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A.1202 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1202
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: These grasslands occur on valley bottoms, lower alluvial slopes, coastal bluffs and terraces along the central coast of California north to Washington. Elevations range from 0-300 m. Climate is maritime with most of the annual precipitation occurring as rain during the winter. Stands require seasonally or permanently saturated soils with a shallow water table within the cool, moist band within 10 km of the coast. Soils are moderately deep (120 cm), with a high organic component (23%) and a thick litter layer (8 cm). Soil texture is loam with a pH of 6. Stands form a mosaic with forest and scrub in the coastal prairies and generally occur on moderate slopes (24% slope) with southern aspects. Stands on open bluffs tolerate the high winds and salt spray well. This vegetation has a moderately dense (50-60% cover) herbaceous layer (<1.5 m tall) that is dominated by the cool-season sod-grass ~Calamagrostis nutkaensis$. ~Elymus glaucus$ and ~Festuca rubra$ are common graminoid associates. Perennial forbs may be diverse, but rarely contribute much cover. Associates may include ~Symphyotrichum chilense (= Aster chilensis), Carex obnupta, Lolium arundinaceum (= Festuca arundinacea), Pteridium aquilinum, Iris tenax, Maianthemum dilatatum, Marah oreganus, Achillea millefolium, Rubus ursinus, Artemisia suksdorfii, Heracleum maximum (= Heracleum lanatum), Holcus lanatus$, or ~Anthoxanthum odoratum$. Occasional emergent shrubs, such as ~Vaccinium ovatum$, and trees, such as ~Picea sitchensis$, may be present. Exotic species, such as ~Poa pratensis$ and ~Dactylis glomerata$, may be abundant. Adjacent vegetation may include ~Holcus lanatus / Anthoxanthum odoratum$ and ~Fragaria chiloensis / Armeria maritima$ communities, and various scrub and forest types. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.973.A1202
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: V.A.5.N.a
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: CALAMAGROSTIS NUTKAENSIS HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
  Code: A.1202
  Common: Pacific Reedgrass Herbaceous Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Calamagrostis nutkaensis Herbaceous Alliance