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G530 Californian Vernal Pool Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group consists of wet meadows found throughout southern Oregon, California and Baja Norte, Mexico, that form concentric rings around shallow ephemeral pools that fill up and dry out seasonally or semi-annually. Characteristic plant species vary with location; some species include Blennosperma nanum, Callitriche marginata, Downingia bella, Eryngium aristulatum, Lasthenia ferrisiae, Orcuttia californica, Spergularia salina, and Trichostema austromontanum.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Californian Vernal Pool Group
Colloquial Name: Californian Vernal Pool
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group consists of wet meadows found throughout southern Oregon, California and Baja Norte, Mexico, that form concentric rings around shallow ephemeral pools. Due to drawdown characteristics, vernal pool plant communities typically form concentric rings of similar forb-rich vegetation. Characteristic plant species in northern California and the southern Cascades include Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi, Blennosperma nanum, Callitriche marginata, Cicendia quadrangularis, Cressa truxillensis, Downingia bella, Downingia insignis, Epilobium densiflorum, Eryngium aristulatum, Eryngium mathiasiae, Eryngium vaseyi, Lasthenia ferrisiae, Lasthenia glaberrima, Mimulus ssp., Plagiobothrys leptocladus, Pogogyne douglasii, Pogogyne spp., Psilocarphus brevissimus, Sedella pumila, Spergularia salina, and Veronica peregrina. In southern California, characteristic plant species include Eryngium aristulatum, Centromadia parryi ssp. australis, Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri, Navarretia fossalis, Orcuttia californica, Pogogyne abramsii, Pogogyne nudiuscula, and Trichostema austromontanum. Given their relative isolation in upland-dominated landscapes, many endemic plant species are common in California vernal pools. These vernal pools are found from sea level to 2600 m (7800 feet) elevation, and concomitant temperature and moisture ranges, and are floristically distinct from more northerly distributed vernal pool types. The shallow ephemeral waterbodies are found in depressions (from <50 sqm to up to several hectares in size) among grasslands and open woodlands. The pools tend to be circumneutral to alkaline and slightly saline wetlands. Some pools fill up and dry out one time in the winter/spring to summer cycle, others may fill and dry several times during the wet season. Some pools remain dry for several years.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Depressional herbaceous wetlands with concentric rings of forb-dominated communities, including many rare species.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: These vernal pools are floristically distinct from more northerly distributed vernal pool types of ~Oregon-Washington-British Columbia Vernal Pool Group (G529)$$. The associations that were included in ~Modoc Basalt Flow Vernal Pool (CES204.996)$$ that occurred in "the eastern flanks of the Columbia River Gorge along the Oregon-Washington border" are included in G529.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Perennial and annual wet meadows that are generally forb-rich.
Floristics: Due to drawdown characteristics, vernal pool plant communities typically form concentric rings of similar forb-rich vegetation. Characteristic plant species in northern California and the southern Cascades include Artemisia cana ssp. bolanderi, Blennosperma nanum, Callitriche marginata, Cicendia quadrangularis, Cressa truxillensis, Downingia bella, Downingia insignis, Epilobium densiflorum (= Boisduvalia densiflora), Eryngium aristulatum, Eryngium mathiasiae, Eryngium vaseyi, Lasthenia ferrisiae, Lasthenia glaberrima, Mimulus ssp., Plagiobothrys leptocladus (= Allocarya leptoclada), Pogogyne douglasii, Pogogyne spp., Psilocarphus brevissimus, Sedella pumila (= Parvisedum pumilum), Spergularia salina (= Spergularia marina), and Veronica peregrina. Where short inundation periods are characteristic, Downingia bicornuta, Lasthenia californica, Psathyrotes spp., and Sedella spp. (= Parvisedum spp.) are often present. Where longer inundation periods are characteristic, Eryngium constancei and Eleocharis acicularis may be found. In southern California, characteristic plant species include Eryngium aristulatum, Centromadia parryi ssp. australis (= Hemizonia parryi ssp. australis), Lasthenia glabrata ssp. coulteri, Navarretia fossalis, Orcuttia californica, Pogogyne abramsii, Pogogyne nudiuscula, and Trichostema austromontanum. Given their relative isolation in upland-dominated landscapes, many endemic plant species are common in California vernal pools. Floristic information compiled from Barbour and Major (1988), Holland and Keil (1995), Sawyer and T. Keeler-Wolf (1995), and Bjork (1997).
Dynamics: Vernal pools by definition dry out completely each season, and may remain dry for many years. Seasonal rainfall fills these pools. The depth of inundation, size of the pool and speed of drying determine plant species composition, which may vary year to year.
Environmental Description: Climate: Mediterranean. Soil/substrate/hydrology: The soil has a clay hardpan layer that retains water throughout some portion of the spring, and typically the depression dries down entirely into early summer months. Some pools occur on solid volcanic bedrock, or on volcanic ash flows (lahars) over bedrock, or on top of massive basalt flows where soils are very thin over solid bedrock. The pools tend to be circumneutral to alkaline and slightly saline wetlands. Some pools fill and dry one time in the winter/spring to summer cycle, others may fill and dry several times during the wet season. Some pools remain dry for several years. Typically these vernal pools do not support species requiring long inundation periods. Those on volcanic ash flows are less flashy and have pools that are larger and deeper. In southern California, vernal pools are found on flat-topped marine terraces with Si-Fe cemented hardpans, volcanic bedrock, and acidic intrusive rock underlying thin soils. Environmental information compiled from Barbour and Major (1988), Holland and Keil (1995), Sawyer and T. Keeler-Wolf (1995), and Bjork (1997).
Geographic Range: This group occurs throughout California and southern Oregon, on low-lying valley floors, interior plains, and foothills of the southern Cascades and Sierra Nevada, throughout the Central Valley, and continues south into Baja Norte, Mexico. In northern California it occurs in the Lassen, Klamath, and upper Pit river drainages, as well as the Devils Garden area of northern California. Stands are also known from Santa Barbara County.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: CA, MXBCN, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.857252
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
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