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M074 Callitriche marginata - Downingia elegans - Eryngium aristulatum Western North American Vernal Pool Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: This macrogroup includes herbaceous communities with high diversity and high endemism that form distinct zones or concentric rings within shallow ephemeral pools on hardpan soils with an indurated clay or cemented layer or on shallow soils over unfractured bedrock. It is found throughout intermountain valleys of British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, California and Mexico
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Winged Water-starwort - Elegant Calicoflower - California Eryngo Western North American Vernal Pool Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: Western North American Vernal Pool
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This macrogroup includes herbaceous communities that form distinct zones or concentric rings around shallow ephemeral pools from sea level to 2600 m (7800 feet) elevation. The number of species is high and changes from north to south, so there are no particularly characteristic species, although there are characteristic plant genera that can be described at the macrogroup level. These include species of Callitriche, Downingia, Eryngium, Hemizonia, Lasthenia, Navarretia, Orcuttia, Plagiobothrys, Pogogyne, Psilocarphus, Sedella, Spergularia, and Trichostema. Pools occur on shallow soils over volcanic bedrock, in scablands, on hardpan soils with an indurated clay or cemented layer that retains water throughout some portion of the spring, and that typically dry down completely into early summer months. These occur in British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, California and Mexico.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Herbaceous, forb-dominated communities found within depressional wetlands that are seasonally wet and dry, forming concentric rings or zones within pools of shallow open water or within ponds of low emergent vegetation that often contain many endemic and rare plant and invertebrate species.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: How are alkaline vernal pools different from playas or alkaline depressions? For example, why don''t halophytes occur in the alkaline vernal pools? Some specific discussion addressing that potential confusion would be worthwhile. The discussion under the Dynamics section hints at this.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Annual and perennial herbaceous species that are mostly forbs, with low stature, generally <1 m in height.
Floristics: Many endemic plant species are found in vernal pools. Characteristic species are predominantly annual and diverse. Northern scabland vernal pools share about a third of the species found in northern California vernal pools, but they do not share many of the more common dominant species. Vernal pool communities tend to be forb-dominated with many rare and endemic plant species (Barbour et al. 2007a, b, Fristrom and Game 2011) and animals (Belk 1998, Fugate 1998), many of which are documented to occur only in vernal pools.
In British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, pools have characteristic species that include Callitriche marginata, Callitriche spp., Camissonia tanacetifolia, Deschampsia danthonioides, Downingia elegans, Elatine spp., Eleocharis spp., Epilobium densiflorum (= Boisduvalia densiflora), Eryngium petiolatum, Eryngium vaseyi, Grindelia nana, Isoetes orcuttii, Juncus uncialis, Myosurus minimus (= Myosurus x clavicaulis), Navarretia leucocephala ssp. diffusa, Pilularia americana, Plagiobothrys spp., Plagiobothrys figuratus, Plagiobothrys scouleri, Polyctenium williamsiae, Polygonum polygaloides ssp. confertiflorum, Polygonum polygaloides ssp. polygaloides, Psilocarphus brevissimus, Psilocarphus elatior, Psilocarphus oregonus, Trifolium cyathiferum, Triteleia hyacinthina, and Veronica peregrina (Bjork 1997, Chappell and Christy 2004).
In northern Nevada, most of the species by biomass are perennials and include Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Carex douglasii, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, and species of Eleocharis, Polygonum, Rumex, and Polyctenium (J. Morefield pers. comm. 2010).
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 (Barbour et al. 2007a, b, Sawyer et al. 2009).
In the Great Valley of central California where short inundation periods are characteristic, Alopecurus saccatus, Callitriche marginata, Crassula aquatica, Deschampsia danthonioides, Downingia bicornuta, Elatine californica, Eleocharis acicularis, Eryngium vaseyi, Isoetes orcuttii, Juncus bufonius, Lasthenia californica, Navarretia leucocephala, Pilularia americana, Plagiobothrys stipitatus, Pogogyne ziziphoroides, Psilocarphus brevissimus, and Veronica peregrina ssp. xalapensis are often present and diagnostic. Where longer inundation periods are characteristic, Lasthenia glaberrima and Eleocharis macrostachya may be found (Barbour et al. 2005, 2007a, b, Sawyer et al. 2009).
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 (Barbour et al. 2007, Sawyer et al. 2009). Given their relative isolation in upland-dominated landscapes, many endemic plant species are common in vernal pools (Witham et al. 1998, Barbour et al. 2007a, b).
