Print Report
A4174 Montia fontana - Sidalcea calycosa Vernal Pool Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Montia fontana and/or Sidalcea calycosa is codominant or characteristically present in the herbaceous layer. This alliance occurs in California in volcanic rock pools atop island-like mesas at 400-750 m elevation. Soils are shallow and rocky with short inundation periods.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Annual Water Miner''s-lettuce - Annual Checkerbloom Vernal Pool Alliance
Colloquial Name: Annual Miner''s-lettuce - Checkerbloom Vernal Pool
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of continuous intermittent to cover of herbs <90 cm in height. Montia fontana and/or Sidalcea calycosa is codominant or characteristically present in the herbaceous layer with Blennosperma nanum, Callitriche marginata, Castilleja campestris ssp. succulenta, Cicendia quadrangularis, Crassula aquatica, Downingia cuspidata, Gratiola heterosepala, Hemizonia fitchii, Lasthenia fremontii, Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea, Mimulus guttatus, Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus, Plagiobothrys stipitatus, Trifolium depauperatum, and Trifolium variegatum. Other common species include Hordeum marinum, Hypochaeris glabra, or Lolium perenne. Rare taxa in this alliance include Castilleja campestris ssp. succulenta and Gratiola heterosepala. This alliance occurs in California in volcanic rock pools atop island-like mesas at 400-750 m elevation. Soils are shallow and rocky with short inundation periods.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Montia fontana and/or Sidalcea calycosa are present as characteristic species in the herbaceous layer along with other diagnostic vernal pool species such as Lasthenia fremontii (Barbour et al. 2007b).
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Barbour et al. (2003, 2007b) recognized the Downingia-Lasthenia class that includes California vernal 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 volcanic rock pools on table mountains in the Sierra Nevada foothills and the northeastern Sacramento Valley. This alliance is similar to ~Lasthenia fremontii - Downingia bicornuta - Downingia spp. Vernal Pool Alliance (A4168)$$ and ~Trifolium variegatum Vernal Pool Alliance (A4175)$$ in species composition and environmental setting. With further sampling and analysis across their distribution of habitats, these alliances may be combined.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This alliance consists of continuous intermittent to cover of herbs <90 cm in height. Montia fontana and/or Sidalcea calycosa is codominant or characteristically present in the herbaceous layer with Blennosperma nanum, Callitriche marginata, Castilleja campestris ssp. succulenta, Cicendia quadrangularis, Crassula aquatica, Downingia cuspidata, Gratiola heterosepala, Hemizonia fitchii (= Centromadia fitchii), Lasthenia fremontii, Limnanthes douglasii ssp. rosea, Mimulus guttatus, Plagiobothrys glyptocarpus, Plagiobothrys stipitatus, Trifolium depauperatum, and Trifolium variegatum. Other common species include Hordeum marinum, Hypochaeris glabra, or Lolium perenne. Rare taxa in this alliance include Castilleja campestris ssp. succulenta and Gratiola heterosepala.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This alliance occurs in California in volcanic rock pools atop island-like mesas at 400-750 m elevation. Soils are shallow and rocky with short inundation periods.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in California in the Great Central Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.943217
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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 | A4174 Annual Water Miner''s-lettuce - Annual Checkerbloom Vernal Pool Alliance | A4174 | 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: = Montia fontana - Sidalcea calycosa (Water blinks - Annual checkerbloom vernal pools) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [44.113.00]
= Montia fontana-Sidalcea calycosa Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [44.113.00]
< Northern Basalt Flow Vernal Pool (#44131) (Holland 1986b)
< Northern Basalt Flow Vernal Pool Habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
= Montia fontana-Sidalcea calycosa Herbaceous Alliance (CNPS 2017) [44.113.00]
< Northern Basalt Flow Vernal Pool (#44131) (Holland 1986b)
< Northern Basalt Flow 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.
- 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.