Print Report

A3872 Centaurea virgata ssp. squarrosa - Conium maculatum - Foeniculum vulgare Ruderal Meadow Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of meadows dominated by non-native perennial forbs such as Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos, Centaurea diffusa, Centaurea virgata ssp. squarrosa, Centaurea calcitrapa, Conium maculatum, Daucus carota, and/or Foeniculum vulgare. This alliance is found in California and probably north into Oregon.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Squarrose Knapweed - Poison-hemlock - Sweet Fennel Ruderal Meadow Alliance

Colloquial Name: Pacific Ruderal Perennial Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of meadows dominated by perennial herbs, including Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos, Centaurea calcitrapa, Centaurea diffusa, Centaurea virgata ssp. squarrosa, Conium maculatum, Daucus carota, and/or Foeniculum vulgare, that are dominant or codominant with other non-natives in the herbaceous layer. This alliance is found in California and probably north into Oregon, at elevations ranging from sea level to 2000 m. Habitats are open disturbed sites, roadsides, upland grasslands, moist meadows, rangeland, and open hillsides.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Alliance is primarily perennial forb-dominated, occurring in a variety of disturbed areas, including wet meadows or wetlands, as well as drier sites (pastures, roadsides, etc.). Dominated by Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos, Centaurea diffusa, Centaurea virgata, Centaurea calcitrapa, Conium maculatum, Daucus carota, and/or Foeniculum vulgare.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Combined two Sawyer et al. (2009) semi-natural stand types on the basis of being primarily perennial forb-dominated, and occurring in a variety of disturbed areas, including wet meadows or wetlands, as well as drier sites (pastures, roadsides, etc.). Some of these dominant species are FACW plants (USFWS Wetland Inventory 1996).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Perennial herbaceous forbs <2 m in height.

Floristics: This alliance consists of meadows dominated by perennial herbs, including Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos, Centaurea calcitrapa, Centaurea diffusa, Centaurea virgata ssp. squarrosa, Conium maculatum, Daucus carota, and/or Foeniculum vulgare, that are dominant or codominant with other non-natives in herbaceous layer.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Habitats are open disturbed sites, roadsides, upland grasslands, moist meadows, rangeland, and open hillsides. Elevation ranges from sea level to 2000 m.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in California and probably north into Oregon.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA, OR?


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 A3872 Squarrose Knapweed - Poison-hemlock - Sweet Fennel Ruderal Meadow Alliance A3872 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: > Centaurea (virgata) (Knapweed and purple-flowered star-thistle fields) Provisional Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.043.00]
> Conium maculatum - Foeniculum vulgare (Poison hemlock or fennel patches) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.556.00]
> Conium maculatum-Foeniculum vulgare Semi-Natural Stands (Poison hemlock or fennel patches) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Foeniculum vulgare Herbaceous Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
< Non-native Grassland (#42200) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid after Sawyer et al. (2009)

Author of Description: M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Buck-Diaz, J., S. Batiuk, and J. M. Evens. 2012. Vegetation alliances and associations of the Great Valley ecoregion, California. California Native Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/pdf/great_valley_eco-vegclass2012.pdf]
  • 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., and J. Evens. 2006. Vegetation classification of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and environs in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, California. A report submitted to National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch and The California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program, 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.
  • Sproul, F., T. Keeler-Wolf, P. Gordon-Reedy, J. Dunn, A. Klein, and K. Harper. 2011. Vegetation classification manual for western San Diego County. AECOM, California Department of Fish and Game, San Diego Area Governments.