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A3349 Quercus chrysolepis - Quercus kelloggii Forest & Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is characterized by single or mixed oak woodlands or forests dominated by Quercus kelloggii, Quercus wislizeni, and/or Quercus chrysolepis. Pinus ponderosa may be present. It occurs in valleys and lower slopes on a variety of parent materials, and is found throughout California''s middle and inner North Coast Ranges, as well as the southern and eastern Klamath Mountains and western Sierra Nevada foothills.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Canyon Live Oak - California Black Oak Forest & Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Canyon Live Oak - California Black Oak Forest & Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of woodlands and forests dominated by a single or mix of oak species with and without the presence of Pinus ponderosa. Oaks include Quercus kelloggii, Quercus wislizeni, or Quercus chrysolepis. Fire frequency and intensity drive composition of stands within this alliance with Quercus chrysolepis dominant with less frequent fires. With frequent annual burning (at lower elevations and on warmer sites), stands of this alliance are an open to dense woodland of large oaks with well-developed grassy understories of native perennial bunchgrasses. The predominant oaks with a higher frequency of fires include Quercus kelloggii. Quercus chrysolepis becomes dominant with less frequent fires. Pseudotsuga menziesii may co-occur with Pinus ponderosa, particularly in the North Coast Ranges and Klamath Mountains. On most sites, the oaks are dominant, forming a dense subcanopy under a more open canopy of the conifers. On many sites, Quercus kelloggii is the dominant; in late-seral stands on more mesic sites, conifers such as Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii will form a persistent emergent canopy over the oak. Stands may have shrubby understories (in the Klamath Mountains and Sierra Nevada) and, more rarely, grassy understories (in North Coast Ranges). Common shrubs include Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus integerrimus, Juniperus occidentalis, Rhamnus ilicifolia, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. Grasses can include Festuca californica, Festuca idahoensis, Elymus glaucus, and Danthonia californica (close to the coast) and Melica spp. A variety of native forbs also occur. Historical fire was likely of high frequency but of low intensity. Conifer species, such as Pseudotsuga menziesii, become more abundant with wildfire suppression. This alliance is found throughout California''s middle and inner North Coast Ranges, as well as the southern and eastern Klamath Mountains from 600 to 1800 m (1800-5900 feet) elevation, and the lower slopes of the western Sierra Nevada foothills up to 1600 m (4850 feet). It occurs in valleys and lower slopes on a variety of parent materials, including granitics, metamorphic and Franciscan metasedimentary parent material and deep, well-developed soils, and on steep, rocky slopes where snow and cold temperatures occur.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands dominated or codominated by Quercus chrysolepis and/or Quercus kelloggii.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is based primarily upon two ecological systems: ~Mediterranean California Mixed Oak Woodland (CES206.909)$$ and ~Mediterranean California Lower Montane Black Oak-Conifer Forest and Woodland (CES206.923)$$. There are a number of Quercus garryana woodland associations identified for California in Sawyer et al. (2009). They are attributed to this alliance, but might actually belong to ~Cascadian Oregon White Oak - Conifer Forest & Woodland Group (G206)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This lowland or submontane, winter-rain, evergreen sclerophyllous forest may contain emergent conifers (<30 m tall) over a continuous tree subcanopy (20-25 m tall). The shrub layer is infrequent, and the herbaceous layer is sparse or absent.

