Name:
Metrosideros polymorpha - Colubrina oppositifolia - Erythrina sandwicensis Lowland Dry Forest & Woodland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This lowland dry forest and woodland group occurs on the main Hawaiian Islands. Vegetation is characterized by an open to dense tree layer typically dominated or codominated by a variety of mostly evergreen trees with diverse shrubs, ferns and lianas depending on location and age of stands. Lowland dry and mesic forests are exceptionally rich in tree species. Widespread species <i>Metrosideros polymorpha</i> is often present and may codominate in relatively young stands. Late-seral stands are dominated by <i>Diospyros sandwicensis</i> and, less commonly, <i>Colubrina oppositifolia</i>. In driest settings that support trees, summer-deciduous <i>Erythrina sandwicensis</i> may dominate. Presence of diagnostic tree species such as <i>Acacia koaia, Erythrina sandwicensis, Gardenia brighamii, Hibiscadelphus</i> spp., <i>Kokia</i> spp., <i>Nesoluma polynesicum, Pritchardia remota, Reynoldsia sandwicensis</i>, or shrubs <i>Achyranthes</i> spp., <i>Nototrichium</i> spp., or <i>Tephrosia</i> spp. indicate this dry lowland group. Other characteristics trees include <i>Alphitonia ponderosa, Psydrax odorata, Nestegis sandwicensis, Pleomele</i> spp., <i>Pouteria sandwicensis, Rauvolfia sandwicensis, Santalum</i> spp., <i>Sapindus oahuense</i>, and <i>Sophora chrysophylla</i>. Native shrubs include <i>Chamaesyce</i> spp., <i>Dodonaea</i> sp., <i>Lipochaeta</i> spp., <i>Myrsine lanaiensis, Nothocestrum</i> spp., <i>Osteomeles</i> sp., <i>Plectranthus parviflorus, Plumbago zeylanica, Senna gaudichaudii, Sida</i> sp., <i>Styphelia</i> sp., <i>Tetramolopium</i> spp., <i>Waltheria</i> sp., and <i>Wikstroemia</i> spp. Native vines include <i>Bonamia menziesii, Canavalia</i> spp., and <i>Ipomoea</i> spp. Native ferns include <i>Doryopteris</i> sp. and <i>Pellaea ternifolia</i>. Where substrate is rocky, lichens are often common. Almost all native lowland dry forests have been degraded and include some invasive exotic woody species such as <i>Lantana camara, Leucaena leucocephala, Schinus terebinthifolius</i>, and widespread exotic grasses such as <i>Andropogon virginicus, Pennisetum setaceum</i>, and <i>Schizachyrium condensatum</i>. Stands dominated by exotic species either in the tree canopy or understory are classified in a ruderal group. Stands occur on dry slopes generally from 15-1000 m (50-3280 feet) elevation, but may extend to 1500 m (4920 feet). They are typically found on the leeward sides of islands where there is a strong rainshadow effect from high mountains that reduce precipitation from moisture-laden tradewinds. Annual rainfall is generally 500-2000 mm. Substrates include well-drained, sandy loam soils derived from volcanic ash or cinder and weathered `a`â or pâhoehoe basaltic lava.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40142-{62E2A92B-F0B0-4CCB-9480-A8C79178ACF3}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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