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A3739 Festuca rubra - Calamagrostis nutkaensis Exposed Coastal Headland Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Stands have a sparse to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grass species, especially Calamagrostis nutkaensis and Festuca rubra. This grassland alliance is found along the Pacific Northwest coast, from central northern California to the Puget Sound region of Washington and east into the Willamette Valley.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Red Fescue - Pacific Reedgrass Exposed Coastal Headland Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Exposed Coastal Headland Red Fescue - Pacific Reedgrass Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This grassland alliance often occurs as small patches in a mosaic of grassland, shrubland and forest communities. Canopy coverage ranges from open to moderately dense to dense. Stands have a sparse to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grass species, especially Calamagrostis nutkaensis and Festuca rubra, but also Agrostis pallens, Danthonia californica, Elymus glaucus, Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri, and/or Koeleria macrantha. Low shrubs may be abundant, such as Empetrum nigrum, Gaultheria shallon, Lomatium martindalei, Mahonia aquifolium, Rubus ursinus, and Vaccinium ovatum. A variety of other grasses and forbs are commonly present with the forb component frequently rich. This grassland alliance is found along the Pacific Northwest coast, from central northern California to the Puget Sound region of Washington and east into the Willamette Valley. The climate is strongly hypermaritime, with persistent onshore (westerly) winds, high annual precipitation, and moderate temperatures. This vegetation occupies coastal headlands, often on extreme sites with moderate to steep slopes of southerly aspects, ocean bluffs, open grassy balds (non-forested grassy areas), tops of low hills, on crests of ridgelines, on the shoulders of foothills, and less often in valley bottoms and lower alluvial slopes. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1550 m (0-5100 feet). Aspect varies but is generally south or southwest.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Temperate perennial grasslands of dense ocean bluffs, open grassy balds (non-forested grassy areas), tops of low hills, on crests of ridgelines, on the shoulders of foothills of the Pacific Northwest dominated by Agrostis pallens, Calamagrostis nutkaensis, Danthonia californica, Elymus glaucus, Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri, Festuca rubra, and/or Koeleria macrantha.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These grasslands occur on the coastal headlands in the Pacific Northwest, but this vegetation has also been reported from montane meadows in Oregon and Washington and to occur as patches within the coastal prairies. Little information exists on this vegetation and more investigation is needed.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This unusual alliance is composed of an herbaceous layer dominated by a short perennial bunchgrass, over a dense mat of nonvascular species. Woody species do occasionally occur, and can include broad-leaved, deciduous trees or shrubs. Woody species rarely have more than 10% cover.

Floristics: This grassland alliance ranges from open to moderately dense to dense and often occurs as small patches in a mosaic of grassland, shrubland and forest communities. Stands have a sparse to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grass species, especially Calamagrostis nutkaensis and Festuca rubra, but also Agrostis pallens, Danthonia californica, Elymus glaucus, Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri (= Festuca roemeri), and/or Koeleria macrantha (= Koeleria cristata). Low shrubs may be abundant, such as Empetrum nigrum, Gaultheria shallon, Lomatium martindalei, Mahonia aquifolium, Rubus ursinus, and Vaccinium ovatum. A variety of other grasses and forbs are commonly present with the forb component frequently rich. Associated species include Achillea millefolium, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Armeria maritima, Artemisia suksdorfii, Bromus spp., Camassia leichtlinii, Carex obnupta, Erigeron glaucus, Eriophyllum lanatum, Heracleum maximum (= Heracleum lanatum), Holcus lanatus, Iris tenax, Schedonorus arundinaceus (= Festuca arundinacea), Maianthemum dilatatum, Marah oreganus, Plectritis congesta, Pteridium aquilinum, Solidago canadensis, Symphyotrichum chilense (= Aster chilensis), Viola adunca, and Vulpia myuros (= Festuca myuros). Moss and mosslike plants such as Cryptogramma acrostichoides (= Cryptogramma crispa), Racomitrium canescens, and Selaginella wallacei are often abundant. Scattered trees from nearby forested areas may invade in the absence of fire, including conifers Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pinus contorta, and Picea sitchensis, and broad-leaved trees Arbutus menziesii or Quercus garryana. Exotic species such as Poa pratensis and Dactylis glomerata may be abundant.

