Vegetation
The vegetation of the Devils Postpile National Monument is a montane forest dominated by red fir and lodgepole pine. Numerous other species occur making the area an interesting mosaic of conifers and deciduous trees.
The most common conifer near the ranger station and along the trails is the lodgepole pine. This opportunistic tree can be found in most areas where at least some soil is present (even if only pumice). The lodgepole pine is dominant on the near-horizontal surfaces of the Monument. Seedlings and young trees of this species are also found at the meadow’s edge.
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NPS re-vegetation specialist Rich Thiel holds several
tree seedlings that have been removed from disturbed areas
along roadsides and will be planted in the campground.
©Photo by Tom Warner
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Where slope increases or soils are shallower, the lodgepole gives way to red fir and, in some cases, white fir.
Other conifers include western white pine, Jeffrey pine, mountain hemlock, and western juniper.
Along the San Joaquin River and the few creeks that flow into it within the boundaries, typical montane riparian vegetation can be found; this includes quaking aspen, black cottonwood, creek alder and willows.
The Meadows
Soda Springs Meadow is the largest meadow within the monument. This
open and spacious meadow is filled with perennial sedges, grasses
and wildflowers. It is quite wet in June and early-July and becomes
quite dry by late-August and early-September. The large meadow is
divided by the San Joaquin River and appears to be, at least in
part, formed by classic fluvial events.
Portions of the meadow are dominated by early wildflowers–especially
shooting stars, cinquefoils and bistorts. Later many other wildflower
species such as asters, monkey-flowers, yampahs and yarrows are
found. Willows border the river’s edge on the meadow and under these
shrubs may lie paintbrushes, lupines and columbines.
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| Indian Paintbrush, a wildflower found in Devils Postpile. © NPS photo by Jim Warner. |
Plant Survey
A vascular plant survey was completed at Devils Postpile in the
summer of 2001 as part of the
Sierra Nevada Network Inventory & Monitoring program.
The plant inventory increased the number of documented plant species
from 169 to 360. The park botanist also documented the abundance
and distribution of three rare species and 8 non-natives. In 2002,
the park invited an Exotic Plant Management Team out to remove the
non-native and invasive bull thistle.
The information gained from Devils Postpile's baseline inventories will assist Sierra Nevada Network parks in numerous resource management and planning activities: 1) establishing long-term non-native plant control efforts in Devils Postpile; 2)revising the outdated Resources Management Plan for the monument; 3) improving the quality and quantity of natural resource information available for public information and outreach.
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