Print Report
G766 Californian Annual Grassland & Forb Meadow Group
Type Concept Sentence: This group of annual grasslands and annual forb-dominated meadows ranges from the coast to the lower foothills of the Sierra Nevada in California and is composed of native annual species Amsinckia menziesii, Eschscholzia spp., Gayophytum diffusum, Lotus unifoliolatus, Plagiobothrys nothofulvus, Trifolium variegatum, and Vulpia microstachys.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Californian Annual Grassland & Forb Meadow Group
Colloquial Name: Californian Annual Grassland & Forb Meadow
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This group encompasses annual grasslands and annual forb-dominated meadows of California, ranging from the coast to the lower foothills of the Sierra Nevada. This includes the native annual species Amsinckia menziesii, Eschscholzia spp., Gayophytum diffusum, Lotus unifoliolatus, Plagiobothrys nothofulvus, Trifolium variegatum, and Vulpia microstachys. Most occurrences have significant non-native species presence.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Dominance or at least >25% relative cover of native annual grass and annual forb species.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is a relictual group, with occurrences far and few between, and therefore difficult to study.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Annual herbaceous cover <1 m in height.
Floristics: Stands have a wide variation in the amount of native dominance both spatially and temporally from year to year as seed banks respond to rainfall events significant enough to trigger germination. Annuals that may be dominant include Amsinckia menziesii, Amsinckia tessellata, Cistanthe umbellata, Eschscholzia spp., Eschscholzia californica (not an annual but iconic and conspicuous), Gayophytum diffusum, Lasthenia californica, Lotus unifoliolatus (= Lotus purshianus), Plagiobothrys nothofulvus, Plantago erecta, Trifolium variegatum, and Vulpia microstachys.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: These annual grasslands and meadows occur on upland slopes, broad valleys, and ocean bluffs, from sea level to over 1200 m elevation. They may occupy dry, raised portions of meadow systems, forest edges, and pockets of sandy loams within montane meadow habitats. Slopes occur at all aspects. Soils are generally fine-textured from loam to clay soils, especially those of volcanic and serpentine parent materials. Most occurrences are upslope; however, some stands occur in more mesic settings, such as seasonally to intermittently flooded alluvial flats and stream terraces, or at the edges of vernal pools, in swales, seeps, and moist grassy flats.
Geographic Range: This group is found throughout California below 1200 m elevation.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: CA, MXBCN, NV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.892730
Confidence Level: Moderate
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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.1 Mediterranean Scrub & Grassland Formation | F038 | 2.B.1 |
| Division | 2.B.1.Na Californian Scrub & Grassland Division | D327 | 2.B.1.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.1.Na.3 Purple Needlegrass - Harvest Brodiaea - Rusty Popcorn-flower Native Grassland Macrogroup | M045 | 2.B.1.Na.3 |
| Group | 2.B.1.Na.3.a Californian Annual Grassland & Forb Meadow Group | G766 | 2.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A4153 California Goldfields - Dot-seed Plantain - Small Six-weeks Grass Meadow Alliance | A4153 | 2.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A4171 Clustered Tarweed Meadow Alliance | A4171 | 2.B.1.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A4182 Menzies'' Fiddleneck - Bristly Fiddleneck - Phacelia species Meadow Alliance | A4182 | 2.B.1.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Ambrosia psilostachya (Western ragweed meadows) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [33.065.00]
> Amsinckia (menziesii, tessellata) (Fiddleneck fields) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.110.00]
> Artemisia dracunculus (Wild tarragon patches) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [35.160.00]
> Eschscholzia (californica) (California poppy fields) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [43.200.00]
> Lotus purshianus (Spanish clover fields) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.230.00]
> Melica torreyana (Torrey’s melic grass patches) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.275.00]
> Plagiobothrys nothofulvus (Popcorn flower fields) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [43.300.00]
> Amsinckia (menziesii, tessellata) (Fiddleneck fields) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.110.00]
> Artemisia dracunculus (Wild tarragon patches) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [35.160.00]
> Eschscholzia (californica) (California poppy fields) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [43.200.00]
> Lotus purshianus (Spanish clover fields) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.230.00]
> Melica torreyana (Torrey’s melic grass patches) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.275.00]
> Plagiobothrys nothofulvus (Popcorn flower fields) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [43.300.00]
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- Buck-Diaz, J., J. Ratchford, and J. M. Evens. 2013. California rangeland monitoring and mapping: Focusing upon Great Valley and Carrizo Plain grassland habitats, California. Unpublished report submitted to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. California Native Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/pdf/grassland_nrcs_report-2013c.pdf]
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