Print Report
G418 Ulex europaeus / Holcus lanatus - Pennisetum clandestinum Ruderal Subalpine-Montane Shrubland & Grassland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This montane-subalpine ruderal shrubland and grassland group is characterized by a moderate to dense herbaceous layer (<1 m tall) or shrub layer dominated by exotic species. It includes disturbed shrublands dominated by native shrub species with a moderate to dense herbaceous layer strongly dominated by exotic species (>90% relative cover).
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Gorse / Common Velvetgrass - Kikuyu Grass Ruderal Subalpine-Montane Shrubland & Grassland
Colloquial Name: Polynesian Ruderal Subalpine-Montane Shrubland & Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This montane-subalpine ruderal shrubland and grassland group is characterized by a moderate to dense herbaceous layer (<1 m tall) dominated by exotic species such as Andropogon virginicus, Heterotheca grandiflora, Holcus lanatus, Melinis minutiflora, Melinis repens, Nephrolepis multiflora, Pennisetum clandestinum, Pityrogramma austroamericana, and many others. Other than Ulex europaeus there are relatively few exotic shrubs that dominate montane and subalpine sites. However, this group also includes disturbed shrublands dominated by native shrub species such as Dodonaea viscosa and Styphelia tameiameiae with a moderate to dense herbaceous layer strongly dominated by exotic species (>90% relative cover) that is so altered that the natural plant community cannot be determined. This shrubland and grassland group occurs on slopes of the larger islands in Hawai`i, from near 1000 to 3000 m (3280-9835 feet) elevation. Annual rainfall is generally 400-2500 mm. Soils are generally shallow, over soft, highly weathered `a`â or pâhoehoe basaltic lava that retains soil moisture, but includes thin mucky clays, deeper ash deposits and thin, well-drained, cinder-derived soil with many rock outcrops.
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: This grassland and shrubland group is characterized by either a grass layer <1 m tall, or an open to closed short (<2-m tall) shrub layer.
Floristics: This montane-subalpine ruderal shrubland and grassland group is characterized by a moderate to dense herbaceous layer (<1 m tall) dominated by exotic species such as Andropogon virginicus, Heterotheca grandiflora, Holcus lanatus, Melinis minutiflora, Melinis repens, Nephrolepis multiflora, Pennisetum clandestinum, Pityrogramma austroamericana, and many others. Other than Ulex europaeus there are relatively few exotic shrubs that dominate montane and subalpine sites. However, this group also includes disturbed shrublands dominated by native shrub species such as Dodonaea viscosa and Styphelia tameiameiae with a moderate to dense herbaceous layer strongly dominated by exotic species (>90% relative cover) that is so altered that the natural plant community cannot be determined.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This shrubland and grassland group occurs on slopes of the larger islands in Hawai`i, from near 1000 to 3000 m (3280-9835 feet) elevation. Annual rainfall is generally 400-2500 mm. Many sites are wind-exposed. Substrates include cinder, well-drained, sandy loam soils derived from volcanic ash or cinder, and weathered `a`â or pâhoehoe basaltic lava with little soil development.
Climate: Climate is tropical, moderate dry to wet as annual rainfall is ranges from 400-2500 mm with rain distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. Sites range from dry at high elevations to very wet (Zones 2 and 7) of the 7 Moisture Zones developed for the Hawaiian Islands by Price et al. (2007).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Soils are generally shallow, over soft, highly weathered `a`â or pâhoehoe basaltic lava that retains soil moisture, but includes thin mucky clays, deeper ash deposits and thin, well-drained, cinder-derived soil with many rock outcrops (Gagne and Cuddihy 1990).
Climate: Climate is tropical, moderate dry to wet as annual rainfall is ranges from 400-2500 mm with rain distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. Sites range from dry at high elevations to very wet (Zones 2 and 7) of the 7 Moisture Zones developed for the Hawaiian Islands by Price et al. (2007).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Soils are generally shallow, over soft, highly weathered `a`â or pâhoehoe basaltic lava that retains soil moisture, but includes thin mucky clays, deeper ash deposits and thin, well-drained, cinder-derived soil with many rock outcrops (Gagne and Cuddihy 1990).
Geographic Range: This montane-subalpine ruderal shrubland and grassland group occurs in the larger Hawaiian Islands such as Hawai`i, Moloka`i, Maui, Kaua`i and O`ahu.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: HI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860870
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.A Tropical Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland Subclass | S01 | 2.A |
| Formation | 2.A.2 Tropical Montane Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F017 | 2.A.2 |
| Division | 2.A.2.Oh Polynesian Montane Shrubland, Grassland & Savanna Division | D076 | 2.A.2.Oh |
| Macrogroup | 2.A.2.Oh.90 Polynesian Ruderal Montane Shrubland, Grassland & Savanna Macrogroup | M227 | 2.A.2.Oh.90 |
| Group | 2.A.2.Oh.90.a Common Gorse / Common Velvetgrass - Kikuyu Grass Ruderal Subalpine-Montane Shrubland & Grassland | G418 | 2.A.2.Oh.90.a |
Concept Lineage: G419 & G420 merged into G418.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Gagne, W. C., and L. W. Cuddihy. 1990. Vegetation. Pages 45-114 in: W. L. Wagner, D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer, editors. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii. 2 volumes. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu.
- Mueller-Dombois, D., and F. R. Fosberg. 1998. Vegetation of the tropical Pacific islands. Springer-Verlag, New York. 733 pp.
- Price, J. P., S. M. Gon, III, J. D. Jacobi, and D. Matsuwaki. 2007. Mapping plant species ranges in the Hawaiian Islands: Developing a methodology and associated GIS layers. Hawai''i Cooperative Studies Unit. Technical Report HCSU-008. Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center (PACRC), University of Hawai''i, Hilo. 58 pp., includes 16 figures and 6 tables.
- Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Volumes 1 and 2. University of Hawaii Press and Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp.