Print Report

A4073 Dudleya cymosa - Dudleya lanceolata - Lichen/Moss Sparse Rock Vegetation Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Sparse herbaceous vegetation of steep rock outcrops in California''s central and southern Coast Ranges and southern California mountains dominated by an assortment of herbaceous plant species.


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Canyon Live-forever - Lanceleaf Live-forever / Lichen/Moss Sparse Rock Vegetation Alliance

Colloquial Name: Live-forever - Lichen/Moss Sparse Rock Vegetation

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance contains sparse herbaceous vegetation of steep rock outcrops in California''s central and southern Coast Ranges and southern California mountains and valleys where herbs are typically <10% cover and shrubs are <5% cover. Herbaceous plants may include Bromus rubens, Clarkia spp., Cryptantha spp., Dudleya cymosa, Dudleya lanceolata, Erigeron spp., Lewisia rediviva, Phacelia spp., and Vulpia spp. Shrubs may be present and sparse, including Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Eriogonum spp., and Heteromeles arbutifolia. Moss and lichen can be well-developed, including Aspicilia spp., Umbilicaria spp., and Xanthoparmelia spp. Substrates are rocky or skeletal thin gravelly soils, including igneous (granitic and volcanic), sedimentary, and metamorphic parent material.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Sparse herbaceous vegetation of steep rock outcrops with herbs that are typically <10% cover, including Bromus rubens, Clarkia spp., Cryptantha spp., Dudleya cymosa, Dudleya lanceolata, Erigeron spp., Lewisia rediviva, Phacelia spp., and Vulpia spp. Shrubs may be present and sparse, and moss and lichen can be well-developed.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance description is derived from Kittel et al. (2012a) vegetation descriptions for Pinnacles National Monument. However, there is very little data to support the description of this alliance.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Herbs are typically <10% cover and shrubs are <5% cover. Herbaceous plants may include Bromus rubens, Clarkia spp., Cryptantha spp., Dudleya cymosa, Dudleya lanceolata, Erigeron spp., Lewisia rediviva, Phacelia spp., and Vulpia spp. Shrubs may be present and sparse, including Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (= Cercocarpus betuloides), Eriogonum spp., and Heteromeles arbutifolia. Moss and lichen can be well-developed, including Aspicilia spp., Umbilicaria spp., and Xanthoparmelia spp.

Species of Interest: The dominant vascular plants are of very limited distribution, including two Dudleya spp. known from only one element occurrence each, Dudleya blochmaniae ssp. insularis (CRPR 1B.1) and Dudleya gnoma (CRPR 1B.1). The nonvascular lichen plant species are not identified to species in the stands sampled, and some are likely to be species of interest.

Dynamics:  No Data Available

Environmental Description:  This vegetation occupies steep rock outcrops. Substrates are rocky or skeletal thin gravelly soils, including igneous (granitic and volcanic), sedimentary, and metamorphic parent material.

Geographic Range: This alliance is known from California''s central and southern Coast Ranges, the Channel Islands, and southern California mountains and valleys.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN?




Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: = Dudleya cymosa - Dudleya lanceolata - Lichen/Moss Sparse Herbaceous Alliance (Rodriguez et al. 2017)

Concept Author(s): J. Evens, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: J. Evens

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14

  • 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.
  • Kittel, G., E. Reyes, J. Evens, J. Buck, and D. Johnson. 2012a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Pinnacles National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/SFAN/NRR-2012/574. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 428 pp.
  • McCabe, S. 2016. Dudleya. In: Jepson Flora Project, editors. Jepson eFlora. [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/ cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=50230] (accessed April 14, 2016).
  • Rodriguez, D., K. G. Sikes, T. Keeler-Wolf, G. Kittel, J. Curtis, C. Curley, and J. Evens. 2017. Vegetation classification of Channel Islands National Park. Report to the National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.