Elfin forests
Encyclopedia
Elfin forest is a nickname
given to several similar dwarfed plants ecosystem
s, mainly in coastal Temperate
California
n and montane
Tropical regions, that are host to communities of dwarfed and tiny plants, insects, and rodents, such as the California Kangaroo Rat
.
, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
is home to an elfin forest with Cupressus pigmaea
and Cupressus sargentii
, which is partially within a section of the Zayante Sandhill Area. On the Central Coast of California
on the southeastern shore of Morro Bay, Los Osos
contains the El Moro Elfin Forest Natural Area, about 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) in size . Higher up on Cuesta Ridge the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County
manages the San Luis Obispo Elfin Forest
of dwarf Cupressus
.
Given that chaparral
areas can be waterlogged in the winter, and arid and nearly desert
-like in the summer, native plants in these dry elfin forest areas have adapted accordingly, and are generally much shorter, smaller, and compact than related plants elsewhere. Diminutive plants commonly found in Californian elfin forests include Portulacaceae
such as Mount Hood pussypaws (Cistanthe umbellata)
and Alkali heath (Frankenia salina)
, and species
of Aeonium
and Bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus)
. Even tree
s and shrub
s, such as Cypress (Cupressus)
, Oak (Quercus), and Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) rarely grow more than 20 ft (7 m) tall in these plant communities.
region, such as Saba in the Netherlands Antilles
, contain moss
y wet elfin forests due to the high-altitude mist
.
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
given to several similar dwarfed plants ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
s, mainly in coastal Temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
n and montane
Montane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
Tropical regions, that are host to communities of dwarfed and tiny plants, insects, and rodents, such as the California Kangaroo Rat
California Kangaroo Rat
The California Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys californicus. is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae.It is endemic to the United States.-References:* Rodent Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 29 July 2007....
.
California
In Northern CaliforniaNorthern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a California State Park located in Santa Cruz County, primarily in the area in-between the cities of Santa Cruz, Felton, and Scotts Valley, and the University of California at Santa Cruz, and it includes an extension in the Fall Creek area.-Geography:The main...
is home to an elfin forest with Cupressus pigmaea
Cupressus pigmaea
Cupressus pigmaea is a taxon of disputed status in the genus Cupressus endemic to certain coastal terraces and coastal mountain ranges of Mendocino and Sonoma Counties in northwestern California...
and Cupressus sargentii
Cupressus sargentii
Cupressus sargentii is a species of conifer in the Cupressaceae family known by the common name Sargent's cypress. It is endemic to California, where it is known from Mendocino county southwards to Santa Barbara county. This taxon is limited to the Coast Range mountains. Like Mcnab Cypress, it...
, which is partially within a section of the Zayante Sandhill Area. On the Central Coast of California
Central Coast of California
The Central Coast is an area of California, United States, roughly spanning the area between the Monterey Bay and Point Conception. It extends through Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, and Santa Barbara County...
on the southeastern shore of Morro Bay, Los Osos
Los Osos, California
Los Osos is an unincorporated area and a census-designated place located along the Pacific coast of San Luis Obispo County, California. The community is part of the 93402 and 93412 ZIP Codes and area code 805. The population was 14,276 at the 2010 census....
contains the El Moro Elfin Forest Natural Area, about 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) in size . Higher up on Cuesta Ridge the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County
Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County
is a local nonprofit organization that has served San Luis Obispo County since 1984. Through voluntary and collaborative efforts the LCSLO works to protect and enhance lands having important scenic, agricultural, habitat and cultural values for the benefit of people and wildlife...
manages the San Luis Obispo Elfin Forest
Elfin Forest, San Luis Obispo County
The Los Osos Elfin Forest in San Luis Obispo County area consists of stabilized sand dunes abutting a portion of the Morro Bay Estuary. Naturally a harsh location for plants to grow, the California native Coast Live Oak found a special niche among the once shifting sand dunes...
of dwarf Cupressus
Cupressus
The genus Cupressus is one of several genera within the family Cupressaceae that have the common name cypress; for the others, see cypress. It is considered a polyphyletic group...
.
Given that chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
areas can be waterlogged in the winter, and arid and nearly desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
-like in the summer, native plants in these dry elfin forest areas have adapted accordingly, and are generally much shorter, smaller, and compact than related plants elsewhere. Diminutive plants commonly found in Californian elfin forests include Portulacaceae
Portulacaceae
Portulacaceae are a family of flowering plants, comprising about 20 genera with about 500 species, ranging from herbaceous plants to shrubs. The family has been recognised by most taxonomists, and is also known as the purslane family; it has a cosmopolitan distribution, with the highest diversity...
such as Mount Hood pussypaws (Cistanthe umbellata)
Cistanthe umbellata
Cistanthe umbellata is a species of flowering plant in the purslane family known by the common name Mount Hood pussypaws...
and Alkali heath (Frankenia salina)
Frankenia salina
The perennial herb Frankenia salina, often called alkali heath or alkali seaheath, is native to California. It is occasionally found in Nevada and Mexico, but its range is limited...
, and species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of Aeonium
Aeonium
Aeonium is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae.The name comes from the ancient Greek "aionos" ....
and Bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus)
Lotus (genus)
Lotus is a genus that includes bird's-foot trefoils and deervetches and contains many dozens of species distributed world-wide. Depending on the taxonomic authority, roughly between 70 and 150 are accepted. Lotus is a genus of legume and its members are adapted to a wide range of habitats, from...
. Even tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s and shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s, such as Cypress (Cupressus)
Cupressus
The genus Cupressus is one of several genera within the family Cupressaceae that have the common name cypress; for the others, see cypress. It is considered a polyphyletic group...
, Oak (Quercus), and Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) rarely grow more than 20 ft (7 m) tall in these plant communities.
Antilles
High-altitude tropical locations in the cloud forestCloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
region, such as Saba in the Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Antilles
The Netherlands Antilles , also referred to informally as the Dutch Antilles, was an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of two groups of islands in the Lesser Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao , in Leeward Antilles just off the Venezuelan coast; and Sint...
, contain moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
y wet elfin forests due to the high-altitude mist
Mist
Mist is a phenomenon of small droplets suspended in air. It can occur as part of natural weather or volcanic activity, and is common in cold air above warmer water, in exhaled air in the cold, and in a steam room of a sauna. It can also be created artificially with aerosol canisters if the...
.
See also
- Pygmy forestPygmy forestA pygmy forest is a forest which, for pedological and geological reasons, contains only miniature trees. Pygmy forests may occur over various world locations with notable occurrences being noted in the literature of the: California coastal terraces and inner coastal mountains of Northern...
- Cloud forestCloud forestA cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
- KrummholzKrummholzKrummholz or Krumholtz formation — also called Knieholz — is a particular feature of subarctic and subalpine tree line landscapes. Continual exposure to fierce, freezing winds causes vegetation to become stunted and deformed...
, corresponding term for cool-temperate regions (particularly in the Alpide beltAlpide beltThe Alpide belt is a mountain range which extends along the southern margin of Eurasia. Stretching from Java to Sumatra through the Himalayas, the Mediterranean, and out into the Atlantic, it includes the Alps, the Carpathians, the mountains of Asia Minor and Iran, the Hindu Kush, the Himalayas,...
) - Pedology (soil study)Pedology (soil study)Pedology is the study of soils in their natural environment. It is one of two main branches of soil science, the other being edaphology...