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A4169 Eryngium aristulatum Vernal Pool Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Eryngium aristulatum is codominant or characteristically present in the herbaceous layer. The alliance occurs in shallow, flashy vernal pool bottoms and edges at 15-710 m in the Central Valley of California.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: California Eryngo Vernal Pool Alliance
Colloquial Name: California Eryngo Vernal Pool
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of intermittent to continuous cover of herbs <90 cm in height. Eryngium aristulatum is codominant or characteristically present in the herbaceous layer with Blennosperma nanum, Cicendia quadrangularis, Downingia cuspidata, Erodium spp., Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulifolia, Hemizonia fitchii, Lasthenia glabrata ssp. glabrata, Lepidium latipes var. latipes, Lepidium nitidum, Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea, Lolium perenne, Lupinus bicolor, Medicago polymorpha, Plagiobothrys greenei, Psilocarphus oregonus, Trifolium depauperatum, and Trifolium willdenovii. Rare taxa include Astragalus tener var. tener and Lepidium latipes var. heckardii. The alliance occurs in shallow, flashy vernal pool bottoms and edges at 15-710 m in the Central Valley of California. Soils are short-inundated Vertisols with claypans.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Eryngium aristulatum, Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulifolia, Lasthenia glabrata ssp. glabrata, Lepidium latipes var. latipes, Lupinus bicolor, Medicago polymorpha, and/or Trifolium willdenovii are present as characteristic species in the herbaceous layer (Barbour et al. 2007b).
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This and other Eryngium species are common indicators of a number of other vernal pool vegetation types in California. Species such as Eryngium castrense and Eryngium vaseyi are characteristic of vernal pools in general, whereas Eryngium aristulatum is particularly characteristic of alkaline pools in the Central Valley.
Barbour et al. (2003, 2007b) recognized the Downingia-Lasthenia class that includes California pool vegetation on all geomorphic surfaces, landscapes, and soil types in the Central Valley and adjacent foothills. Within that class, they recognized this alliance for the vegetation of shallow vernal pools and pool edges on Vertisols. The alliance is circumscribed using only Eryngium aristulatum; Barbour et al. (2007b) originally named the alliance Eryngium aristulatum - Lupinus bicolor. They restricted their alliance definition to Vertisols of the Central Valley; however, this alliance is more broadly defined to allow for other stands with Eryngium aristulatum as the primary diagnostic species without Lupinus bicolor.
Klein and Evens (2006) identified similar stands with Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii as a characteristic species within their Eleocharis macrostachya alliance in vernal pools on the Santa Rosa Plateau in southern California. Furthermore, some associations classified by Barbour et al. (2007b) in the Cressa truxillensis - Distichlis spicata alliance appear similar to this alliance. Further sampling and data analysis are needed to better understand the relationships of these and other types.
Barbour et al. (2003, 2007b) recognized the Downingia-Lasthenia class that includes California pool vegetation on all geomorphic surfaces, landscapes, and soil types in the Central Valley and adjacent foothills. Within that class, they recognized this alliance for the vegetation of shallow vernal pools and pool edges on Vertisols. The alliance is circumscribed using only Eryngium aristulatum; Barbour et al. (2007b) originally named the alliance Eryngium aristulatum - Lupinus bicolor. They restricted their alliance definition to Vertisols of the Central Valley; however, this alliance is more broadly defined to allow for other stands with Eryngium aristulatum as the primary diagnostic species without Lupinus bicolor.
Klein and Evens (2006) identified similar stands with Eryngium aristulatum var. parishii as a characteristic species within their Eleocharis macrostachya alliance in vernal pools on the Santa Rosa Plateau in southern California. Furthermore, some associations classified by Barbour et al. (2007b) in the Cressa truxillensis - Distichlis spicata alliance appear similar to this alliance. Further sampling and data analysis are needed to better understand the relationships of these and other types.
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 <90 cm in height. Eryngium aristulatum is codominant or characteristically present in the herbaceous layer with Blennosperma nanum, Cicendia quadrangularis, Downingia cuspidata, Erodium spp., Hemizonia congesta ssp. luzulifolia, Hemizonia fitchii (= Centromadia fitchii), Lasthenia glabrata ssp. glabrata, Lepidium latipes var. latipes, Lepidium nitidum, Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea, Lolium perenne, Lupinus bicolor, Medicago polymorpha, Plagiobothrys greenei, Psilocarphus oregonus, Trifolium depauperatum, and Trifolium willdenovii. Rare taxa include Astragalus tener var. tener and Lepidium latipes var. heckardii.
Dynamics: Historic fire patterns in vernal pool systems are not well understood. Although the likelihood of frequent fire is high in some cismontane grasslands of California, the lower fuel volumes, and the wetter condition of the plants in vernal pools with respect to surrounding grasslands may minimize fire spread in vernal pools (Wills 2006). Late summer to fall season fire is likely to have largely neutral to positive effects on the native, seed-banking annuals and geophytes.
Environmental Description: The alliance occurs in shallow, flashy vernal pool bottoms and edges at 15-710 m in the Central Valley of California. Soils are short-inundated Vertisols with claypans.
Geographic Range: This alliance is currently known from the Great Central Valley of California.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.943202
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 | A4169 California Eryngo Vernal Pool Alliance | A4169 | 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: = Eryngium aristulatum (California button-celery patches) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.004.00]
< Northern Claypan Vernal Pool (#44120) (Holland 1986b)
< Northern claypan vernal pool habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Northern Claypan Vernal Pool (#44120) (Holland 1986b)
< Northern claypan 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/].
- Evens, J. M., and E. Kentner. 2006. Classification of vegetation associations from the Mount Tamalpais Watershed, Nicasio Reservoir, and Soulajule Reservior in Marin County, California. Report for the Marin Municipal Water District. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento.
- 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. 1976. The vegetation of vernal pools: A survey. Pages 11–15 in: S. Jain, editor. Vernal pools, their ecology and conservation. Publication Number 9. Institute of Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA.
- 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.
- 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.
- Wills, R. 2006. Central Valley bioregion. Pages 295-320 in: N. G. Sugihara, J. W. van Wagtendonk, K. E. Shaffer, J. Fites-Kaufman, and A. E. Thode, editors. Fire in California''s ecosystems. University of California Press, Berkeley.