Print Report
A3355 Hesperocyparis sargentii - Hesperocyparis macnabiana - Hesperocyparis bakeri Woodland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance covers woodlands dominated by Hesperocyparis macnabiana, Hesperocyparis sargentii, and/or Hesperocyparis bakeri with serpentine indicators such as Garrya congdonii, Quercus durata, and Frangula californica ssp. tomentella. This alliance occurs on often steep upper slopes and ridges. Geographically, it occurs in Mediterranean California in the northern and central Coast Ranges, the Klamath-Siskiyou mountains, northern Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau, and southern Cascades of Oregon.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Sargent''s Cypress - MacNab''s Cypress - Modoc Cypress Woodland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Ultramafic Cypress Woodland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of woodlands dominated by Hesperocyparis macnabiana, Hesperocyparis sargentii, and Hesperocyparis bakeri, with Calocedrus decurrens, Pinus sabiniana, Quercus douglasii, Quercus wislizeni, or Umbellularia californica. Serpentine indicators include Garrya congdonii, Quercus durata, and Frangula californica ssp. tomentella. Hesperocyparis macnabiana and Hesperocyparis sargentii are known to occur together and hybridize in some instances. Common associates include Heteromeles arbutifolia, Adenostoma fasciculatum, and the California endemics Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. pulchella and Ceanothus jepsonii. In some settings Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. montana, Styrax redivivus, or Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber can be common. Common grasses and forbs can include Melica torreyana, Festuca idahoensis, Iris spp., and locally endemic serpentine forbs (Aquilegia eximia, Senecio spp. and others). Structurally, these are woodlands in character, but in some cases the conifers might be stunted. This alliance is often found on steep upper slopes and ridges. Soils are generally sterile or very nutrient deficient, thin, dry and rocky, derived ultramafic (gabbro, peridotite, serpentinite) or volcanic substrates. This alliance occurs in Mediterranean California in the northern and central Coast Ranges, the Klamath-Siskiyou mountains, northern Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau, and southern Cascades of Oregon. These woodlands are highly variable and spotty in distribution, and the composition of individual stands can be very diverse, especially the shrubs (often individual species have low cover).
Diagnostic Characteristics: Hesperocyparis macnabiana, Hesperocyparis sargentii, and Hesperocyparis bakeri are the primary conifers. Serpentine- or ultramafic-associated shrubs and herbs include Garrya congdonii, Quercus durata, Frangula californica ssp. tomentella, Aquilegia eximia, and Senecio spp.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: 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: This rounded-crown needle-leaved evergreen woodland forms an open to continuous canopy less than 15 m in height. Shrubs are common to infrequent. The herbaceous layer is sparse.
Floristics: Hesperocyparis macnabiana (= Cupressus macnabiana), Hesperocyparis sargentii (= Cupressus sargentii), and Hesperocyparis bakeri (= Cupressus bakeri) are the dominant conifers, with Calocedrus decurrens, Pinus sabiniana, Quercus douglasii, Quercus wislizeni, or Umbellularia californica. Serpentine indicators include Garrya congdonii, Quercus durata, and Frangula californica ssp. tomentella (= Rhamnus tomentella ssp. tomentella). Hesperocyparis macnabiana and Hesperocyparis sargentii are known to occur together and hybridize in some instances. Common associates include Heteromeles arbutifolia, Adenostoma fasciculatum, and the California endemics Arctostaphylos viscida ssp. pulchella and Ceanothus jepsonii. In some settings Arctostaphylos hookeri ssp. montana (= Arctostaphylos montana), Styrax redivivus (= Styrax officinalis), or Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (= Cercocarpus betuloides) can be common. Other shrubs may be present and could include Ceanothus cuneatus, Arctostaphylos viscida, Eriodictyon californicum, and common grasses and forbs can include Melica torreyana, Festuca idahoensis, Iris spp., and locally endemic serpentine forbs (Aquilegia eximia, Senecio spp., and others).
Dynamics: Stands of this alliance require fire for reproduction. Fire opens the serotinous cones of the Hesperocyparis spp. and germination is rapid, allowing seedlings to establish during the winter rainy period.
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs from 200-900 m in elevation. The climate of this region is Mediterranean, with a distinct summer dry season and with most precipitation falling as rain in the fall and winter. The yearly precipitation varies widely from 30-100 cm. Some sites receive significant fog drip from coastal fogs. Sites supporting this alliance are usually on upper slopes or on rocky outcrops or formations of ultramafic serpentine and are underlain by a variety of substrates including basalt, conglomerates, gabbro, greenstone, and ultramafic serpentine. The soils are generally sterile or very nutrient deficient, thin, dry, rocky, and range from deep, clay loams to shallow, silty loams only a few cm deep. All these soils are infertile.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in Mediterranean California in the northern and central Coast Ranges, the Klamath-Siskiyou mountains, northern Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau, and southern Cascades of Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899479
Confidence Level: Low
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 | A3355 Sargent''s Cypress - MacNab''s Cypress - Modoc Cypress Woodland Alliance | A3355 | 1.B.1.Nc.1.b |
| Association | CEGL003043 Macnab''s Cypress Forest | CEGL003043 | 1.B.1.Nc.1.b |
| Association | CEGL003044 Sargent''s Cypress Woodland | CEGL003044 | 1.B.1.Nc.1.b |
Concept Lineage: includes all of A.115
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Callitropsis bakeri (Baker cypress stands) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [81.601.00]
> Callitropsis macnabiana (McNab cypress woodland) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [81.300.00]
> Callitropsis sargentii (Sargent cypress woodland) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [81.500.00]
= Northern Interior Cypress Forest (#83220) (Holland 1986b)
> Callitropsis macnabiana (McNab cypress woodland) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [81.300.00]
> Callitropsis sargentii (Sargent cypress woodland) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [81.500.00]
= Northern Interior Cypress Forest (#83220) (Holland 1986b)
- 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.
- Cheatham, N. H., and J. R. Haller. 1975. An annotated list of California habitat types. Unpublished report. University of California, Natural Land and Water Reserves System.
- 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.
- Griffin, J. R., and W. B. Critchfield. 1976. The distribution of forest trees in California. Research Paper PSW-82. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Berkeley, CA. 115 pp.
- 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. 1990a. Ecological surveys of Forest Service Research Natural Areas in California. General Technical Report PSW-125. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Berkeley, CA. 165 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.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Vogl, R. J., W. P. Armstrong, K. L. White, and K. L. Cole. 1988. The closed-cone pines and cypresses. Pages 295-358 in: M. G. Barbour and J. Major, editors. 1988. Terrestrial vegetation of California: New expanded edition. California Native Plant Society, Special Publication 9, Sacramento. 1030 pp.