Name:
Californian Ruderal Forest Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
These ruderal forests and woodlands are generally found in cismontane California and Baja California, Mexico. Stands have an open to dense tree canopy (>10% tree cover), 5-50 m tall that is strongly dominated (>90% relative cover) by exotic tree species. Exotic dominant/diagnostic species include <i>Acacia cyclops, Acacia dealbata, Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia redolens, Ailanthus altissima, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus cladocalyx, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus polyanthemos, Eucalyptus pulverulenta, Eucalyptus sideroxylon, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Eucalyptus viminalis, Ficus carica, Myoporum laetum, Pinus halepensis, Prunus mahaleb, Robinia pseudoacacia, Schinus molle</i>, and <i>Schinus terebinthifolius</i>. This type also includes degraded natural forests and woodlands with an understory strongly dominated by exotic species (>90% relative cover). Stands occur from near sea level to up to 300 m elevation. Habitats include coastal canyons, foothill and mountain slopes, valleys, and roadsides. Although sites may be relatively mesic, riparian stands are not included in this group. Many of these species were planted as groves and windbreaks, and then naturalized. Birds disperse the colored fruits allowing seedlings to establish in wildland vegetation. Many of the trees are common ornamentals that have escaped from cultivation. Understories in groves of these fast-growing, long-lived trees are usually depauperate. With dominance of <i>Eucalyptus</i>, a buildup of allelopathic chemicals may occur in the soil and high volumes of debris inhibit establishment of other plants.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40319-{8F559424-18E3-4480-B886-D83E050FD1EE}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
