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CEGL005302 Aesculus californica / Toxicodendron diversilobum / Moss Woodland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: California Buckeye / Pacific Poison-oak / Moss Woodland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This is a diverse woodland occurring on steep upper slopes, mostly north-facing, but it can occur on eastern and other aspects. The tree layer is dominated by Aesculus californica. Quercus wislizeni may be present as well in lower cover. The shrub layer has several species, of which Toxicodendron diversilobum is the most consistent, although it was not present in every stand sampled. Other shrubs that may be present include Prunus ilicifolia, Diplacus aurantiacus, and Keckiella breviflora. The herbaceous layer has a high and consistent cover of mosses, as well as overwhelmingly dominant introduced grasses. This type is documented from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and from the interior Central Coast Ranges of California.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: In this association, the main overstory tree species is Aesculus californica. Quercus wislizeni may also occur at relatively low cover. The understory shrub layer may include Toxicodendron diversilobum, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Diplacus aurantiacus (= Mimulus aurantiacus), Prunus ilicifolia ssp. ilicifolia, and Keckiella breviflora. The herbaceous understory frequently includes a diverse mixture of grass and forb species such as Bromus hordeaceus, Bromus madritensis, Bromus diandrus, Melica californica, Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis, and Phacelia cicutaria.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This association occurs between elevations of 272 and 586 m (892-1922 feet), on mostly north-facing slopes, but may occur on eastern and other aspects, especially in draws. It occurs on gentle to steep (1-31°) slopes, mostly on the upper portions. Rock cover can be high (85%) as well as fines (50%) or litter (96%). Parent materials are volcanic extrusives, metamorphic, volcanic flow or plutonic, and mixed alluvium; soils are often moderately fine sandy clay loam, coarse sandy loam, clay, clay loam, sand, silt or silt loam.
Geographic Range: This association is known from San Benito County and the northern Sierra Nevada foothills, California.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation F018 1.B.1
Division 1.B.1.Nc Californian Forest & Woodland Division D007 1.B.1.Nc
Macrogroup 1.B.1.Nc.1 California Live Oak - California Laurel - Western Cypress species Forest & Woodland Macrogroup M009 1.B.1.Nc.1
Group 1.B.1.Nc.1.a California Live Oak - Valley Oak - California Laurel Forest & Woodland Group G195 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Alliance A4125 California Buckeye Woodland Alliance A4125 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL005302 California Buckeye / Pacific Poison-oak / Moss Woodland CEGL005302 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Aesculus californica / Toxicodendron diversilobum / Moss Woodland (Klein et al. 2007)
= Aesculus californica / Toxicodendron diversilobum / Moss Woodland (Kittel et al. 2012a)
= Aesculus californica / Toxicodendron diversilobum / moss (Sawyer et al. 2009) [75.100.01]
= Aesculus californica / Toxicodendron diversilobum Woodland (Evens et al. 2004)
= Aesculus californica/Toxicodendron diversilobum/Moss Association (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
Concept Author(s): Kittel et al. (2012a)

Author of Description: G. Kittel and J. Evens

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-24-07
  • Buck-Diaz, J., S. Batiuk, and J. M. Evens. 2012. Vegetation alliances and associations of the Great Valley ecoregion, California. California Native Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/pdf/great_valley_eco-vegclass2012.pdf]
  • Evens, J. M., S. San, and J. Taylor. 2004. Vegetation classification and mapping of Peoria Wildlife Area, south of New Melones Lake, Tuolumne County, California. Prepared by California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA, in collaboration with J. Menke of Aerial Information Systems, Redlands, CA. 175 pp.
  • Kittel, G., E. Reyes, J. Evens, J. Buck, and D. Johnson. 2012a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Pinnacles National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/SFAN/NRR-2012/574. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 428 pp.
  • Klein, A., J. Crawford, J. Evens, T. Keeler-Wolf, and D. Hickson. 2007. Classification of the vegetation alliances and associations of the northern Sierra Nevada foothills, California. Volumes 1 and 2. Report prepared for California Department of Fish and Game, Habitat Conservation Division. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=18232&inline=1]
  • 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.