Print Report
A3354 Hesperocyparis forbesii - Hesperocyparis nevadensis Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance covers stunted woodlands (are generally less than 5 m in height) that are stands composed of tree species such as Hesperocyparis forbesii, Hesperocyparis nevadensis, or Hesperocyparis stephensonii, sometimes mixed with Juniperus californica, Pinus coulteri, Pinus sabiniana, Quercus douglasii, or Quercus engelmannii. Companion shrubs are chaparral species. These stands are found in the cismontane regions of the Sierra Nevada and southern California mountains and valleys.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tecate Cypress - Paiute Cypress Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Cismontane Cypress Scrub Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of stunted or "scrub" woodlands (<5 m tall) composed of tree species Hesperocyparis forbesii, Hesperocyparis nevadensis, or Hesperocyparis stephensonii, sometimes mixed with Juniperus californica, Pinus coulteri, Pinus sabiniana, Quercus douglasii, or Quercus engelmannii. The tree canopy is typically open to intermittent, often <5 m (some slightly taller but still <10 m) in height. The shrub layer can be sparse to continuous, and the herbaceous layer is typically sparse. Shrubs are chaparral species and may include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos spp., Artemisia californica, Ceanothus spp., Chamaebatia australis, Dendromecon rigida, Ericameria linearifolia, Eriogonum wrightii, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Fraxinus dipetala, Garrya flavescens, Malosma laurina, Pickeringia montana, Quercus berberidifolia, Salvia munzii, Salvia sonomensis, and Xylococcus bicolor. This alliance occurs on ridges, slopes, valleys, alluvial fans, and valley bottoms, often on north-facing slopes. Soils are either deep or shallow over alkaline clay, sandstone, granitic, mafic, metamorphic, and ultramafic substrates. Elevation ranges from 300 to 1850 m. All of the Hesperocyparis species are fire-adapted. In the Hesperocyparis forbesii communities, stand-replacing fires were probably rare before human-caused fires and altered fire regimes, and stands are eliminated by repeated moderate fire. Currently, stands of this cypress are at risk because of too-short fire-return intervals. This alliance occurs in the cismontane regions of the Sierra Nevada and southern California mountains and valleys.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Hesperocyparis forbesii, Hesperocyparis nevadensis, or Hesperocyparis stephensonii dominate stands.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Sawyer et al. (2009) treat the Cupressus stands within individual alliances or "special stands." Under this draft alliance concept, some of those are included in this alliance where they occur localized in inland locations, and have associated "California chaparral" floristics. The Cupressus stands included here are found in interior southern California, are some of the more xerophytic of the cypress species, and occur with many of the southern California chaparral shrub species. In recent taxonomic treatments, the genus Cupressus is restricted to the Old World; cypresses in California belong to the genus Callitropsis (Bartel et al. 2003, Little 2006). Currently the USNVC uses Hesperocyparis (USDA Plants 2017).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Scrub woodlands, generally less than 5 m in height (but can be up to 10 m); canopy is typically open to intermittent. The shrub layer can be sparse to continuous, and the herbaceous layer is typically sparse.
Floristics: Stands are composed of Hesperocyparis forbesii (= Cupressus forbesii), Hesperocyparis nevadensis (= Cupressus nevadensis), or Hesperocyparis stephensonii (= Cupressus stephensonii), sometimes mixed with Juniperus californica, Pinus coulteri, Pinus sabiniana, Quercus douglasii, or Quercus engelmannii. Shrubs are chaparral species and may include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos glauca, Arctostaphylos otayensis, Artemisia californica, Ceanothus crassifolius, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus greggii, Ceanothus x otayensis, Chamaebatia australis, Dendromecon rigida, Ericameria linearifolia, Eriogonum wrightii, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Fraxinus dipetala, Garrya flavescens, Helianthemum scoparium, Malosma laurina, Pickeringia montana, Quercus berberidifolia, Salvia munzii, Salvia sonomensis, and Xylococcus bicolor.
Dynamics: All of the Hesperocyparis species are fire-adapted. In the Hesperocyparis forbesii communities, stand-replacing fires were probably rare before human-caused fires and altered fire regimes, and stands are eliminated by repeated moderate fire. Currently, stands of this cypress alliance are at risk because of too-short fire-return intervals.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs on ridges, slopes, valleys, alluvial fans, and valley bottoms, often on north-facing slopes (Holland 1986, Sawyer et al. 2009). It is found in the cismontane regions of the Sierra Nevada and southern California mountains and valleys, at elevations ranging from 300-1850 m. Soils are either deep or shallow over alkaline clay, sandstone, granitic, mafic, metamorphic, and ultramafic substrates.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the cismontane regions of the Sierra Nevada and southern California mountains and valleys bordering desert fringes. Stands of Hesperocyparis forbesii also occur in Baja California, Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: CA, MXBCN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899478
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.b Western Cypress species - Pine species Forest & Woodland Group | G198 | 1.B.1.Nc.1.b |
| Alliance | A3354 Tecate Cypress - Paiute Cypress Woodland Alliance | A3354 | 1.B.1.Nc.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Callitropsis forbesii (Tecate cypress stands) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [81.607.00]
> Callitropsis nevadensis (Piute cypress woodland) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [81.605.00]
> Callitropsis stephensonii (Cuyamaca cypress stands) Special Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [81.610.00]
> Callitropsis nevadensis (Piute cypress woodland) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [81.605.00]
> Callitropsis stephensonii (Cuyamaca cypress stands) Special Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [81.610.00]
- Bartel, J. A., R. P. Adams, S. A. James, L. E. Mumba, and R. N. Pandey. 2003. Variation among Cupressus species from the western hemisphere based on Random Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs). Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 31:693-702.
- 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.
- Little, D. P. 2006. Evolution and circumscription of the true Cypresses (Cupressaceae: Cupressus). Systematic Botany 31:461-480.
- 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.
- 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.