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A3789 Rhodiola integrifolia - Penstemon newberryi Rock Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Sparsely vegetated areas of the southern Sierra Nevada occurring on cliff, scree and rock outcrops. Dominant species may be woody, herbaceous and nonvascular.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ledge Stonecrop - Mountain Pride Rock Alliance
Colloquial Name: Ledge Stonecrop - Mountain Pride Cliff, Scree & Outcrop
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance comprises sparsely vegetated areas of the southern Sierra Nevada occurring on cliff, scree and rock outcrops. Dominant species may be woody, herbaceous and nonvascular. Dominant vascular species may include Penstemon newberryi, Rhodiola integrifolia, Selaginella watsonii, and Spiraea splendens var. splendens. Other herbs and subshrubs include Achillea millefolium, Arenaria congesta, Elymus elymoides, Juncus parryi, Lewisia leeana, Monardella odoratissima, Muhlenbergia montana, Phlox diffusa, Sedum obtusatum ssp. boreale, Selaginella watsonii, and Streptanthus tortuosus. Scattered emergent trees and shrubs may be present at low cover, including Pinus contorta var. murrayana. Habitats include rocky montane to subalpine ridges and outcrops where plants grow in cracks of glaciated bedrock. Sites may be seasonally moist. Soils are skeletal and rocky or sandy.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparse vegetation typically with cover <10%. Stand structure varies and may be an assemblage of trees, shrubs, forbs, graminoids and nonvascular species, although herbaceous and nonvascular species are considered diagnostic. Diagnostic species include Penstemon newberryi, Rhodiola integrifolia, Selaginella watsonii, and Spiraea splendens var. splendens.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type of vegetation is poorly documented and only sampled from a few locations in Yosemite National Park in California.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The structure of this alliance includes sparsely vegetated sites with <10% total cover of nonvascular and herbaceous plant species.
Floristics: Dominant vascular species may include Penstemon newberryi, Rhodiola integrifolia, Selaginella watsonii, and Spiraea splendens var. splendens.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Sparsely vegetated areas of the southern Sierra Nevada occurring on cliff, scree and rock outcrops.
Geographic Range: This alliance is currently only sampled from Yosemite National Park in California, but is likely to occur more widely in the southern Sierra Nevada.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899841
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 6 Open Rock Vegetation Class | C06 | 6 |
| Subclass | 6.B Temperate & Boreal Open Rock Vegetation Subclass | S04 | 6.B |
| Formation | 6.B.1 Temperate & Boreal Cliff, Scree & Other Rock Vegetation Formation | F034 | 6.B.1 |
| Division | 6.B.1.Nb Western North American Temperate Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Division | D052 | 6.B.1.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 6.B.1.Nb.1 Douglas-fir - Ponderosa Pine / Moss Western North American Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Macrogroup | M887 | 6.B.1.Nb.1 |
| Group | 6.B.1.Nb.1.c Western White Pine / Pinemat Manzanita Cliff, Scree & Rock Vegetation Group | G573 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A3789 Ledge Stonecrop - Mountain Pride Rock Alliance | A3789 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL003487 Rose Meadowsweet / Mountain Pride - Shieldplant Sparse Vegetation | CEGL003487 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL003490 Ledge Stonecrop - Watson''s Spikemoss Sparse Vegetation | CEGL003490 | 6.B.1.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Penstemon newberryi - Streptanthus tortuosus Herbaceous Alliance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2003a)
= Penstemon newberryi (Mountain pride patches) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.415.00]
= Penstemon newberryi Sparsely Vegetated Alliance (CNPS 2017) [45.415.00]
< Alpine Boulder and Rock Field (#91000) (Holland 1986b)
>< Dry Subalpine or Alpine Meadow (#45220) (Holland 1986b)
< Subalpine Meadow Habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
= Penstemon newberryi (Mountain pride patches) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.415.00]
= Penstemon newberryi Sparsely Vegetated Alliance (CNPS 2017) [45.415.00]
< Alpine Boulder and Rock Field (#91000) (Holland 1986b)
>< Dry Subalpine or Alpine Meadow (#45220) (Holland 1986b)
< Subalpine Meadow Habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
- CNPS [California Native Plant Society]. 2015-2017. A manual of California vegetation [online]. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://vegetation.cnps.org/].
- Cheng, S. 2004. Forest Service research natural areas in California. General Technical Paper PSW-GTR-188. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Albany, 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., M. Schindel, S. San, P. Moore, and D. Hickson. 2003a. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. Unpublished report by NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.
- 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.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 2007. Alpine vegetation. Pages 539-573 in: M. G. Barbour, T. Keeler-Wolf, and A. A. Schoenherr, editors. Terrestrial vegetation of California. Third edition. University of California Press, Berkeley.
- Taylor, D. W. 1984. Vegetation of the Harvey Monroe Hall Research Natural Area, Inyo National Forest, California. Unpublished report. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Berkeley, CA.