Print Report
A3919 Quercus garryana var. fruticosa Shrubland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of the shrub forms of Quercus garryana where they are dominant or codominant with several other shrub species such as Amelanchier, Arctostaphylos, Ceanothus, Cercocarpus, Fraxinus, Prunus, and/or shrubby forms of Quercus. It occurs in the northern Coast Ranges, Klamath Mountains, Modoc Plateau, Sierra Nevada and foothills, and southern Cascades of California, and is likely to occur in Oregon.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Oregon White Oak Shrubland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Californian Montane Oregon White Oak Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of stands of the shrub form of Quercus garryana var. fruticosa where it is dominant or codominant with Amelanchier utahensis, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Arctostaphylos patula, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus integerrimus, Ceanothus velutinus, Cercis canadensis var. texensis, Cercocarpus montanus, Clematis lasiantha, Fraxinus dipetala, Prunus emarginata, Prunus subcordata, Quercus berberidifolia, Quercus vacciniifolia, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. Emergent Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus kelloggii, Quercus wislizeni, or Pinus sabiniana trees may be present at sparse cover. Shrubs are <5 m in height, and the canopy is intermittent to continuous. The herbaceous layer is usually open and grassy. This alliance occurs in the northern Coast Ranges, Klamath Mountains, Modoc Plateau, Sierra Nevada and foothills, and southern Cascades of California, and is likely to occur in Oregon. Habitats are ridges and upper slopes, and may be steep and rocky. Elevation is 450-1800 m. Since most stands are on thin soils, they tend to be invaded slowly by conifers, if at all.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This concept follows the Quercus garryana var. fruticosa shrubland alliance of Sawyer et al. (2009). This alliance is tentative; although it probably works as an alliance, it may belong in a different group altogether. The dominant taxa are deciduous oaks, although the overall floristics contain elements of montane chaparrals, such as the Ceanothus and Arctostaphylos species, as well as evergreen oaks such as Quercus vacciniifolia.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This temperate or cold-deciduous shrubland forms an intermittent to continuous canopy less than 5 m in height. Emergent trees (15-20 m tall) may be present. The herbaceous layer is variable; it may be dominated by graminoids.
Floristics: Stands dominated by Quercus garryana var. fruticosa (= var. breweri) or Quercus garryana var. garryana. Other codominant shrubs include Amelanchier utahensis, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Arctostaphylos patula, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus integerrimus, Ceanothus velutinus, Cercis canadensis var. texensis (= Cercis occidentalis), Cercocarpus montanus, Clematis lasiantha, Fraxinus dipetala, Prunus emarginata, Prunus subcordata, Quercus berberidifolia, Quercus vacciniifolia, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. Emergent Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus kelloggii, Quercus wislizeni, or Pinus sabiniana trees may be present at sparse cover. Festuca californica may be present in the herbaceous layer.
Dynamics: This alliance is much more fire-resistant than other chaparrals. This is possibly due to its fidelity to moister sites.
Environmental Description: Stands of this California shrubland alliance are found at higher elevations than most other chaparrals. Elevations range from 450 to 1800 m. Sites tend to be cooler and moister due to these higher elevations. Annual precipitation is quite seasonal, with the bulk falling between November and April. Yearly precipitation totals vary from 60 cm in the south to over 120 cm in the north. Summers are very warm and dry; winters are cool and moist. Stands are usually found on upper slopes; often these are steep. Soils are thin.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the northern Coast Ranges, Klamath Mountains, Modoc Plateau, Sierra Nevada and foothills, and southern Cascades of California, and is likely to occur in Oregon.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA, OR?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899970
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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 | A3919 Oregon White Oak Shrubland Alliance | A3919 | 2.B.2.Ng.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus garryana (Brewer oak scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.411.00]
= Quercus garryana var. breweri Shrubland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Quercus garryana (shrub) Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [37.411.00]
= Brewer Oak Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
= Shin Oak Brush (#37541) (Holland 1986b)
= Quercus garryana var. breweri Shrubland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2012)
= Quercus garryana (shrub) Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [37.411.00]
= Brewer Oak Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
= Shin Oak Brush (#37541) (Holland 1986b)
- CNPS [California Native Plant Society]. 2015-2017. A manual of California vegetation [online]. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://vegetation.cnps.org/].
- 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.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., P. E. Moore, E. T. Reyes, J. M. Menke, D. N. Johnson, and D. L. Karavidas. 2012. Yosemite National Park vegetation classification and mapping project report. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/YOSE/NRTR--2012/598. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.