial bunchgrass species. Native dominant grasses include Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri (= Festuca roemeri) in many areas, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Achnatherum lemmonii (= Stipa lemmonii), and Elymus elymoides. These last two grasses tend to be the most resistant to grazing, and increase in the poor condition stands. Pseudoroegneria spicata does not appear to be important in the valley bottom stands, nor has it been reported from California stands. Forbs in this community include Phacelia hastata, Achillea millefolium, Lomatium macrocarpum, Lomatium utriculatum, Calochortus tolmiei, and annuals such as Plagiobothrys and Lasthenia species.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association occurs in the foothills and valleys of the Siskiyou Mountain region. The major valleys, those of the Rogue and Umpqua rivers, are the warmest and driest regions west of the Cascades in Oregon, due to the strong rainshadow effect of the Coast Ranges and Siskiyous. This region is characterized by Mediterranean climatic features, with a relatively low total annual precipitation (roughly 40-70 cm), a period of summer drought, and moderate differences between seasonal temperature extremes. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are mild and wet.
Little detailed information is available for this association. It is found on slopes of all aspects except northerly, between about 370 and 1100 m elevation. Soils are typically shallow. Ceanothus cuneatus is dominant on the most xeric of sites in the interior valleys; the presence and codominance of Arctostaphylos viscida indicates cooler and more mesic site conditions.
Little detailed information is available for this association. It is found on slopes of all aspects except northerly, between about 370 and 1100 m elevation. Soils are typically shallow. Ceanothus cuneatus is dominant on the most xeric of sites in the interior valleys; the presence and codominance of Arctostaphylos viscida indicates cooler and more mesic site conditions.
Geographic Range: Ceanothus cuneatus is found from extreme southwestern Oregon (quite near the California border) south to Baja, California. Arctostaphylos viscida is restricted to southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. The primary native bunch grasses only are found together in this area as well. Stands of this Siskiyou Mountain shrubland association have been described from the Rogue River valley near Medford in southwestern Oregon and in the Klamath River valley of northern California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA?, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688141
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.1 Chamise - Whiteleaf Manzanita - Scrub Oak Chaparral Macrogroup | M043 | 2.B.1.Na.1 |
| Group | 2.B.1.Na.1.a Chamise - Buckbrush - Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita Xeric Chaparral Group | G257 | 2.B.1.Na.1.a |
| Alliance | A3865 Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita - Ione Manzanita - Whiteleaf Manzanita Chaparral Alliance | A3865 | 2.B.1.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL000959 Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita - Buckbrush / Idaho Fescue - Lemmon''s Needlegrass Shrubland | CEGL000959 | 2.B.1.Na.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Arctostaphylos viscida (White leaf manzanita chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.305.00]
- Atzet, T., and D. L. Wheeler. 1984. Preliminary plant associations of the Siskiyou Mountains Province, Siskiyou National Forest. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region, Portland, OR.
- Barbour, M. G., and J. Major, editors. 1988. Terrestrial vegetation of California: New expanded edition. California Native Plant Society, Special Publication 9, Sacramento. 1030 pp.
- 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.
- Detling, L. E. 1961. The chaparral formation of southwestern Oregon, with considerations of its postglacial history. Ecology 42:348-357.
- ORNHP [Oregon Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data files. Oregon Natural Heritage Program, The Nature Conservancy, Portland, OR.
- 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.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.