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CEGL002881 Brassica nigra - Centaurea melitensis Ruderal Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Black Mustard - Maltese Star-thistle Ruderal Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is only sampled from the Santa Monica Mountains region. However, it is anecdotally known from much of cismontane California. This herbaceous association occurs on gentle to steep slopes of variable aspect at low elevations between 41 and 483 m. It is codominated by Centaurea melitensis and Brassica nigra in the herbaceous layer. Hazardia squarrosa, Salvia leucophylla, and Artemisia californica are often found in the shrub layer at low cover, and Juglans californica and Quercus agrifolia are infrequently found in the tree layer at low cover.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Stands of this association are typically the result of high disturbance through grazing, fire, clearing, mechanical treatments, or a combination of the above. All three of the associations with mixtures of Brassica nigra and annual herbs and grasses may be considered closely related. They may ultimately be lumped into a single black mustard-weedy herbaceous association of the California annual grassland alliance. However, since analysis suggests these types do separate out at least floristically, we are maintaining their distinction here until further detailed relevé-based sampling is done to determine their relationships. Based on the data from this report, this association seems to have a higher probability of having native herbaceous species than the other Brassica nigra-dominated associations in this alliance. This is the only association of this alliance where locally Nassella lepida, a native perennial grass, was found in >20% constancy, as well as many forb species such as Dichelostemma capitatum, Hemizonia fasciculata, Lupinus succulentus, and Phacelia cicutaria.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this association at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area form an open to intermittent herbaceous layer (10-65%, mean 28.9%) at 0.01-1 m tall. The shrub layer is sparse to open (0-18%, mean 6.2%) at 0-5 m tall. Trees are infrequently emergent (0-1% cover, mean 0.1%) with hardwoods at 0-5 m tall. Total vegetation cover is 15-65%; mean cover is 35%. In this association, the herbaceous layer is open to intermittent and is codominated by invasive exotics Centaurea melitensis and Brassica nigra. Bromus madritensis usually occurs in this layer, and Avena fatua, Hirschfeldia incana, and Bromus diandrus may also occasionally be found at relatively low cover. The shrub layer is open and often includes Hazardia squarrosa, Salvia leucophylla, and Artemisia californica, while Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Encelia californica, and Eriogonum cinereum are also sometimes present. The tree layer infrequently includes Juglans californica and Quercus agrifolia as sparse emergents.
Dynamics: Until further inventory is completed, there is no global information.
Environmental Description: Until further inventory is completed, there is no global information.
Geographic Range: This association is only sampled from the Santa Monica Mountains region. However, it is anecdotally known from much of cismontane California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.788771
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
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.90 Wild Oat - Black Mustard - Ripgut Brome Ruderal Grassland, Meadow & Scrub Macrogroup | M046 | 2.B.1.Na.90 |
| Group | 2.B.1.Na.90.a Wild Oat - Ripgut Brome Ruderal Grassland, Meadow & Scrub Group | G497 | 2.B.1.Na.90.a |
| Alliance | A4214 Black Mustard - Radish species Ruderal Annual Forb Meadow Alliance | A4214 | 2.B.1.Na.90.a |
| Association | CEGL002881 Black Mustard - Maltese Star-thistle Ruderal Grassland | CEGL002881 | 2.B.1.Na.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Brassica nigra-Centaurea melitensis Herbaceous Association (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
< Brassica nigra and other mustards (Upland mustards) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.011.00]
< Bromus (diandrus, hordeaceus, madritensis) Herbaceous Alliance (Reid et al. 1999)
< California Annual Grassland (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Non-native Grassland (#42200) (Holland 1986b)
< Brassica nigra and other mustards (Upland mustards) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.011.00]
< Bromus (diandrus, hordeaceus, madritensis) Herbaceous Alliance (Reid et al. 1999)
< California Annual Grassland (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Non-native Grassland (#42200) (Holland 1986b)
- Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., and J. Evens. 2006. Vegetation classification of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and environs in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, California. A report submitted to National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch and The California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program, Sacramento, CA.
- Reid, M. S., K. A. Schulz, P. J. Comer, M. H. Schindel, D. R. Culver, D. A. Sarr, and M. C. Damm. 1999. An alliance level classification of vegetation of the coterminous western United States. Unpublished final report to the University of Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and National Gap Analysis Program, in fulfillment of Cooperative Agreement 1434-HQ-97-AG-01779. The Nature Conservancy, Western Conservation Science Department, Boulder, 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.
- 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.