Name:
Pinus attenuata / Arctostaphylos nevadensis Woodland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This association is an open, valley bottom or low elevation woodland found on serpentine soils in southwestern Oregon and reported from adjacent northwestern California. These woodlands are generally found on flat, stony, serpentine valley bottoms or terraces <i>Pinus attenuata</i> dominates the tree canopy, although <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> and <i>Pinus jeffreyi</i> are usually present. <i>Chamaecyparis lawsoniana</i> and <i>Pinus monticola</i> can occasionally be found. <i>Pinus attenuata</i> and the other associated trees provide an open canopy ranging between 10% and 50% cover, so some stands are more savanna like, while others grade into forests. This vegetation generally has a dense, diverse, evergreen sclerophyllous shrub layer. <i>Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Arctostaphylos x cinerea, Arctostaphylos columbiana</i> and numerous <i>Arctostaphylos</i> hybrids characterize the shrub layer, but <i>Garrya buxifolia, Frangula californica ssp. californica (= Rhamnus californica), Ceanothus velutinus</i>, and <i>Quercus vacciniifolia</i> all may be codominant. Openings are dominated by diverse serpentine forbs (common genera include <i>Eriogonum, Arabis, Monardella, Penstemon</i>, and <i>Gilia</i>), and grasses such as <i>Achnatherum lemmonii (= Stipa lemmonii), Festuca roemeri, Festuca californica, Melica geyeri</i>, and <i>Danthonia californica</i>. These openings are not uncommon, but are rarely frequent enough to make it possible to get through these woodlands on foot. These woodlands are generally successional, and become <i>Pseudotsuga menziesii</i> forests if the sites go many years without fire. Because fire suppression, development, and logging is extremely widespread in these valley bottom stands, there are few undisturbed stands and it is difficult to determine what a natural woodland would look like.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.32904.CEGL000763
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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