NVCS

A3870 Avena fatua - Bromus spp. Ruderal Annual Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This is a non-native-dominated alliance of annual grasslands and forblands of California and Baja California. The composition varies widely. Many alien annual species may be present, including Aegilops triuncialis, Aira caryophyllea, Avena barbata, Avena fatua, Brachypodium distachyon, Brassica spp., Bromus diandrus, Bromus hordeaceus, Bromus madritensis, Centaurea melitensis, Centaurea solstitialis, and Cynosurus echinatus.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Wild Oat - Brome species Ruderal Annual Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Californian Ruderal Annual Grassland

Hierarchy Level: Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance of non-native annual grasslands and forblands is composed of cool-season, annual grasses mostly introduced from Europe. They are invasive in disturbed areas throughout much of California. The composition varies widely. Many alien annual species may be present, including Aegilops triuncialis, Aira caryophyllea, Avena barbata, Avena fatua, Brachypodium distachyon, Brassica spp., Bromus diandrus, Bromus hordeaceus, Bromus madritensis, Centaurea melitensis, Centaurea solstitialis, and Cynosurus echinatus. The composition of this alliance is largely determined by amount of disturbance coupled with fall temperatures and precipitation, light intensity, litter thickness and microtopography. The percentage of exotic alien species is often directly related to disturbance history with heavy disturbance correlating with heavy exotic invasion. Annual grasses are supremely adapted to the Mediterranean climate of California; many species evolved under similar conditions in southern Europe and northern Africa. Plants germinate during winter rains, and complete their life cycles by the beginning of the summer drought. Seeds often remain viable for many years.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This is a large alliance, but the high variability of the exotic annual-dominated grasslands of California suggests keeping all of these types together in one alliance. Name could be revised to include either Centaurea or Brassica instead of "annual forbs."

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: These short, temperate, annual grasslands and forblands form an herbaceous canopy less than 1 m in height. Emergent shrubs and trees may be present.

Floristics: The composition varies widely. Many alien annual species may be present, including Aegilops triuncialis, Aira caryophyllea, Avena barbata, Avena fatua, Brachypodium distachyon, Brassica spp., Bromus diandrus, Bromus hordeaceus, Bromus madritensis, Centaurea melitensis, Centaurea solstitialis, and Cynosurus echinatus.

Dynamics: The composition of this alliance is largely determined by fall temperatures and precipitation, light intensity, litter thickness and microtopography. The percentage of exotic alien species is often directly related to the amount of disturbance history with heavy disturbance correlating with heavy exotic invasion. Annual grasses are supremely adapted to the Mediterranean climate of California; many species evolved under similar conditions in southern Europe and northern Africa. Plants germinate during winter rains, and complete their life cycles by the beginning of the summer drought. Seeds often remain viable for many years.

Environmental Description: This alliance can be found where heavy disturbance occurs, but occurs largely outside of the highest elevations.

Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in California south into Baja California, Mexico.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces: AZ, CA, MXBCN, WA

Plot Analysis Summary: http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899921

Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: GNA

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.1 Mediterranean Scrub & Grassland Formation	F038	2.B.1
Division	2.B.1.Na Californian Scrub & Grassland Division	D327	2.B.1.Na
Macrogroup	2.B.1.Na.90 Wild Oat - Black Mustard - Ripgut Brome Ruderal Grassland, Meadow & Scrub Macrogroup	M046	2.B.1.Na.90
Group	2.B.1.Na.90.a Wild Oat - Ripgut Brome Ruderal Grassland, Meadow & Scrub Group	G497	2.B.1.Na.90.a
Alliance	A3870 Wild Oat - Brome species Ruderal Annual Grassland Alliance	A3870	2.B.1.Na.90.a
Association	CEGL002878 Wild Oat Ruderal Grassland	CEGL002878	2.B.1.Na.90.a
Association	CEGL002906 Ripgut Brome Ruderal Grassland	CEGL002906	2.B.1.Na.90.a
Association	CEGL002916 Ripgut Brome - Oat species Ruderal Grassland	CEGL002916	2.B.1.Na.90.a
Association	CEGL003018 (Ripgut Brome, Soft Brome, Compact Brome) Ruderal Grassland	CEGL003018	2.B.1.Na.90.a
Association	CEGL003374 Purple False Brome Ruderal Grassland	CEGL003374	2.B.1.Na.90.a
Association	CEGL008666 Ripgut Brome - Soft Brome - Clover species - American Wild Carrot Ruderal Grassland	CEGL008666	2.B.1.Na.90.a

Concept Lineage: includes A.2661, A.1813, and A.2662

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: > Aegilops triuncialis (Barbed goatgrass patches) Provisional Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.003.00]
> Avena (barbata, fatua) (Wild oats grasslands) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [44.150.00]
> Avena (barbata, fatua) Semi-Natural Stands (Wild oats grasslands) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Avena spp. - Bromus spp. Semi-natural Alliance (Klein et al. 2015)
= Avena spp. - Bromus spp. Semi-natural Grassland Alliance (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
> Brassica nigra and Other Mustards Semi-Natural Stands (Upland mustards) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Brassica nigra and other mustards (Upland mustards) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.011.00]
> Bromus (diandrus, hordeaceus) - Brachypodium distachyon (Annual brome grasslands) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.026.00]
> Bromus (diandrus, hordeaceus)-Brachypodium distachyon Semi-Natural Stands (Annual brome grasslands) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
>< Centaurea (solstitialis, melitensis) (Yellow star-thistle fields) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.042.00]
> Centaurea (solstitialis, melitensis) Semi-Natural Stands (Yellow star-thistle fields) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
? Centaurea solstitialis Herbaceous Alliance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
> Cynosurus echinatus (Annual dogtail grasslands) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.044.00]
? California Annual Herbland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
>< Non-native Grassland (#42200) (Holland 1986b)
>< Valley and Foothill Grassland (#42000) (Holland 1986b)

Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2015)

Author of Description: M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14

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