Print Report
A0371 Quercus agrifolia - Quercus douglasii - Quercus kelloggii Coastal Forest Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of stands where three or more oaks are codominant in the upper canopy, and the mix is such that the stand does not fit in any other mixed oak alliance within this group and occurring in the central California Coast Ranges from Sonoma and Napa counties south to Santa Barbara County. Quercus agrifolia, Quercus douglasii, Quercus garryana, Quercus kelloggii, Quercus lobata, and/or Quercus wislizeni are codominant in the tree canopy with Aesculus californica, Arbutus menziesii, Pinus sabiniana, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Umbellularia californica.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: California Live Oak - Blue Oak - California Black Oak Coastal Forest Alliance
Colloquial Name: California Coastal Mixed Oak Forest
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of stands where three or more oaks are codominant in the upper canopy including Quercus agrifolia, Quercus douglasii, Quercus garryana, Quercus kelloggii, Quercus lobata, and/or Quercus wislizeni. Other trees present may include with Aesculus californica, Arbutus menziesii, Pinus sabiniana, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and/or Umbellularia californica. Shrubs are infrequent or common. Herbaceous layer is sparse or abundant, and may be grassy. This alliance occurs in central California Coast Ranges from Sonoma and Napa counties south to Santa Barbara County. Elevation ranges from 250-2000 m (820-6560 feet). It occurs in valleys, on gentle to steep slopes, and soils are moderately deep.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Three or more Quercus species present at >30% constancy and codominant in the tree canopy.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance concept is based on the mixed oak forest alliance Quercus (agrifolia, douglasii, garryana, kelloggii, lobata, wislizeni) Forest Alliance as described by Sawyer et al. (2009).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This mixed broad-leaved, evergreen, cold-deciduous forest forms a continuous canopy less than 30 m in height. A subcanopy may be present. Shrubs are infrequent to common, and the herbaceous layer is sparse to abundant and often grassy.
Floristics: This alliance is characterized by the presence of several oak species, none of which achieve dominance. Characteristic oaks include Quercus agrifolia, Quercus douglasii, Quercus garryana, Quercus kelloggii, Quercus lobata, and Quercus wislizeni. Other trees in the canopy or subcanopy may include Aesculus californica, Arbutus menziesii, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus sabiniana, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Umbellularia californica. Shrubs may include Baccharis pilularis, Frangula californica (= Rhamnus californica), and Toxicodendron diversilobum.
Dynamics: This alliance is subject to periodic fires. Burns favor oaks over pines.
Environmental Description: Stands of this California forest alliance are found on moderately deep soils in gently sloping valleys at elevations ranging from 250-2000 m (820-6560 feet). Soils are seasonally to permanently saturated at depth. The precipitation regime where this alliance occurs is strongly Mediterranean, with most precipitation falling as rain between November and April. Summers are quite warm and dry. Winters are cool, but frosts are rare.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the central California Coast Ranges from Sonoma and Napa counties south to Santa Barbara County.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.898985
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 Forest & Woodland Class | C01 | 1 |
| Subclass | 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass | S15 | 1.B |
| Formation | 1.B.1 Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Formation | F018 | 1.B.1 |
| Division | 1.B.1.Nc Californian Forest & Woodland Division | D007 | 1.B.1.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 1.B.1.Nc.1 California Live Oak - California Laurel - Western Cypress species Forest & Woodland Macrogroup | M009 | 1.B.1.Nc.1 |
| Group | 1.B.1.Nc.1.a California Live Oak - Valley Oak - California Laurel Forest & Woodland Group | G195 | 1.B.1.Nc.1.a |
| Alliance | A0371 California Live Oak - Blue Oak - California Black Oak Coastal Forest Alliance | A0371 | 1.B.1.Nc.1.a |
Concept Lineage: A.371
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus (agrifolia, douglasii, garryana, kelloggii, lobata, wislizeni) (Mixed oak forest) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [71.100.00]
= Quercus (agrifolia, douglasii, garryana, kelloggii, lobata, wislizeni) Forest Alliance (CNPS 2017) [71.100.00]
> Quercus agrifolia Woodland Alliance (Stout et al. 2013)
> Quercus douglasii Woodland Alliance (Stout et al. 2013)
>< Digger Pine-Oak Woodland (#71410) (Holland 1986b)
= Mixed oak series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Northern Oak Woodland (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
= Quercus (agrifolia, douglasii, garryana, kelloggii, lobata, wislizeni) Forest Alliance (CNPS 2017) [71.100.00]
> Quercus agrifolia Woodland Alliance (Stout et al. 2013)
> Quercus douglasii Woodland Alliance (Stout et al. 2013)
>< Digger Pine-Oak Woodland (#71410) (Holland 1986b)
= Mixed oak series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Northern Oak Woodland (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
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