Print Report
A3820 Danthonia californica - Carex lenticularis - Deschampsia cespitosa Coastal & Lowland Marsh Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Wet herbaceous meadows in moist maritime climates, on saturated soils or areas with a perched water table, characterized by a dense herbaceous layer dominated by Deschampsia cespitosa or Carex lenticularis. It occurs from sea level to the foothills of mountain ranges in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: California Oatgrass - Lakeshore Sedge - Tufted Hairgrass Coastal & Lowland Marsh Alliance
Colloquial Name: Coastal & Lowland Tufted Hairgrass - Lakeshore Sedge Marsh
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: These wet herbaceous meadows are characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by the perennial bunchgrass Deschampsia cespitosa or Carex lenticularis. Commonly associated species include Armeria maritima, Cardionema ramosissimum, Carex spp., Danthonia intermedia, Gamochaeta purpurea, Horkelia marinensis, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Poa pratensis, and Potentilla gracilis. This alliance occurs from sea level to the foothills of mountain ranges in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California. Stands generally occur in moist maritime climates, on soils with high moisture-holding capacity or a perched water table. Soils are variable. Fine-textured soils retain soil moisture longer in areas of seasonal drought, and coarse substrates allow aeration in areas with perennial high water tables.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Diagnostic of this herbaceous alliance is the dominance or codominance of Deschampsia cespitosa or Carex lenticularis and the presence of surface water for only brief periods during the growing season, within lowland maritime-influenced climates.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This includes only the lowland, maritime-influenced "Vancouverian" climate stands with Deschampsia cespitosa, and excludes the higher and colder montane and alpine stands of the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain climate provinces.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation in this alliance is characterized by the dominance of a densely tufted perennial grass or sedge which is generally 0.5-1 m in height, but can reach 2 m. In the spaces between the bunchgrass rosettes, small forbs or other graminoids often occur.
Floristics: The associations are typified by a lush growth of Deschampsia cespitosa, a perennial bunchgrass which forms an open canopy of culms and nodding panicles. Commonly associated species include Armeria maritima, Cardionema ramosissimum, Carex spp., Danthonia intermedia, Gamochaeta purpurea (= Gnaphalium purpureum), Horkelia marinensis, Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis (= Juncus balticus), Poa pratensis, and Potentilla gracilis. Non-natives present may include Carpobrotus edulis, Holcus lanatus, and Vulpia bromoides.
Dynamics: Plant associations in this alliance are adapted to moist to wet soils and require minimal periods of drought during the growing season. However, the vegetation usually occurs at sites without permanent surface water. The vegetation types in this alliance appear to be tolerant of moderate-intensity surface fires and late-season livestock grazing. Prairie variants of this alliance in Oregon appear to be dependent upon periodic surface fires to prevent tree encroachment (Reid et al. 1994). This alliance occurs in moist bottomland habitats which are often grazed by domestic livestock. Although the vegetation is tolerant of moderate, late-summer grazing, it can be severely degraded by continuous grazing, leading to invasion by Juncus arcticus ssp. littoralis, Poa pratensis, and forbs (Kovalchik 1987, Cooper et al. 1997). Gullies or incised stream channels, which often result from improper grazing along streams, cause a decline in the local water of mountain meadows and impact wetlands supporting the vegetation in this alliance.
Environmental Description: This alliance is generally found in low-gradient valley bottoms. These stands require wet or moist soils throughout most of the growing season, where spring snowmelt or rains saturates soils from late spring through early summer. Soils are diverse textures. In perennially wet soils, the vegetation occurs on sands or gravels which allow adequate aeration of roots. In sites with seasonal drought, the alliance is generally found on finer-textured soils which drain slowly and retain moisture. Stands generally occur at lower elevation in moist maritime climates, on soils with high moisture-holding capacity or a perched water table. One variant within this type is found in the valley prairie of western Oregon, where stands receive minimal snow cover in winter, but abundant rainfall, and dry out in mid to late summer and are adapted to periodic fires.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found from sea level to the foothills of mountain ranges in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California.
Nations: CA,US
States/Provinces: BC, CA, OR, WA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899872
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: A.1355, A.1408
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Carex (aquatilis, lenticularis) (Water sedge and Lakeshore sedge meadows) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.168.00]
? Carex (aquatilis, lenticularis) Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [45.168.00]
? Danthonia californica (California oat grass prairie) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.050.00]
? Danthonia californica Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [41.050.00]
? Deschampsia caespitosa (Tufted hair grass meadows) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.220.00]
? Deschampsia cespitosa Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [41.220.00]
? Carex (aquatilis, lenticularis) Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [45.168.00]
? Danthonia californica (California oat grass prairie) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.050.00]
? Danthonia californica Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [41.050.00]
? Deschampsia caespitosa (Tufted hair grass meadows) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.220.00]
? Deschampsia cespitosa Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [41.220.00]
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