Dynamics:  Stands of this alliance become dominated by introduced and exotic species under severe impacts from livestock grazing. Common species of this type include the grasses Agrostis gigantea, Aira praecox, Bromus hordeaceus, Holcus lanatus, and Poa pratensis and the forbs Cirsium spp., Senecio jacobaea, and Trifolium repens. Fires were probably important in the past in limiting invasion of these grasslands by coniferous tree species. Fire suppression over the past 80 years may have resulted in successional changes from grasslands to shrublands and forests. In the absence of heavy grazing, once established on a favorably moist site, Calamagrostis nutkaensis develops a thick litter layer that generally excludes other plant species from establishing (Ripley 1983).
Environmental Description:  This grassland alliance is found along the Pacific Northwest coast, from central northern California to the Puget Sound region of Washington. The climate is strongly hypermaritime, with persistent onshore (westerly) winds, high annual precipitation, and moderate temperatures. Summer months typically are relatively dry. This vegetation occupies coastal headlands often on extreme sites with moderate to steep slopes of southerly aspects, ocean bluffs, open grassy balds (non-forested grassy areas), tops of low hills, and on crests of ridgelines or the shoulders of foothills. Elevation ranges from sea level to 1550 m (0-5100 feet). Aspect varies but is generally south or southwest. Balds are usually the consequence of a rock outcrop combined with a hot and dry exposure that is unable to support tree growth. The soils are thin, shallow and often rocky. They may be loamy, gravelly or sandy. Sites are often on very steep slopes. These headlands are composed of bedrock of conglomerates (Washington) and basalts (Oregon). The soils are derived from colluvium or sand, and are usually shallow, well-drained, and have a significant component of gravels. Some communities included in this alliance also occur on valley bottoms or lower alluvial slopes. These stands require seasonally or permanently saturated soils with a shallow water table within the cool, moist band found within 10 km of the coast. Soils are moderately deep (120 cm), with a high organic component (23%) and a thick litter layer (8 cm). Soil texture is loam with a pH of 6. Stands form a mosaic with forest and scrub in the coastal prairies and generally occur on moderate slopes (24% slope) with southern aspects. Persistent strong winds, salt spray, and the shallow soils are important factors in the maintenance of these grasslands.
Geographic Range: These grasslands occur on the coastal headlands of the California, Oregon and Washington coasts, on the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound (Washington), Willamette Valley and the Columbia River Gorge in the vicinity of its mouth. It has also been reported to occur as patches within the coastal prairies.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  BC, CA, OR, WA


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D022 2.B.2.Nf
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nf.4 Southern Vancouverian Lowland Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M050 2.B.2.Nf.4
Group 2.B.2.Nf.4.a Manzanita species / Roemer''s Fescue - California Oatgrass Shrubland & Grassland Group G488 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Alliance A3739 Red Fescue - Pacific Reedgrass Exposed Coastal Headland Grassland Alliance A3739 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Association CEGL000971 Black Crowberry - Salal Dwarf-shrubland CEGL000971 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Association CEGL000972 Salal - California Huckleberry / Western Brackenfern Shrubland CEGL000972 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Association CEGL001564 Pacific Reedgrass - Blue Wildrye Grassland CEGL001564 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Association CEGL001567 Red Fescue Coastal Headland Grassland CEGL001567 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Association CEGL001597 California Oatgrass - Red Fescue Grassland CEGL001597 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Association CEGL001744 Bearded Wheatgrass - Roemer''s Fescue - (Prairie Junegrass) Grassland CEGL001744 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Association CEGL001800 Lemmon''s Needlegrass / Silver Moss Grassland CEGL001800 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Association CEGL003377 Pacific Reedgrass / Coyotebrush Grassland CEGL003377 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Association CEGL003378 Pacific Reedgrass - Sedge species - Rush species Grassland CEGL003378 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Association CEGL003474 California Oatgrass - Silver Hairgrass Grassland CEGL003474 2.B.2.Nf.4.a
Concept Lineage: A.1202, A.1236, A.1251, A.1254, A.1292.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Calamagrostis nutkaensis (Pacific reed grass meadows) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.190.00]
? Stipa lemmonii-Racomitrium canescens Grassland Community (Macdonald 1992)
Concept Author(s): J. Kagan and G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M.E. Hall

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-14-14
  • 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.
  • Macdonald, C. 1992. Fire effects on a Stipa lemmonii - Rhacomitrium canescens grassland community. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy, Portland, OR. 6 pp.
  • Ripley, J. D. 1983. Description of the plant communities and succession of the Oregon coast grasslands. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis. 202 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.