Name:
Nassella lepida - Melica torreyana Grassland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This California native bunchgrass alliance is dominated by <i>Nassella lepida</i> and/or <i>Melica torreyana</i>, either singly or together. Other graminoids present may include <i>Calamagrostis koelerioides, Elymus glaucus, Elymus multisetus, Festuca californica, Melica californica, Nassella pulchra, Nassella cernua</i>, and <i>Poa secunda</i>. Forbs include <i>Achillea millefolium, Calystegia collina, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, Clarkia purpurea, Daucus pusillus, Dichelostemma capitatum, Eriogonum nudum</i>, and <i>Eschscholzia californica</i>. Many exotic annuals, such as <i>Bromus hordeaceus</i>, have invaded stands of this alliance. Emergent trees and shrubs may be present. Plant cover tends to be open. On sites with ultramafic-derived soils, serpentine-adapted species may be present. This bunchgrass alliance of California's valleys and foothills grows on deep soils with a high clay content often derived from mudstone, sandstone, or serpentine substrates. <i>Melica torreyana</i> generally occurs on rocky steep slopes, especially on serpentine substrates, with soils of sandy or silty clays with surface of lag gravel. Stands can occur on all topographic positions, but due to climatic factors, they do not occur over 1700 m of elevation. The native California bunchgrasses are adapted to a Mediterranean climate with moist, cool winters and long, dry summers. Precipitation varies from 25-70 cm per year, and falls mostly between November and April. <i>Melica torreyana</i> is endemic to California.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38186-{3710DE4F-D64F-448B-B451-99FDCE232552}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
