Name:
Arctostaphylos viscida - Ceanothus cuneatus / Festuca idahoensis - Achnatherum lemmonii Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This is a valley margin and bottomland chaparral community found in the interior valleys and margins of southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. It occurs on stony, shallow soil, occasionally on alluvial plains, or more commonly valley margin hillslopes at moderate elevations (between 1200 and 3000 feet in elevation). It also is found on south-facing river canyon slopes. Most occurrences are on clay soils, but the association may occasionally be found in serpentine areas. Native dominant grasses include Festuca roemeri in many areas, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Achnatherum lemmonii (= Stipa lemmonii), and Elymus elymoides. These last two grasses tend to be the most resistant to grazing, and increase in the poor condition stands. Pseudoroegneria spicata does not appear to be important in the valley bottom stands, nor has it been reported from California stands. Forbs in this community include Phacelia hastata, Achillea millefolium, Lomatium macrocarpum, Lomatium utriculatum, Calochortus tolmiei, and annuals such as Plagiobothrys and Lasthenia species. This chaparral type, as is often the case, is fire-dependant. Both dominant shrubs require fire for re-establishment. After fire, Ceanothus cuneatus comes back quickest and can completely dominate young stands. Arctostaphylos viscida is codominant in older stands and can eventually overtop and replace the Ceanothus, often forming very tall, dense thickets in which the bunchgrass and forb cover also declines. These two tend to be the only important shrubs, although occasionally Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (= Cercocarpus betuloides), Ceanothus integerrimus, and Toxicodendron diversilobum are found. In many areas, the habitat is an edaphic climax due to the shallow, stony soils. However, often these chaparral stands will be replace by Pinus ponderosa or Quercus kelloggii and/or Quercus garryana woodlands.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.25246.ARCTOSTAPHYLOSV
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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