Print Report

A3871 Lolium perenne Ruderal Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of meadows where Lolium perenne is dominant or codominant with other non-natives in the herbaceous layer. It occurs throughout California. Generally, this type occurs in seasonally moist to wet environments that are regularly disturbed through grazing, fire, flooding, or mechanical means.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Perennial Ryegrass Ruderal Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Ruderal Ryegrass Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of meadows where Lolium perenne is dominant or codominant with other non-natives in the herbaceous layer, including Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus aequalis, Asclepias fascicularis, Avena fatua, Brassica nigra, Bromus diandrus, Bromus hordeaceus, Centaurium muehlenbergii, Cirsium vulgare, Cryptantha flaccida, Euphorbia spathulata, Schedonorus arundinaceus, Holcus lanatus, Hordeum brachyantherum, Hordeum murinum, Leontodon taraxacoides, Leymus triticoides, Lotus corniculatus, Microseris douglasii, Nassella pulchra, Phalaris aquatica, Plantago erecta, Poa pratensis, Nasturtium officinale, Rumex crispus, and Trifolium spp. Herbs are <1 m tall and the canopy cover is intermittent to continuous. Emergent trees and shrubs may be present at low cover. It occurs throughout California at elevations ranging from sea level to 1000 m. Generally, this type occurs in seasonally moist to wet environments that are regularly disturbed through grazing, fire, flooding, or mechanical means. Habitats are lowlands with periodic flooding, disked fields, and uplands, including serpentine substrates.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Lolium perenne is dominant or codominant.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The USFWS Wetland Inventory (1996 National List) lists Lolium perenne as a FAC+ plant.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Annual or perennial grasses <1 m tall.

Floristics: Lolium perenne is dominant or codominant with other non-natives in the herbaceous layer, including Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus aequalis, Asclepias fascicularis, Avena fatua, Brassica nigra, Bromus diandrus, Bromus hordeaceus, Centaurium muehlenbergii, Cirsium vulgare, Cryptantha flaccida, Euphorbia spathulata, Schedonorus arundinaceus (= Festuca arundinacea), Holcus lanatus, Hordeum brachyantherum, Hordeum murinum, Leontodon taraxacoides, Leymus triticoides, Lotus corniculatus, Microseris douglasii, Nassella pulchra, Phalaris aquatica, Plantago erecta, Poa pratensis, Nasturtium officinale (= Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum), Rumex crispus, and Trifolium spp. Herbs are <1 m tall and the canopy cover is intermittent to continuous. Emergent trees and shrubs may be present at low cover.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Generally, this type occurs in seasonally moist to wet environments that are regularly disturbed through grazing, fire, flooding, or mechanical means. Habitats are lowlands with periodic flooding, disked fields, and uplands including serpentine substrates. Elevation ranges from 0-1000 m.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found throughout California.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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 A3871 Perennial Ryegrass Ruderal Grassland Alliance A3871 2.B.1.Na.90.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Lolium perenne (Perennial rye grass fields) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [41.321.00]
= Lolium perenne Semi-Natural Stands (Perennial rye grass fields) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Lolium perenne Herbaceous Semi-Natural Alliance (CNPS 2017) [41.321.00]
< California Annual Grassland Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Non-native Grassland (#42200) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
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