Round Top Butte RNA

Round Top Butte Research Natural Area (RNA) was established to represent native grasslands and oak woodlands of low elevation southern Oregon foothills. The RNA has a gently sloping terrain. Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) and California black oak (Quercus kelloggii) interspersed with ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) are dominant tree species of the savanna with manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida) and wedgeleaf ceanothus (Ceanothus cuneatus) as the understory. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) grow where there is adequate soil depth and soil moisture. California fescue (Festuca californica), western fescue (Festuca occidentalis), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), dwarf Oregon grape (Berberis nervosa), and whipplea (Whipplea modesta) are common understory throughout the RNA. Native bunchgrasses include: California oatgrass (Danthonia californica), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), and Lemmon's needlegrass (Achnatherum lemmonii).