FLORA OF THE 'MAYACMAS MOUNTAINS CONSULTANT REPORT CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION ' P700-8 1-0 16 DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency Thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. DISCLAIMER Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document. FLORA OF THE MAYACMAS MOUNTAINS ,, Prepared by Dr. James A. Neilson I Assisted by Ms. Dianne McQuaid 5L13 Jm-mrtma pnrri rnnmontal PnnstiI tnntn , logic factors have have been provided Crr)NTENfS I, 1 2 CALIFORNIA PRAIRIE . 4 ru\.mm HERB. .................... 6 SAVANNAHS. .......... 7 . 14 ..... 17 ..... 21 ..... 21 . *. 22 .....e... 23 ti .- . - -__l__i__- ~ . --- LIST Oc F I GURES re 1. Mayacmas Mountains . * . 3 I Figure 2. Relationship between bedrock, soils, vegetation. 9 I Figure 3. Known distribution of selected Ceanothus Species . 63 e 4. Known loca s of Fremontia califomica ssp. mpensis 73 e 5. Known loc own locations of selected species of for identification, 2: to be pre- Flora of the w I -.__. _- - - - . - - -- T COMMUN I TI ES CI W s into units of three nts in time and only extent features recorded. In the zonal concep jor features of vegetation dynamics are included, The foothill zone is range from bordering mountain zone, vegetation typ types are entirely absen 3 , . .. ... - .. Basic com.unity types and theirprincipal subdivisions (associations and facies) in the Mayacmas Mountains are as follows: kd Zonal: Grasslands - Native prairie (perennial bunch grasses); predominantly native grasses and herbs; wet meadows; swales. Savannahs Chaparrals - "Hard" or xeric shrubland; "soft" or mesic shrubland. Woodlands - Deciduous; evergreen broadleaf; conifer - broadleaf. Forests - Conifer - broadleaf; conifer. Azonal: Ponds and reservoirs Seeps and vernal springs Ruderal or weedy areas Introduced annual grassland Old field Transzonal: Stream courses - permanently flowing and intermittent Rock cliff Running springs CALIFORNIA PRAIRIE The California Prairie once formed the principal native grassland over much of central California. Now only relic stands occur, mostly in is- olated, lightly grazed areas in the Coast Range (cf. Barry, 1972; Bur- cham, 1957). Stands of this community within the Mayacmas Range usually show intensive overgrazing and some agriculture practice has occurred throughout the range since its settlement in the 1870's. However, the present tendency to reduce or eliminate grazing of domestic livestock in developed geothermal areas has encouraged native bunch grasses to reassume dominance. "here is much variation in the expression of this community. The charac- teristic and dominant grass is Foothill Needle and Threadgrass (StipZ tepida) , followed by .Pine Bl!?egrass (Poa scabrezla) , Creeping Wild Rye (EZymus triticoides), and several other perennial grasses. The presence of Medusa Head (Ei!ymus caput-medusae), Ripgut (Brms rigidus) Western Cheatgrass (B. tectom) and the hairgrass (Desc-sia danthtmwidesl indicate an overgrazed state. Other species found are Lindley's Lupine (Lupinus bicoZor), Baby Blue-eyes (NemophiZZa menziesii) Sheep Sorrel (Rumex angiocarpus), Cut-leaved Geranium (Geranium dissectwn), Loose- strife (Lgthmrm hyssopifolia), poppy (EschSchoZzia caespitosa) Narrow- L leaved Owl's Clover (&t 1, Yarrow (AchZZZea ZarmZosa), Popcorn Flower (Plagiobothrys mtkofu1vus), and Harsh Allocarya (Allo- carya hispiduta). Other elements of the Introduced Annual Grassland and Native Herb communities can also be found: Narrow-leafed Mule Ears (Wy- cup (Ranunculus iden-kzlis),Mountain ill Morning Glo Convolvulus subacau- ated in the mea along the upper I I WET MEADOW The Wet Meadow.community occ in isolated sites here and fornia Oat Grass t Vernal Grass Small-headed Cow Clover The Swale community is often an expression of an incipient riparian type i characteristic of low areas in a flood plain. It is very diverse and often invaded by both Seep, Wet Meadow, and Prairie species. It is distinguished by:.rushes (Juncus effusus var. paci-ficus and J. balticus 1, Spike Rush (Eleocharis acrostachya ) , Dense Sedge (Carex densa), White Brodiaea (3rodiaea hyacinthim), Sticky Cinquafoil (PotentiZZa gZanduZosa), and Narrow-leafed Mule Ears (Flyethia angustifozia). Other herbs commonly found are a blue brodiaea (Erodiaea zaxa ), Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchim beltum), Kellogg's Yampa (Perideridia kelloggii 1, Common Plantain major), Dandelion (!Parmama officiniazis), and Large-flowered Star-Tulip (Calochortus uni.flora). Several grasses occur prominently: California Oat Grass (knthonia califormica),Meadow Barley (Yordewn brachantherim 1 , Sweet Vernalgrass (Anthoxanth OdOPatZd and Pine Bluegrass (Poa scabrel- la). This communitiy is well represented in upper High Valley Creek meadows or in meadows near Socrates Mine Headquarters. Ground cover is about 115% except in ponding areas, and stature is about 2 to 10 dm (6 to 10 in) high. Lush growth is produced into'midsummer and its annual biomass is estimated at about 1 ton per acre. NATIVE HERB On low elevated rises or ridges above the general level of meadows or quite independent of them, two Native Herb communities are found. The first Native Herb usually has several species of introduced annual grasses in it, several clovers (TrifoZiwn dichotorrnun, T, bifsm, T. microdon), filarees (,Dodim sp. 1, Lindley's Lupine (Lupinus bScoZor), Cream Cups (Platystemon caZi,forn<ca), Few-f lowered Collinsia (CoZZinsia spapsiflora), Fringe Pod (Thysmcarpus cmipes), Long-spurred Plectri- tis (Plectritis citiosa), Annual Phlox (Kicrosteris gracizis), Hill Morn- ing Glory (Convozvulus subacauzis), and Woolly-fruited Lomatium (hmatiwn daspcarpwn) . A second Native Herb type is found on steeper slopes where soils are mostly thinner having formed from a greywacke parent material. It al- most always has one of the Limthus sp, and Orthocarpus pusizzus 0. fauc<barbatus present. Gambelll s Dwarf Locoweed (Astragalus gambeZZi- anus) , Red-stemmed Filaree (ErOdiwn c~cutar~wn), Western Cheatgrass and annual fescues, together with Yellow Evening Primrose (Oe?'LOthePagracili- flora), a small crucifer (iR.opidocarpum gracite) , biountain Violet (VioZa purpurea), and the striking Purple Mouse Ears (MhZus dougksii) disting- uish it. Golden Fairy Lantern (Catochortus amabiZis) and Fringe Pod also appear. 6 Savannahs are assland communities that contain scattered trees covering up to 15% of ground surface. While the qrassland is dominant, the savannah's name is taken from the tree layer.-.. Associated grassland communities are most often the Califonia Annual Grassland or the Native Herb communities described elsewhere. Several grasses appear in savannahs in association with the trees. These are California tielic (MeZica califomica) , Torrey's Melic (PeZica tor- reyam ), Thread and Needlegrass (Stipa cernua). Mixed Savannah has a preponderance of Blue Oak (Quercus dougZasii) with occa- sional specimens of Garry Oak (Q. garryanu) on east-facing slopes. Understory is largely California Annual Grassland or Native Herb communities. Big Man- zanita (Arctostaphyzos manzanita), Elderberry (Sambucus mexicam), and Poison Oak (Rhus diversiZoba) are scattered occasionally under the oaks, especially near rock outcrops. At higher elevations the presence of both Garry Oak and Canyon Oak (Q. chrysozepis) cause this community to appear as a transitional type from the Blue Oak Savannah to Mixed Oak Woodlands. are found at vations on dry, slopes. Under- rgely California Annual Grassland. Garry Oak normally on western and southern s elow the ridge crests on north and west-facing slopes. t savannahs and urasslands frequently occupy areas subject to extensive landsliding and mass wastage. A few, small, open stands of Valley 0 zobata) have been mapped in the Geysers area. However, Valley is n above the floodplain zone. It prefers deep, rich, mois and becomes more abundant west of the Squaw Creek confluence. In some area, bigger Pi s (pinus sabinh) form a savannah. This type is related to the Digger Pine-Shrub community; but because of deeper soils, facing slopes where Leaves are er fire. The w I: . .. .- . __ . .. .. , .. , . - I species assemblage of these communities are indicated as subxeric .or xeric chaparrals in the flora. Figure 2 illustrates well defined community delim- itations which usually reflect soil or rock discontinuities and exposure. L Characteristically, chamise dominated cornunities occur on shallow, rocky soil -- chert, graywacke, or greenstone -- but not on serpentine. Hard chaparral comunities commonly found are listed in order of decreasing xeric (dry) habitats: -- chamise -- chamise-mahogany-ceanothus-manzanita -- chamise-mahogany-ceanothus-manzanita -- Jepson's ceanothus-leather oak-Stanford's