Print Report
A1248 Nassella lepida - Melica torreyana Grassland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This California native bunchgrass alliance is dominated by Nassella lepida and/or Melica torreyana, either singly or together. It occurs in California''s valleys and foothills and grows on deep soils with a high clay content often derived from mudstone, sandstone, or serpentine substrates.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Foothill Needlegrass - Torrey''s Melicgrass Grassland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Californian Foothill Needlegrass - Torrey''s Melicgrass Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This California native bunchgrass alliance is dominated by Nassella lepida and/or Melica torreyana, either singly or together. Other graminoids present may include Calamagrostis koelerioides, Elymus glaucus, Elymus multisetus, Festuca californica, Melica californica, Nassella pulchra, Nassella cernua, and Poa secunda. Forbs include Achillea millefolium, Calystegia collina, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, Clarkia purpurea, Daucus pusillus, Dichelostemma capitatum, Eriogonum nudum, and Eschscholzia californica. Many exotic annuals, such as Bromus hordeaceus, have invaded stands of this alliance. Emergent trees and shrubs may be present. Plant cover tends to be open. On sites with ultramafic-derived soils, serpentine-adapted species may be present. This bunchgrass alliance of California''s valleys and foothills grows on deep soils with a high clay content often derived from mudstone, sandstone, or serpentine substrates. Melica torreyana generally occurs on rocky steep slopes, especially on serpentine substrates, with soils of sandy or silty clays with surface of lag gravel. Stands can occur on all topographic positions, but due to climatic factors, they do not occur over 1700 m of elevation. The native California bunchgrasses are adapted to a Mediterranean climate with moist, cool winters and long, dry summers. Precipitation varies from 25-70 cm per year, and falls mostly between November and April. Melica torreyana is endemic to California.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Native bunchgrass alliance dominated by Nassella lepida and/or Melica torreyana, either singly or together.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance is a combination of two Sawyer et al. (2009) alliances, and much of the material is drawn from their descriptions.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This medium-tall, temperate or subpolar, bunch grassland forms an open canopy less than 1 m in height. Emergent trees and shrubs may be present.
Floristics: This California native bunchgrass alliance is dominated by Nassella lepida and/or Melica torreyana, either singly or together. Other graminoids present may include Calamagrostis koelerioides, Elymus glaucus, Elymus multisetus, Festuca californica, Melica californica, Nassella pulchra, Nassella cernua, and Poa secunda. Forbs include Achillea millefolium, Calystegia collina, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, Clarkia purpurea, Daucus pusillus, Dichelostemma capitatum, Eriogonum nudum, and Eschscholzia californica. Many exotic annuals, such as Bromus hordeaceus, have invaded stands of this alliance. Emergent trees and shrubs may be present. Plant cover tends to be open. On sites with ultramafic-derived soils, serpentine-adapted species may be present.
Dynamics: Grazing and fire are important in maintaining these grassland vegetation communities, though uncertainty still exists concerning the optimum grazing type and intensity. Reduction in fire frequency has favored introduced annual grasses over native perennial bunchgrasses.
Environmental Description: This bunchgrass alliance of California''s valleys and foothills grows on deep soils with a high clay content often derived from sandstone or ultramafics. Melica torreyana generally occurs on rocky steep slopes, especially on serpentine substrates, with soils of sandy or silty clays with surface of lag gravel. Stands can occur on all topographic positions, but due to climatic factors, they do not occur over 1700 m elevation. The native California bunchgrasses are adapted to a Mediterranean climate with moist, cool winters and long, dry summers. Precipitation varies from 25-70 cm per year, and falls mostly between November and April.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in northern, central, and southern California, generally close to the coast.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899094
Confidence Level: Low
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.b Purple Needlegrass - California Melicgrass - Giant Wildrye Grassland Group | G496 | 2.B.1.Na.3.b |
| Alliance | A1248 Foothill Needlegrass - Torrey''s Melicgrass Grassland Alliance | A1248 | 2.B.1.Na.3.b |
| Association | CEGL003110 Foothill Needlegrass Grassland | CEGL003110 | 2.B.1.Na.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Melica torreyana (Torrey’s melic grass patches) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.275.00]
> Nassella lepida (Foothill needle grass grassland) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.110.00]
>< Serpentine Bunchgrass (#42130) (Holland 1986b)
>< Valley Needlegrass Grassland (#42110) (Holland 1986b)
> Nassella lepida (Foothill needle grass grassland) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.110.00]
>< Serpentine Bunchgrass (#42130) (Holland 1986b)
>< Valley Needlegrass Grassland (#42110) (Holland 1986b)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
- Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Sproul, F., T. Keeler-Wolf, P. Gordon-Reedy, J. Dunn, A. Klein, and K. Harper. 2011. Vegetation classification manual for western San Diego County. AECOM, California Department of Fish and Game, San Diego Area Governments.