In British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, pools have characteristic species that include Callitriche marginata, Callitriche spp., Camissonia tanacetifolia, Deschampsia danthonioides, Downingia elegans, Elatine spp., Eleocharis spp., Epilobium densiflorum (= Boisduvalia densiflora), Eryngium petiolatum, Eryngium vaseyi, Grindelia nana, Isoetes orcuttii, Juncus uncialis, Myosurus minimus (= Myosurus x clavicaulis), Navarretia leucocephala ssp. diffusa, Pilularia americana, Plagiobothrys spp., Plagiobothrys figuratus, Plagiobothrys scouleri, Polyctenium williamsiae, Polygonum polygaloides ssp. confertiflorum, Polygonum polygaloides ssp. polygaloides, Psilocarphus brevissimus, Psilocarphus elatior, Psilocarphus oregonus, Trifolium cyathiferum, Triteleia hyacinthina, and Veronica peregrina (Bjork 1997, Chappell and Christy 2004).
In northern Nevada, most of the species by biomass are perennials and include Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Carex douglasii, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, and species of Eleocharis, Polygonum, Rumex, and Polyctenium (J. Morefield pers. comm. 2010).
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 (Barbour et al. 2007a, b, Sawyer et al. 2009).
In the Great Valley of central California where short inundation periods are characteristic, Alopecurus saccatus, Callitriche marginata, Crassula aquatica, Deschampsia danthonioides, Downingia bicornuta, Elatine californica, Eleocharis acicularis, Eryngium vaseyi, Isoetes orcuttii, Juncus bufonius, Lasthenia californica, Navarretia leucocephala, Pilularia americana, Plagiobothrys stipitatus, Pogogyne ziziphoroides, Psilocarphus brevissimus, and Veronica peregrina ssp. xalapensis are often present and diagnostic. Where longer inundation periods are characteristic, Lasthenia glaberrima and Eleocharis macrostachya may be found (Barbour et al. 2005, 2007a, b, Sawyer et al. 2009).
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 (Barbour et al. 2007, Sawyer et al. 2009). Given their relative isolation in upland-dominated landscapes, many endemic plant species are common in vernal pools (Witham et al. 1998, Barbour et al. 2007a, b).
Dynamics: Depressions are seasonally filled by winter and spring rain, followed by nine months of no rain such that they dry with a slowly decreasing pond depth. This inundation and slow drying period is an important aspect that differentiates vernal pools from other types of wetlands, and is one reason for the highly unique flora and fauna found there. Some pools fill annually, others only once in several years. Some years pools dry up quickly, in other years they may remain inundated for 2 years.
Environmental Description: Vernal pools of this macrogroup are found in areas with a Mediterranean climate of mild winters and dry summers. The ground often has a hummocky micro-relief over bedrock or soil underlain by a clay pan or hardpan which restricts water drainage. Drainage is prevented by a cemented layer of indurated clay or cemented Si or Fe, or unfractured bedrock. These wetlands tend to be acidic to circumneutral to alkaline and slightly saline. Depressions tend to be relatively small closed basins that fill annually during winter and spring through rainfall and/or snowmelt. Some pools remain dry for several years, while in wetter regions, pools can remain inundated for two years in a row.
Geographic Range: This macrogroup is found throughout intermountain valleys of British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, California and Mexico, from sea level to 2600 m (7800 feet) elevation. It is found on the Gulf and San Juan islands of Washington; in the northern Columbia Basin and perhaps the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia; the western portion of the Great Basin in Nevada; in the Lassen, Klamath, and upper Pit river drainages, and the Devils Garden area, the northern Central Valley, in the foothills of the southern Cascades and Sierra Nevada of northern California; and in southern California where they range from Baja Norte, Mexico, north through Santa Barbara County, California (Bjork 1997, Chappell and Christy 2004, Barbour et al. 2007a).
Nations: CA,MX,US
States/Provinces: BC, CA, MXBCN, NV, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860581
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D031 | 2.C.4.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nb.3 Winged Water-starwort - Elegant Calicoflower - California Eryngo Western North American Vernal Pool Macrogroup | M074 | 2.C.4.Nb.3 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nb.3.a Californian Vernal Pool Group | G530 | 2.C.4.Nb.3.a |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nb.3.b Calicoflower species - Water-starwort species - Eryngo species North Pacific Vernal Pool Group | G529 | 2.C.4.Nb.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > California Vernal Pool (Barbour and Billings 2000) [Describes California variation of vernal pools. Does not cover Oregon and Washington vernal pools.]
- Barbour, M. G., A. I. Solomeshch, R. F. Holland, C.W. Witham, R. L. Macdonald, S. S. Cilliers, J. A. Molina, J. J. Buck, and J. M. Hillman. 2005. Vernal pool vegetation of California: Communities of long-inundated deep habitats. Phytocoenologia 35:177-200.
- Barbour, M. G., A. I. Solomeshch, and J. J. Buck. 2007b. Classification, ecological characterization, and presence of listed plant taxa of vernal pool associations in California. Report to USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service, Agreement Study No. 814205G238. University of California, Davis. 117 pp. plus 5 tables. [http://www.vernalpools.org/documents/Barbour_et_al_2007.pdf]
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