Name:
Psidium spp. - Syzygium jambos - Grevillea robusta Ruderal Lowland Rainforest Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This Polynesian lowland ruderal group contains all mesic and wet forests and woodlands that are strongly dominated (>90% relative canopy cover) by non-native trees in the tree canopy. Numerous species may dominate these disturbed stands, including <i>Acacia confusa, Araucaria columnaris, Casuarina</i> spp. (coastal areas), <i>Coffea arabica, Eucalyptus</i> spp., <i>Grevillea robusta, Mangifera indica, Morella faya, Phyllostachys nigra, Phoenix dactylifera, Psidium cattleianum, Psidium guajava, Schefflera actinophylla, Schinus terebinthifolius, Syzygium cumini, Syzygium jambos, Thespesia populnea</i> (common along coasts), and <i>Trema orientale</i>. Also included are stands with a tree canopy dominated or codominated native species, such as <i>Acacia koa</i> or <i>Metrosideros polymorpha</i>, with a severely degraded understory that is altered beyond the point that the natural plant community can be determined, and the community has converted to a ruderal or novel type (usually dominated by non-native species with>90% relative cover). There are numerous, invasive, exotic understory species, especially trees <i>Psidium cattleianum</i> and <i>Morella faya</i>, and herbaceous species <i>Ageratum conyzoides, Andropogon virginicus, Axonopus fissifolius, Melinis minutiflora, Paspalum conjugatum, Sacciolepis indica</i>, and <i>Sphagneticola trilobata</i>. Stands in this group occur in Hawai`i, Moloka`i, Maui, Kaua`i and O`ahu, and elsewhere in Polynesia. Sites occur along the coasts inland from 5 to 1500 m (15-4920 feet) elevation, but are generally found below 1000 m (3280 feet). Coastal forests also occur on windward sides where they intercept sufficient orographic rainfall to maintain a forest condition, yet may be influenced by coastal factors such as salt spray. The mesic forests have relatively even, moderate precipitation throughout the year or have a distinct, seasonally dry period and typically do not experience extended periods of drought like the dry forests and woodlands. Annual rainfall is 1200-2500 mm (47-98 inches) and falls largely from October to March. Rainforest are typically wet year round. Annual rainfall generally exceeds 2500 mm (98 inches). Substrates are highly variable but are generally well-drained and include steep, rocky talus, shallow to deep soils over weathered rock and gravelly alluvium, rocky shallow organic muck.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40120-{69F19A24-C5A7-4927-89E9-1C2A26A5DD10}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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