Name:
Nassella pulchra Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
These grasslands are moderately widespread in California and occur across such a variety of environmental param that few generalities can be made. Sites range from sea level to 1300 m in elevation, and include all topographic locations. Climate is Mediterranean with mean annual precipitation ranging from about 12 cm in the southwestern San Joaquin Valley to 200 cm in the montane of northwestern California. Soils are usually deep, fine-textured (clay is common), moist to saturated in winter, but very dry in the summer. Stands have a medium-tall graminoid layer 0.5-1 m in height, that is dominated by the perennial, tussock-forming bunchgrass Nassella pulchra. In some stands, this is the only perennial grass. Other perennial grasses that may be common include Elymus glaucus, Festuca californica, Koeleria macrantha, Melica californica, Melica imperfecta, Nassella cernua, Nassella lepida, Poa secunda, and Sanicula bipinnatifida. Cover of the bunch grasses is described as open, but may be high in some stands. Perennial and annual forbs form a matrix between the bunchgrass tussocks; information on forb species composition is not available. It has been reported that forbs predominantly include plants with bulbs and annuals in the Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Fabaceae, and Lamiaceae plant families. Occasionally, emergent shrubs or trees may be present, but no information is available on species. Most, if not all, stands include non-native annual grass species mixed with the perennial natives. Non-natives commonly present include Avena barbata, Avena fatua, Bromus diandrus, Bromus hordeaceus, Bromus madritensis, and Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum (= Lolium multiflorum).
Accession Code:
VB.CC.20306.NASSELLAPULCHRA
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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