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G626 Morella faya - Metrosideros polymorpha / Non-native Understory Montane Mesic & Wet Ruderal Forest & Woodland Group
Type Concept Sentence: This montane to subalpine, mesic and wet forest and woodland ruderal group has a mostly native tree canopy with the understory converted to invasive species Andropogon virginicus, Microlaena stipoides, Melinis minutiflora, Nephrolepis multiflora, and Pennisetum clandestinum. Morella faya may also be present to dominant in the tree canopy, but invasive exotics are less common at higher elevations.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Firetree - `Ohi`a / Non-native Understory Montane Mesic & Wet Ruderal Forest & Woodland Group
Colloquial Name: Hawaiian Montane Ruderal Forest & Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This montane to subalpine, mesic and wet forest and woodland ruderal group occurs only on the larger, main Hawaiian Islands. It typically has a largely native tree canopy that is frequently dominated or codominated by Acacia koa or Metrosideros polymorpha with a severely degraded understory converted to invasive species such as Andropogon virginicus, Microlaena stipoides, Melinis minutiflora, Nephrolepis multiflora, and Pennisetum clandestinum. This severely degraded understory is altered to the point that the natural plant community cannot be determined, and the community has converted to a ruderal or novel type (usually dominated by non-native species with >90% relative cover). Native shrubs are typically sparse or absent. Exotic trees are less common at higher elevations, but invasive Morella faya may be present to dominant in the tree canopy.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Most stands have a native-dominated or -codominated tree canopy with understory converted to invasive Andropogon virginicus, Microlaena stipoides, Melinis minutiflora, Nephrolepis multiflora, Pennisetum clandestinum, and numerous other exotic species. Native shrub layers are typically absent. The group concept for this ruderal type includes stands with exotic-dominated tree canopies, but these are less common in the montane and subalpine zones.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This ruderal forest and woodland group occurs only on the larger, main Hawaiian Islands. The tree canopy is typically mostly native and is frequently dominated or codominated by Acacia koa or Metrosideros polymorpha with a severely degraded understory converted to invasive species such as Andropogon virginicus, Microlaena stipoides (= Ehrharta stipoides), Melinis minutiflora, Nephrolepis multiflora, and Pennisetum clandestinum. Native shrubs are typically sparse or absent and do not characterize the understory. This severely degraded understory is altered beyond the point that the natural plant community can be determined, and the community has converted to a ruderal or novel type (usually dominated by non-native species with>90% relative cover). Exotic trees are less common at higher elevations, but invasive Morella faya and other exotic trees may be present to dominant in the tree canopy.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands in this group occur in Hawai`i, Moloka`i, Maui, Kaua`i and O`ahu, and elsewhere in Polynesia. Sites occur from 900-2200 m (2950-7000 feet) elevation.
Climate: The tropical climate ranges from mesic to wet. Moisture zones are seasonally mesic and moist mesic (Zones 4 and 5) on sites between the dry leeward and wet windward, and moderately wet to very wet windward sites (Zones 6 and 7) of the 7 Moisture Zones developed for the Hawaiian Islands by Price et al. (2007). The mesic forests have relatively even, moderate precipitation throughout the year or have a distinct, seasonally dry period and typically do not experience extended periods of drought like the dry forests and woodlands. Annual rainfall is 1200-2500 mm (47-98 inches) and falls largely from October to March. Annual rainfall in rainforests generally exceeds 2500 mm (98 inches).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Substrates are variable. Wet soils generally have a gley horizon 10 to 70 cm (4-28 inches) deep, underlain by lateritic weathered basalt and overlain with organic hummus ranging from 10 to 30 cm (4-12 inches) deep that are nutrient-poor and lateritic due to leaching. Substrates include deep volcanic ash soils and trachyte, rocky mucks, and silty loams derived from weathered `a`รข lava (Gagne and Cuddihy 1990).
Climate: The tropical climate ranges from mesic to wet. Moisture zones are seasonally mesic and moist mesic (Zones 4 and 5) on sites between the dry leeward and wet windward, and moderately wet to very wet windward sites (Zones 6 and 7) of the 7 Moisture Zones developed for the Hawaiian Islands by Price et al. (2007). The mesic forests have relatively even, moderate precipitation throughout the year or have a distinct, seasonally dry period and typically do not experience extended periods of drought like the dry forests and woodlands. Annual rainfall is 1200-2500 mm (47-98 inches) and falls largely from October to March. Annual rainfall in rainforests generally exceeds 2500 mm (98 inches).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Substrates are variable. Wet soils generally have a gley horizon 10 to 70 cm (4-28 inches) deep, underlain by lateritic weathered basalt and overlain with organic hummus ranging from 10 to 30 cm (4-12 inches) deep that are nutrient-poor and lateritic due to leaching. Substrates include deep volcanic ash soils and trachyte, rocky mucks, and silty loams derived from weathered `a`รข lava (Gagne and Cuddihy 1990).
Geographic Range: This montane-subalpine ruderal forest and woodland 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.2.867660
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.A Tropical Forest & Woodland Subclass | S17 | 1.A |
| Formation | 1.A.3 Tropical Montane Humid Forest Formation | F004 | 1.A.3 |
| Division | 1.A.3.Oa Polynesian Montane & Cloud Forest Division | D068 | 1.A.3.Oa |
| Macrogroup | 1.A.3.Oa.90 Polynesian Ruderal Montane Rainforest Macrogroup | M197 | 1.A.3.Oa.90 |
| Group | 1.A.3.Oa.90.a Firetree - `Ohi`a / Non-native Understory Montane Mesic & Wet Ruderal Forest & Woodland Group | G626 | 1.A.3.Oa.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
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.
- 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.