Name:
Dodonaea viscosa - Styphelia tameiameiae / Dicranopteris linearis Lowland Mesic-Wet Shrubland & Grassland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This lowland mesic to wet grassland and shrubland group is found on the main Hawaiian Islands and is characterized by an open to dense, moderately tall herbaceous layer (to 1.2 m tall) that is typically dominated by <i>Eragrostis variabilis</i> or <i>Dicranopteris linearis</i>, sometimes with <i>Carex</i> spp., <i>Dianella</i> spp., <i>Gahnia</i> spp., and <i>Luzula</i> spp. or an open to closed short-shrub layer (0.5-3 m tall) with varying herbaceous undergrowth. The shrub layer is frequently dominated by <i>Dodonaea viscosa</i> and <i>Styphelia tameiameiae</i>. Other characteristic species include <i>Psydrax odorata, Chamaesyce</i> spp., <i>Cladonia</i> (lichen), <i>Cocculus</i> spp., <i>Dicranopteris</i> spp., <i>Korthalsella</i> spp., <i>Lobelia yuccoides</i>, shrubby <i>Metrosideros polymorpha, Odontosoria, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, Pittosporum</i> spp., <i>Sadleria</i> spp., <i>Scaevola gaudichaudiana, Scaevola gaudichaudii, Vaccinium</i> spp., and <i>Wikstroemia</i> spp. Most examples of this group have been invaded by non-native species. Lowland mesic grasslands grade into mesic shrublands and forests where <i>Metrosideros polymorpha</i> is frequently a dominant species. Grassland stands can be found on moderate to steep slopes of Kaua`i, O`ahu, Moloka`i and Maui from 300 to 2000 m (1000-6500 feet) elevation; shrublands are more restricted in elevation and occur between 10 and 850 m (33-2800 feet) on all the main islands with well-developed stands on leeward Moloka`i and leeward western Maui, but absent on Kaho`olawe. The shrublands develop where forests cannot be supported, such as ridgetops subject to seasonal drought. Vegetation in this group may extend downslope to coastal slopes. The climate is tropical and seasonal, with hot dry summers and primarily winter (November to March) rainfall of 750-1000 mm (30-40 inches) annually and up to 2000 mm. Soils are generally shallow. On the younger islands, it can occur on young pâhoehoe that is beginning to form a thin mantle of soil.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40146-{9B616B6D-1C59-43FA-9367-CFC5F655331E}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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