Print Report
A4168 Lasthenia fremontii - Downingia bicornuta - Downingia spp. Vernal Pool Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Downingia spp. and/or Lasthenia fremontii are characteristically present in the herbaceous layer. The alliance is found in California at 15-710 m elevation in shallow vernal pool bottoms and edges, mostly hardpan pools on older geomorphic surfaces but also on volcanic substrates.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Fremont''s Goldfields - Doublehorn Calicoflower - Calicoflower species Vernal Pool Alliance
Colloquial Name: Fremont''s Goldfields - Calicoflower Vernal Pool
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of intermittent to continuous cover of herbs <60 cm in height. Downingia spp. and/or Lasthenia fremontii are characteristically present in the herbaceous layer with Castilleja campestris, Cuscuta howelliana, Eryngium castrense, Eryngium vaseyi, Gratiola ebracteata, Lilaea scilloides, Limnanthes douglasii, Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. micranthus, Plagiobothrys undulatus, Psilocarphus brevissimus var. brevissimus, and Ranunculus bonariensis var. trisepalus. Other common species include Briza minor, Bromus hordeaceus, Croton setigerus, Erodium spp., Hordeum spp., Hemizonia fitchii, Hypochaeris glabra, Leontodon taraxacoides, Lolium perenne, or Lythrum hyssopifolium. Rare taxa in this alliance include Castilleja campestris ssp. succulenta, Downingia pusilla, Gratiola ebracteata, Legenere limosa, Limnanthes floccosa ssp. californica, Navarretia myersii, Orcuttia pilosa, and Orcuttia tenuis. The alliance is found in California at 15-710 m elevation in shallow vernal pool bottoms and edges, mostly hardpan pools on older geomorphic surfaces but also on volcanic substrates. Soils have short periods of inundation.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Castilleja campestris ssp. campestris, Downingia bicornuta, Gratiola ebracteata, Lasthenia fremontii, and/or Ranunculus bonariensis var. trisepalus present and abundant collectively or in part with upland species; or Eryngium castrense, Eryngium vaseyi, Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. micranthus, and/or Psilocarphus brevissimus var. brevissimus present and abundant; or Downingia cuspidata, Downingia bicornuta, and/or Downingia ornatissima present in the herbaceous layer (Barbour et al. 2007b).
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Lasthenia fremontii is an annual composite that is endemic to the Great Valley of California. Downingia species are annual plants, primarily endemic to vernal pools. Barbour et al. (2003, 2007b) recognized the Downingia-Lasthenia class for California vernal pool vegetation on all geomorphic surfaces, landscapes, and soil types in the Central Valley and adjacent foothills. Within that class, they recognized the Lasthenia fremontii - Downingia bicornuta alliance for vegetation of shallow vernal pools and pool edges.
Nomenclature for this alliance, as described by Barbour et al. (2007b), includes some associations without the nominate alliance species in their names. Their philosophy for vegetation classification in vernal pools reflects the fact that many related vernal pools have similar species composition (e.g., similar presence of Eryngium spp., Lasthenia fremontii, Plagiobothrys stipitatus, and Psilocarphus brevissimus), and that certain species are significant indicators of certain pool types. Furthermore, the local distribution of certain ecologically equivalent species of Downingia is taken into account in the naming of some associations.
According to Barbour et al. (2007b), two associations have high constancy of species and better define the alliance; they occur in the southeastern Sacramento Valley and in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills (Keeler-Wolf et al. 1998b). Two other associations along with the Eryngium (vaseyi, castrense) type have somewhat impoverished floristics, and their affiliation with the alliance is thus weaker; they occur in the northern Sacramento Valley.
Nomenclature for this alliance, as described by Barbour et al. (2007b), includes some associations without the nominate alliance species in their names. Their philosophy for vegetation classification in vernal pools reflects the fact that many related vernal pools have similar species composition (e.g., similar presence of Eryngium spp., Lasthenia fremontii, Plagiobothrys stipitatus, and Psilocarphus brevissimus), and that certain species are significant indicators of certain pool types. Furthermore, the local distribution of certain ecologically equivalent species of Downingia is taken into account in the naming of some associations.
