BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Holodiscus dumosus | Bush Oceanspray 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Bush oceanspray is a moderately long-lived, native, deciduous,
drought-tolerant shrub that typically ranges from 20 to 60 inches
(25-150 cm) in height [14,25,28,36].  Plants are densely to intricately
branched from the base.  The majority of the foliage originates on spur
branches with leaves in fasicles of six or seven [14].  The root system
is fibrous and spreading [28].  This species is characteristically found
in large clumps [34].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Information on the regenerative processes of bush oceanspray is scant.
Plummer [26] reported that this species possessed an above average
capacity to spread naturally via wind-dispersed seed on disturbed sites
in Utah; however, seedling establishment is rated as only average.  Bush
oceanspray has a high resistance to disturbance, but modes of vegetative
regeneration have not been widely documented or described.  For a
description of the regeneration processes of a morphologically and
ecologically similar ally, see the FEIS write-up for oceanspray
(Holodiscus discolor).


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Bush oceanspray is most often associated with dry, rocky habitats [32].
In the Great Basin this shrub is ubiquitous in numerous plant
communities from desert valleys to areas well up in the mountains [14];
it is most abundant at elevations between 4,500 and 11,000 feet (1,372
and 3,354 m) [24].  Typical sites include rocky outcrops, slickrock
plateau margins, bases of cliffs, talus slopes, and steep, canyon walls
[36].  Soils are dry to moderately dry, and well drained; textures range
from sand to clay [28].  Plants appear somewhat tolerant of alkaine
soils.

Elevational ranges vary as follows [5,16,25]:

        from 6,800 to 10,000 feet (2,073-3,049 m) in AZ
             5,500 to 11,000 feet (1,677-3,354 m) in CA
             5,500 to 10,000 feet (1,677-3,049 m) in CO
             7,200 to 8,500 feet (2,195-2,591 m) in NM
             2,500 to 3,000 feet (726-915 m) in OR
             4,198 to 12,000 feet (1,280-3,659 m) in UT
             6,500 to 8,200 feet (1,982-2,500 m) in WY


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Self-perpetuating stands of bush oceanspray are indicative of climax
conditions on rocky sites in both nonforested and forested communities
[4,16].  This species is a pioneer on young lavas in southern Idaho.
Plants establish during early seral stages and coexist with later
arriving species that are also adapted to such severe site conditions
[6].  Bush oceanspray is a component of seral brushfields that develop
following fire on white fir/Rocky Mountain maple/bush oceanspray sites
in New Mexico [1,13].  However, it is unclear whether postburn coverages
are derived via residual plant survival or from seedling establishment.


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Bush oceanspray generally begins blooming in June at lower elevations in
the Great Basin, but on sites at the upper limits of its elevational
range, plants may not flower until August [24].  Anthesis data for
several western states are as follows [5,25,36]:

State                Earliest flowering          Latest Flowering
                            date                      date
                     ------------------          ----------------
CA                          June                     August                   
CO                          June                     August
UT                          June                     August
WY                          July                     September     

Related categories for Species: Holodiscus dumosus | Bush Oceanspray