Name:
Nassella pulchra - Melica californica - Leymus condensatus Grassland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This perennial grassland group is found in Mediterranean California. Characteristic plant species include a dominance by native, cool-season bunchgrasses, especially <i>Leymus condensatus, Melica torreyana, Nassella cernua, Nassella lepida</i>, and <i>Nassella pulchra</i>. Other grasses may include <i>Aristida</i> spp., <i>Bromus carinatus, Elymus glaucus, Festuca californica, Festuca idahoensis, Melica californica</i>, and <i>Poa secunda</i>. Native forbs include species of <i>Achillea, Achyrachaena, Agoseris, Bloomeria, Brodiaea, Castilleja, Chlorogalum, Clarkia, Dodecatheon, Lomatium, Lotus, Sanicula, Trifolium</i>, and <i>Triteleia</i>. Stands range from 10-1200 m (30-3600 feet) elevation, with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers, receiving on average 50 cm (range 25-100 cm) of precipitation per year, mainly as winter rain. It is found with fine-textured soils, moist or even waterlogged in winter, but very dry in summer. Historically, these grasslands were common among oak savanna and woodland and probably experienced similar frequent fire regimes. Today they are limited to small relictual, remnant and restored stands. These communities are best represented on xeric to mesic ultramafic sites where alien annual grasses are less well-adapted.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40131-{E2228EC6-ECD2-4922-A9E4-7109E3625438}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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