Floristics: This alliance consists of woodlands and forests dominated by a single or mix of oak species with and without the presence of Pinus ponderosa. Oaks include Quercus kelloggii, Quercus wislizeni, or Quercus chrysolepis. Fire frequency and intensity drive composition of stands within this alliance with Quercus chrysolepis dominant with less frequent fires. With frequent annual burning (at lower elevations and on warmer sites), stands of this alliance are an open to dense woodland of large oaks with well-developed grassy understories of native perennial bunchgrasses. The predominant oaks with a higher frequency of fires include Quercus kelloggii. Quercus chrysolepis becomes dominant with less frequent fires. Pseudotsuga menziesii may co-occur with Pinus ponderosa, particularly in the North Coast Ranges and Klamath Mountains. On most sites, the oaks are dominant, forming a dense subcanopy under a more open canopy of the conifers. On many sites, Quercus kelloggii is the dominant; in late-seral stands on more mesic sites, conifers such as Pinus ponderosa or Pseudotsuga menziesii will form a persistent emergent canopy over the oak. Stands may have shrubby understories (in the Klamath Mountains and Sierra Nevada) and, more rarely, grassy understories (in North Coast Ranges). Mojave Desert ranges and mesic canyon stands often have Pinus monophylla present with Quercus chrysolepis dominant to codominant. Common shrubs include Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus integerrimus, Juniperus occidentalis, Rhamnus ilicifolia, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. Grasses can include Festuca californica, Festuca idahoensis, Elymus glaucus, and Danthonia californica (close to the coast) and Melica spp. A variety of native forbs also occur. Historical fire was likely of high frequency but of low intensity. Conifer species, such as Pseudotsuga menziesii, become more abundant with wildfire suppression.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  It occurs in valleys and lower slopes on a variety of parent materials, including granitics, metamorphic and Franciscan metasedimentary parent material and deep, well-developed soils, and on steep, rocky slopes where snow and cold temperatures occur. It is found throughout California''s middle and inner North Coast Ranges, as well as the southern and eastern Klamath Mountains from 600-1600 m (1800-4850 feet) elevation, and the lower slopes of the western Sierra Nevada foothills up to 1800 m (5900 feet).
Geographic Range: This alliance is found throughout the foothills of the California Coast Ranges, Klamath Mountains and Sierra Nevada.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, OR


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 A3349 Canyon Live Oak - California Black Oak Forest & Woodland Alliance A3349 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008600 Canyon Live Oak - Incense-cedar Forest CEGL008600 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008601 Canyon Live Oak / Greenleaf Manzanita Forest CEGL008601 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008602 Canyon Live Oak / Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita Forest CEGL008602 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008603 Canyon Live Oak / Coastal Woodfern Forest CEGL008603 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008604 Canyon Live Oak - California Laurel Forest CEGL008604 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008605 Canyon Live Oak - California Foothill Pine Forest CEGL008605 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008606 Canyon Live Oak - Ponderosa Pine Forest CEGL008606 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008617 California Black Oak / Greenleaf Manzanita Forest CEGL008617 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008618 California Black Oak - Incense-cedar Forest CEGL008618 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008619 California Black Oak / Indian Manzanita - Mountain Misery Forest CEGL008619 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008640 Interior Live Oak - Canyon Live Oak Woodland CEGL008640 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Association CEGL008694 Ponderosa Pine - California Black Oak / Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita Woodland CEGL008694 1.B.1.Nc.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Quercus chrysolepis (Canyon live oak forest) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [71.050.00]
> Quercus chrysolepis Forest Alliance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
> Quercus chrysolepis Forest Alliance (Evens et al. 2014) [relationship uncertain]
> Quercus chrysolepis Forest Alliance (Canyon live oak forest) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Quercus kelloggii (California black oak forest) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [71.010.00]
> Quercus kelloggii Alliance (California black oak forest) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Quercus kelloggii Forest Alliance [Provisional] (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
? Cañon Live Oak Forest (#81320) (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: 04-23-18
  • 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]
  • Evens, J. M. 2000. Water course vegetation on granite and calcareous substrates in the eastern Mojave Desert, California. Master''s thesis, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA.
  • Evens, J. M., K. Sikes, D. Hastings, and J. Ratchford. 2014. Vegetation alliance descriptions for Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve. Unpublished report submitted to USDI National Park Service, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
  • 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.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., P. E. Moore, E. T. Reyes, J. M. Menke, D. N. Johnson, and D. L. Karavidas. 2012. Yosemite National Park vegetation classification and mapping project report. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/YOSE/NRTR--2012/598. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
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  • Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
  • VegCAMP and AIS [Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.]. 2013. 2012 California desert vegetation map and accuracy assessment in support of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. Unpublished report to California Department of Fish and Wildlife Renewable Energy Program and the California Energy Commission. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program and Aerial Information Systems, Inc.