Print Report
A3918 Prunus emarginata - Holodiscus discolor Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of shrublands dominated by Prunus emarginata or Holodiscus discolor. It is widespread at montane to subalpine altitudes of California generally found between 700 and 2800 m elevation, but more common at higher elevations. It occurs on ridges, montane slopes, rocky chutes, moraines, and talus. Soils are skeletal and may be rocky, loamy, or sandy.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bitter Cherry - Oceanspray Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Californian Montane Bitter Cherry - Oceanspray Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of shrublands where Prunus emarginata or Holodiscus discolor characteristically are dominant or the important species in the canopy. Other shrubs may include Achnatherum occidentale, Amelanchier alnifolia, Arctostaphylos patula, Artemisia tridentata, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus integerrimus, Ceanothus velutinus, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Chrysolepis sempervirens, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum nudum, Garrya fremontii, Keckiella corymbosa, Mimulus suksdorfii, Prunus andersonii, Quercus sadleriana, Quercus vacciniifolia, Ribes spp., Symphoricarpos mollis, and Symphoricarpos rotundifolius. Emergent conifers may be present. This is a widespread montane to subalpine shrubland alliance of California, occurring on ridges, montane slopes, rocky chutes, moraines, and talus. It is generally found between 700 and 2800 m elevation, but more common at higher elevations. Stands occur on concave or northerly facing slopes, or in rocky areas that accumulate more surface run-off than surrounding areas, or with rock outcrops and steep talus where shrubs establish in rock crevices and other openings between rocks. Soils are skeletal and may be rocky, loamy, or sandy. Unlike most chaparral types, this alliance can form self-perpetuating stands, which can be of continuous shrub cover or have an intermittent canopy.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance is a tentative combination of two Sawyer et al. (2009) alliances, based on dominance of these two deciduous species combined with the additional floristic component of the montane chaparrals, such as the Ceanothus and Arctostaphylos taxa. Although it probably works as an alliance, it may belong in a different group altogether.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This temperate cold-deciduous shrubland forms an intermittent canopy. Emergent conifers may be present. The herbaceous layer is sparse.
Floristics: This alliance consists of shrublands where Prunus emarginata or Holodiscus discolor characteristically are dominant or the important species in the canopy. Other shrubs may include Achnatherum occidentale (= Stipa occidentalis), Amelanchier alnifolia, Arctostaphylos patula, Artemisia tridentata, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus integerrimus, Ceanothus velutinus, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Chrysolepis sempervirens (= Castanopsis sempervirens), Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum nudum, Garrya fremontii, Keckiella corymbosa, Mimulus suksdorfii, Prunus andersonii, Quercus sadleriana, Quercus vacciniifolia, Ribes spp., Symphoricarpos mollis, and Symphoricarpos rotundifolius. Emergent conifers may be present.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands of this montane to subalpine shrubland alliance occur on ridges and slopes with thin soils. Soils are skeletal and may be rocky, loamy, or sandy. Stands are found between 700 and 2800 m elevation. The widespread range of this alliance includes a large variety of habitats, and yearly precipitation and temperature ranges are quite large. The northern portion of the range can receive 200 cm of rain per year, while southern stands may receive only 40 cm per year. Lower elevation, southern stands may never see freezing temperatures, while northern, high-elevation stands may only have a five-month growing season. Unlike most chaparral types, this alliance forms self-perpetuating stands.
Geographic Range: This alliance of the mountains of California occurs in the northern and central Coast Ranges, the Klamath Mountains, south through the Cascades and Sierra Nevada, into the Peninsular and Transverse ranges. It may also occur in adjacent areas of southern Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, OR?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899969
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Ng Western North American Interior Chaparral Division | D061 | 2.B.2.Ng |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Ng.1 Greenleaf Manzanita - Snowbrush Ceanothus - Huckleberry Oak Montane Chaparral Macrogroup | M094 | 2.B.2.Ng.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Ng.1.a Greenleaf Manzanita - Pinemat Manzanita - Snowbrush Ceanothus Montane Sclerophyll Scrub Group | G282 | 2.B.2.Ng.1.a |
| Alliance | A3918 Bitter Cherry - Oceanspray Shrubland Alliance | A3918 | 2.B.2.Ng.1.a |
| Association | CEGL003129 Oceanspray / Sierra Stonecrop - American Rockbrake Shrubland | CEGL003129 | 2.B.2.Ng.1.a |
| Association | CEGL003130 Oceanspray - Red Elderberry Shrubland | CEGL003130 | 2.B.2.Ng.1.a |
| Association | CEGL005822 Bitter Cherry Sierran Chaparral Shrubland | CEGL005822 | 2.B.2.Ng.1.a |
Concept Lineage: includes A.901, and A.2602
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Holodiscus discolor (Ocean spray brush) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [39.100.00]
> Prunus emarginata (Bitter cherry thickets) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.900.00]
> Holodiscus Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Mixed Montane Chaparral (#37510) (Holland 1986b)
>< Northern North Slope Chaparral (#37E10) (Holland 1986b)
>< Tobacco Brush Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
> Prunus emarginata (Bitter cherry thickets) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.900.00]
> Holodiscus Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Mixed Montane Chaparral (#37510) (Holland 1986b)
>< Northern North Slope Chaparral (#37E10) (Holland 1986b)
>< Tobacco Brush Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
- 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.
- Hickman, J. C. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Ltd., Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
- 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.
- 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.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.