Name:
Arctostaphylos viscida - Ceanothus cuneatus / Festuca idahoensis - Achnatherum lemmonii Shrubland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
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 of between 370 and 915 m (1200-3000 feet). 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 <i>Festuca idahoensis ssp. roemeri</i> in many areas, <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata, Achnatherum lemmonii</i>, and <i>Elymus elymoides</i>. These last two grasses tend to be the most resistant to grazing, and increase in the poor condition stands. <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i> does not appear to be important in the valley bottom stands, nor has it been reported from California stands. Forbs in this community include <i>Phacelia hastata, Achillea millefolium, Lomatium macrocarpum, Lomatium utriculatum, Calochortus tolmiei</i>, and annuals such as <i>Plagiobothrys</i> and <i>Lasthenia</i> species.<br /><br />This chaparral type, as is often the case, is fire-dependent. Both dominant shrubs require fire for re-establishment. After fire, <i>Ceanothus cuneatus</i> comes back quickest and can completely dominate young stands. <i>Arctostaphylos viscida</i> is codominant in older stands and can eventually overtop and replace the <i>Ceanothus</i>, 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 <i>Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Ceanothus integerrimus</i>, and <i>Toxicodendron diversilobum</i> are found. In many areas, the habitat is an edaphic climax due to the shallow, stony soils. However, often these chaparral stands will be replaced by <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> or <i>Quercus kelloggii</i> and/or <i>Quercus garryana</i> woodlands.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:29868-{AC0261D7-B1F6-4812-8984-33F7B5539032}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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