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A3348 Quercus douglasii - Pinus sabiniana Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of oak woodlands with open park-like stands of Pinus sabiniana in the emergent overstory. Dominant oaks include Quercus douglasii and/or Quercus wislizeni. This alliance is primarily found in the valley margins and foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges of California.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Oak - California Foothill Pine Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Blue Oak - California Foothill Pine Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of oak woodlands with open park-like stands of Pinus sabiniana in the emergent overstory. Dominant oaks include Quercus douglasii and/or Quercus wislizeni. Other species present may include Aesculus californica, Arctostaphylos spp., Ceanothus cuneatus, Cercis canadensis var. texensis, Frangula californica, Juniperus californica, Ribes quercetorum, and/or Pinus coulteri (central and southern Coast Ranges). This alliance is primarily found in the valley margins and foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges of California from approximately 120-1200 m (360-3600 feet) in elevation on rolling plains or dry slopes. Over a century of anthropogenic changes (especially cutting of oak) have altered the density and distribution of woody vegetation.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands of oak or mixed oak with Quercus douglasiior Quercus wislizeni, with or without open emergent Pinus sabiniana.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is based primarily on the ecological system ~California Lower Montane Blue Oak-Foothill Pine Woodland and Savanna (CES206.936)$$, but without the pure stands of Juniperus californica.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This sclerophyllous, extremely xeromorphic evergreen woodland forms a savanna-like, intermittent or continuous canopy less than 15 m in height with needle-leaved evergreen emergent trees. Shrubs are infrequent to common, and the herbaceous layer is sparse.

Floristics: This alliance consists of oak woodlands with open park-like stands of Pinus sabiniana in the emergent overstory. Dominant oaks include Quercus douglasii and/or Quercus wislizeni. Other species present may include Aesculus californica, Arctostaphylos spp., Ceanothus cuneatus, Cercis canadensis var. texensis, Frangula californica, Juniperus californica, Ribes quercetorum, and/or Pinus coulteri (central and southern Coast Ranges).

Dynamics:  Over a century of anthropogenic changes (especially cutting of oak) have altered the density and distribution of woody vegetation.
Environmental Description:  This woodland alliance of California''s western mountains grows on shallow, moderately to excessively drained soils. Stands are found between 500 and 4500 m elevation. Precipitation throughout the range of this alliance is strongly Mediterranean, with the bulk falling between November and May. Because this alliance has an exceptionally large elevational and latitudinal range, yearly precipitation totals vary from 40 to 200 cm. The poor water-holding capacity of the soils of this alliance creates very droughty conditions through the long summer. Precipitation may fall as snow in the upper elevations.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs primarily in the valley margins and foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges from approximately 120-1200 m (360-3600 feet) elevation, from Shasta County to Kern and northern Los Angeles counties, California.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

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 A3348 Blue Oak - California Foothill Pine Woodland Alliance A3348 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL005313 Blue Oak - California Foothill Pine / Birchleaf Mountain-mahogany Woodland CEGL005313 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL005314 Blue Oak / Mixed Herbaceous Woodland CEGL005314 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008641 Interior Live Oak - Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita Woodland CEGL008641 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008642 Interior Live Oak - Blue Oak - California Foothill Pine Woodland CEGL008642 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008645 Blue Oak / Brome species - American Wild Carrot Woodland CEGL008645 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008646 Blue Oak / Buckbrush / Grass species Woodland CEGL008646 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008647 Blue Oak - California Foothill Pine / Grass Woodland CEGL008647 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008648 Blue Oak - Interior Live Oak / Brome species - American Wild Carrot Woodland CEGL008648 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Concept Lineage: A525, A591, A.614, in parts

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus douglasii (Blue oak woodland) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [71.020.00]
= Quercus douglasii Alliance (Blue oak woodland) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
? Alvord Oak Woodland (#71170) (Holland 1986b)
? Blue Oak Woodland (#71140) (Holland 1986b)
>< Digger Pine-Oak Woodland (#71410) (Holland 1986b)
? Interior Live Oak Woodland (#71150) (Holland 1986b)
>< Nonserpentine Digger Pine-Chaparral Woodland (#71322) (Holland 1986b)
>< Open Digger Pine Woodland (#71310) (Holland 1986b)
>< Serpentine Digger Pine-Chaparral Woodland (#71321) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Allen, B. H., R. R. Evett, B. A. Holzman, and A. J. Martin. 1989. Report on rangeland cover type description for California hardwood rangelands. Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and Department of Forestry and Resource Management. Berkeley, CA.
  • Buck-Diaz, J., S. Batiuk, and J. M. Evens. 2012. Vegetation alliances and associations of the Great Valley ecoregion, California. California Native Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/pdf/great_valley_eco-vegclass2012.pdf]
  • 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.
  • Stout, D., J. Buck-Diaz, S. Taylor, and J. M. Evens. 2013. Vegetation mapping and accuracy assessment report for Carrizo Plain National Monument. California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program, Sacramento, CA. 71 pp.