Print Report
A3873 Pennisetum setaceum - Pennisetum ciliare Ruderal Grassland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of grasslands where Pennisetum setaceum and/or Pennisetum ciliare or other Pennisetum species are dominant or codominant with other non-native species in the herbaceous layer. It is found in California, in frost-free regions, primarily coastal, but extending east into the edges of the Colorado Desert. Habitats are steep coastal cliffs, bluffs, road-cuts, coastal dunes, coastal scrub, and desert scrub.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Crimson Fountaingrass - Buffelgrass Ruderal Grassland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Ruderal Crimson Fountaingrass - Buffelgrass Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of grasslands where Pennisetum setaceum and/or Pennisetum ciliare or other Pennisetum species are dominant or codominant with other non-native species in the herbaceous layer. Herbs are <3 m tall, and the canopy is open to intermittent. Emergent shrub and tree layers may occur at low cover. Pennisetum setaceum and especially Pennisetum ciliare are adapted to fire and increase following burns, contributing to their spread. Both grasses establish better than native plants after a fire, and as stands age, they raise fuel loads. This alliance occurs in California at elevations ranging from sea level to 35 m. Habitats are steep coastal cliffs, bluffs, road-cuts, coastal dunes, coastal scrub, and desert scrub in areas with mild, frost-free winters.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: All species of Pennisetum are highly invasive in the warm deserts of North America, from southern California, across the Colorado, Mojave, and Sonoran deserts into southern Texas. As described by Sawyer et al. (2009) for California, these are primarily coastal in California, with some occurring in the deserts of that state.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Perennial herbaceous graminoids <3 m in height.
Floristics: These grasslands are dominated or codominated by Pennisetum setaceum and/or Pennisetum ciliare or other Pennisetum species along with other non-native species in the herbaceous layer. Emergent shrub and tree layers may occur at low cover.
Dynamics: Pennisetum setaceum and especially Pennisetum ciliare are adapted to fire and increase following burns, contributing to their spread. Both grasses establish better than native plants after a fire, and as stands age, they raise fuel loads (Lovich 2000, DiTomaso and Healy 2007).
Environmental Description: Habitats are steep coastal cliffs, bluffs, road-cuts, coastal dunes, coastal scrub, and desert scrub in areas with mild, frost-free winters. Elevation ranges from 0-35 m.
Geographic Range: California, frost-free regions, primarily coastal, but extending east into the edges of the Colorado Desert.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: CA, MXBCN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899924
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.A Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Woodland, Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S06 | 3.A |
| Formation | 3.A.2 Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F015 | 3.A.2 |
| Division | 3.A.2.Na North American Warm Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D039 | 3.A.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 3.A.2.Na.90 Honey Mesquite / Red Brome - Lehmann''s Lovegrass Desert Ruderal Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M512 | 3.A.2.Na.90 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.90.a Lehmann''s Lovegrass - Red Brome - Asian Mustard Warm Desert Ruderal Grassland Group | G677 | 3.A.2.Na.90.a |
| Alliance | A3873 Crimson Fountaingrass - Buffelgrass Ruderal Grassland Alliance | A3873 | 3.A.2.Na.90.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Pennisetum setaceum (Fountain grass swards) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.085.00]
> Pennisetum setaceum Herbaceous Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
> Pennisetum setaceum Herbaceous Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
- DiTomaso, J. M., and E. A. Healy. 2007. Weeds of California and other western States. Two volumes. Publication 3488. University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, CA. 1808 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- Lovich, J. 2000. Tamarix ramosissima/Tamarix chinensis/Tamarix gallica/Tamarix parviflora. Pages 312-317 in: C. C. Bossard, J. M. Randall, and M. C. Hoshovsky, editors. Invasive plants of California''s wildlands, University of California Press, Berkeley.
- 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.