Print Report
A4176 Alopecurus geniculatus Vernal Pool Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: Alopecurus geniculatus is dominant in the herbaceous layer. The alliance is found in California in valley bottoms, wet meadows, and stream terraces at elevations ranging from sea level to 1550 m.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Water Foxtail Vernal Pool Alliance
Colloquial Name: Water Foxtail Vernal Pool
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance consists of continuous cover of herbs <60 cm in height. Alopecurus geniculatus is dominant in the herbaceous layer with Agrostis exarata, Carex athrostachya, Carex nebrascensis, Hordeum brachyantherum, Juncus arcticus, Lactuca biennis, Pascopyrum smithii, Phalaris arundinacea, and Symphyotrichum ascendens. The alliance is found in valley bottoms, wet meadows, and stream terraces at elevations ranging from sea level to 1550 m. It is currently described from California but could occur throughout the western U.S. and Canada.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Alopecurus geniculatus grows throughout temperate North America and Eurasia. Its status as a native in North America is uncertain; it may be naturalized in some or all states. Some references consider it non-native (Hickman 1993). Processes other than fire primarily disturb stands.
Smith (1998b) described a riparian meadow type of Alopecurus geniculatus in the Modoc Plateau at around 1470 m in elevation. This alliance may occur in other areas because the range of the species is broad outside and inside the state of California, including the Central California Coast (USFS Section 261A), Klamath Mountains (M261A), Northern California Coast (263A), Northern California Coast Ranges (M261B), Northern California Interior Coast Ranges (M261C), Sierra Nevada (M261E), Southern Cascades (M261D), Sierra Nevada Foothills (M261F), and Southern California Coast (261B). However, more sampling and analysis are needed to evaluate associations of this alliance and to understand its relationships with similar wetland alliances.
Smith (1998b) described a riparian meadow type of Alopecurus geniculatus in the Modoc Plateau at around 1470 m in elevation. This alliance may occur in other areas because the range of the species is broad outside and inside the state of California, including the Central California Coast (USFS Section 261A), Klamath Mountains (M261A), Northern California Coast (263A), Northern California Coast Ranges (M261B), Northern California Interior Coast Ranges (M261C), Sierra Nevada (M261E), Southern Cascades (M261D), Sierra Nevada Foothills (M261F), and Southern California Coast (261B). However, more sampling and analysis are needed to evaluate associations of this alliance and to understand its relationships with similar wetland alliances.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: No Data Available
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: This alliance is currently described from California but could occur throughout the western U.S. and Canada.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.943223
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 | A4176 Water Foxtail Vernal Pool Alliance | A4176 | 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: = Alopecurus geniculatus (Water foxtail meadows) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [42.006.00]
>< Freshwater Seep (#45400) (Holland 1986b)
< Montane Meadow Habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Wet Montane Meadow (#45110) (Holland 1986b)
>< Freshwater Seep (#45400) (Holland 1986b)
< Montane Meadow Habitat (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Wet Montane Meadow (#45110) (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.
- 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, S. 1998b. Riparian community type classification for national forests in northeastern California: First approximation. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Berkeley, CA.