According to Barbour et al. (2007b), two associations have high constancy of species and better define the alliance; they occur in the southeastern Sacramento Valley and in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills (Keeler-Wolf et al. 1998b). Two other associations along with the Eryngium (vaseyi, castrense) type have somewhat impoverished floristics, and their affiliation with the alliance is thus weaker; they occur in the northern Sacramento Valley.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This alliance consists of intermittent to continuous cover of herbs <60 cm in height. Downingia spp. and/or Lasthenia fremontii are characteristically present in the herbaceous layer with Castilleja campestris, Cuscuta howelliana, Eryngium castrense, Eryngium vaseyi, Gratiola ebracteata, Lilaea scilloides, Limnanthes douglasii, Plagiobothrys stipitatus var. micranthus, Plagiobothrys undulatus, Psilocarphus brevissimus var. brevissimus, and Ranunculus bonariensis var. trisepalus. Other common species include Briza minor, Bromus hordeaceus, Croton setigerus, Erodium spp., Hordeum spp., Hemizonia fitchii (= Centromadia fitchii), Hypochaeris glabra, Leontodon taraxacoides (= Leontodon saxatilis), Lolium perenne, or Lythrum hyssopifolium. Rare taxa in this alliance include Castilleja campestris ssp. succulenta, Downingia pusilla, Gratiola ebracteata, Legenere limosa, Limnanthes floccosa ssp. californica, Navarretia myersii, Orcuttia pilosa, and Orcuttia tenuis.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: The alliance is found in California at 15-710 m elevation in shallow vernal pool bottoms and edges, mostly hardpan pools on older geomorphic surfaces but also on volcanic substrates. Soils have short periods of inundation.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in the Great Central Valley, Sierra Nevada foothills and Modoc Plateau of California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.943199
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass | S44 | 2.C |
| Formation | 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation | F013 | 2.C.4 |
| Division | 2.C.4.Nb Western North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division | D031 | 2.C.4.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.C.4.Nb.3 Winged Water-starwort - Elegant Calicoflower - California Eryngo Western North American Vernal Pool Macrogroup | M074 | 2.C.4.Nb.3 |
| Group | 2.C.4.Nb.3.a Californian Vernal Pool Group | G530 | 2.C.4.Nb.3.a |
| Alliance | A4168 Fremont''s Goldfields - Doublehorn Calicoflower - Calicoflower species Vernal Pool Alliance | A4168 | 2.C.4.Nb.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Lasthenia fremontii - Downingia (bicornuta) (Fremont''s goldfields - Downingia vernal pools) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.007.00]
< Northern Hardpan Vernal Pool (#44110) (Holland 1986b)
>< Northern hardpan vernal pool habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Northern volcanic mudflow vernal pool habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Northern Hardpan Vernal Pool (#44110) (Holland 1986b)
>< Northern hardpan vernal pool habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Northern volcanic mudflow vernal pool habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
- Barbour, M. G., A. I. Solomeshch, and J. J. Buck. 2007b. Classification, ecological characterization, and presence of listed plant taxa of vernal pool associations in California. Report to USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service, Agreement Study No. 814205G238. University of California, Davis. 117 pp. plus 5 tables. [http://www.vernalpools.org/documents/Barbour_et_al_2007.pdf]
- Barbour, M. G., A. Solomeshch, C. Witham, R. Holland, R. Macdonald, S. Cilliers, J. A. Molina, J. Buck, and J. Hillman. 2003. Vernal pool vegetation of California: Variation within pools. Madroño 50:129-146.
- 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.
- 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., D. R. Elam, K. Lewis, and S. A. Flint. 1998b. California vernal pool assessment. Preliminary report. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.
- Klein, A., J. Crawford, J. Evens, T. Keeler-Wolf, and D. Hickson. 2007. Classification of the vegetation alliances and associations of the northern Sierra Nevada foothills, California. Volumes 1 and 2. Report prepared for California Department of Fish and Game, Habitat Conservation Division. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=18232&inline=1]
- Platenkamp, G. A. 1998. Vernal pool biodiversity at Beale Air Force Base. Pages 151–160 in: C. W. Witham, E. T. Bauder, D. Belk, J. W. R. Ferren, and O. Rorbert, editors. Ecology, conservation, and management of vernal pool ecosystems. Proceedings from a 1996 conference. California Native Plant Society, 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.
- Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
- Smith, C. F. 1998c. A flora of the Santa Barbara region, California: An annotated catalog of the native, naturalized, and adventive vascular plants of mainland Santa Barbara County, adjacent related areas, and four nearby Channel Islands. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and Capra Press, Santa Barbara, CA.
- Smith, S. 1998b. Riparian community type classification for national forests in northeastern California: First approximation. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Berkeley, CA.
- Taylor, D. W., G. L. Clifton, R. F. Holland, and C. W. Witham. 1992. Vernal pools along the PGT-PG&E pipeline expansion project, California. Unpublished report for Pacific Gas Transmission Company, San Francisco. Contract No. 9-A177-90 J-569-205. BioSystems Analysis, Inc., Tiburon, CA.