Name:
Styphelia tameiameiae - Chenopodium oahuense / Eragrostis atropioides Montane-Subalpine Dry Shrubland & Grassland Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This montane-subalpine dry shrubland and grassland group is characterized by a moderate to dense bunchgrass layer (<1 m tall) that is dominated by <i>Eragrostis atropioides</i> and sometimes codominated by <i>Panicum tenuifolium</i> or an open to closed shrub layer dominated by <i>Dodonaea viscosa, Styphelia tameiameiae, Vaccinium</i> spp., and, less commonly, <i>Chenopodium oahuense</i> or shrubby <i>Metrosideros polymorpha</i>. Associated herbaceous species include <i>Agrostis sandwicensis, Eragrostis deflexa, Gahnia</i> spp., <i>Luzula</i> spp., <i>Trisetum glomeratum</i>, and ferns such as <i>Sadleria cyatheoides, Pellaea ternifolia</i>, and <i>Asplenium</i> spp. Other characteristic shrubs include <i>Argyroxiphium</i> spp., <i>Bidens menziesii, Chamaesyce</i> spp., <i>Dubautia ciliolata, Dubautia linearis, Dianella</i> spp., <i>Exocarpos</i> spp., <i>Geranium cuneatum, Lipochaeta</i> spp., <i>Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, Pseudognaphalium sandwicensium, Sida fallax, Silene</i> spp., and <i>Tetramolopium</i> spp. Scattered <i>Metrosideros polymorpha, Sophora chrysophylla</i>, or <i>Myoporum sandwicense</i> trees may be present in some stands. This shrubland and grassland group occurs on dry slopes of higher mountains of Maui and Hawai`i, from near 900 to 3000 m (2950-9835 feet) elevation. The grasslands are more restricted and occur from near 1615 to 2300 m (5295-7540 feet) elevation on saddles and slopes of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai, Hawai`i. An inversion layer of warmer air forms 50-70% of the time between 1600 and 3000 m that dramatically reduces precipitation at higher elevations. This is because the wet tradewinds generally do not rise above 1900 m (6230 feet) and are deflected around the mountains, leaving upper slopes too dry to support rainforests. Stands occur at lower elevations on leeward sides of islands where there is a strong rainshadow effect. Annual rainfall is generally 400-1500 mm. Many sites are wind-exposed. Substrates include cinder, well-drained, sandy loam soils derived from volcanic ash or cinder, and weathered `a`â or pâhoehoe basaltic lava with little soil development. Exotic invasive grasses such as <i>Pennisetum setaceum</i> and forbs such as <i>Heterotheca grandiflora, Senecio madagascariensis</i>, and <i>Verbascum thapsus</i> may be present to common, but not dominant in stands. Fire-adapted exotic grass <i>Pennisetum setaceum</i> has not significantly invaded and is only occasionally present. Stands dominated by exotics are classified in ~Polynesian Ruderal Subalpine-Montane Shrubland & Grassland Group (G418)$$.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40148-{D47DF2E0-8384-4E16-88AA-EFCD4E7E1D8A}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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