Print Report

CEGL003008 Arctostaphylos glauca Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bigberry Manzanita Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This shrubland is known from central and southern California and Baja California, Mexico. It occurs in the Central Coast, the inner Central and South Coast, and montane Transverse and Peninsular ranges of southern California, and into Baja California, Mexico. The shrubland occurs on gentle to steep (7-22°) slopes from 423 to 649 m (138-2130 feet) elevation on variable aspects. Soils are clay to coarse or fine sandy loams. Stands occur on mid to upper slopes but can be seen on lower slopes as well. This shrubland is solely dominated by Arctostaphylos glauca. Characteristic shrubs at lower cover include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Ceanothus cuneatus var. cuneatus, and Malosma laurina. The emergent tree layer may include Pinus sabiniana. The understory herbaceous layer may include the forbs Camissonia spp., Galium spp., Marah macrocarpus, Phacelia cicutaria, Cerastium glomeratum, Logfia gallica, Galium porrigens var. porrigens, Marah fabaceus, Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis, and Microseris lindleyi, and the graminoid Vulpia myuros.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: In this association, the overstory shrub layer is dominated by Arctostaphylos glauca. Characteristic shrubs at lower cover include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Ceanothus cuneatus var. cuneatus, and Malosma laurina. The emergent tree layer may include Pinus sabiniana. The understory herbaceous layer may include the forbs Camissonia spp., Galium spp., Marah macrocarpus, Phacelia cicutaria, Cerastium glomeratum, Logfia gallica (= Filago gallica), Galium porrigens var. porrigens, Marah fabaceus, Pentagramma triangularis ssp. triangularis, and Microseris lindleyi (= Uropappus lindleyi), and the graminoid Vulpia myuros. In Los Padres National Forest, the average height of bigberry manzanita decreases with increasing elevation and with increasing solar insolation. Thus, the tallest shrubs occupy mesic, low-elevation (<610 m [<2000 feet]) sites. Shrubs in productive, late-seral stands may become arborescent with heights sometimes exceeding 5.5 m (18 feet). In these stands manzanita usually overtops and suppresses or kills chamise.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This shrubland occurs on gentle to steep (7-22°) slopes from 423 to 649 m (1387-2130 feet) elevation on variable aspects. Soils are clay to coarse or fine sandy loams. Stands occur on mid to upper slopes but can be seen on lower slopes as well.
Geographic Range: This shrubland is known to occur in the Central Coast Ranges (including Santa Clara County south to Santa Barbara County), inner Central and South Coast Ranges, and montane Transverse and Peninsular ranges (including from southern San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, and western San Diego County foothills) to Baja California, Mexico.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN?


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.1 Mediterranean Scrub & Grassland Formation F038 2.B.1
Division 2.B.1.Na Californian Scrub & Grassland Division D327 2.B.1.Na
Macrogroup 2.B.1.Na.1 Chamise - Whiteleaf Manzanita - Scrub Oak Chaparral Macrogroup M043 2.B.1.Na.1
Group 2.B.1.Na.1.a Chamise - Buckbrush - Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita Xeric Chaparral Group G257 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Alliance A3866 Bigberry Manzanita Chaparral Alliance A3866 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003008 Bigberry Manzanita Shrubland CEGL003008 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Arctostaphylos glauca (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.301.01]
= Arctostaphylos glauca (Stout et al. 2013)
= Arctostaphylos glauca Shrubland (Evens and San 2004)
= Arctostaphylos glauca Shrubland (Evens et al. 2006)
= Arctostaphylos glauca Shrubland (Gordon and White 1994)
= Arctostaphylos glauca Shrubland (Keeler-Wolf 1990a)
= Arctostaphylos glauca Shrubland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006) [One plot was classified to the alliance level in Santa Monica, and that plot matches the concept quite well.]
= Arctostaphylos glauca Shrubland Association (Evens and San 2006)
Concept Author(s): T. Keeler-Wolf (1990a)

Author of Description: G. Kittel and J. Evens

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-24-07
  • Borchert, M., A. Lopez, C. Bauer, and T. Knowd. 2004. Field guide to coastal sage scrub and chaparral series of Los Padres National Forest. Report R5-TP-019. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, San Francisco, CA.
  • Evens, J., A. Klein, J. Taylor, T. Keeler-Wolf, and D. Hickson, principal investigators. 2006. Vegetation classification, descriptions, and mapping of the Clear Creek Management Area, Joaquin Ridge, Monocline Ridge, and Environs in San Benito and western Fresno counties, California. Final report prepared by California Native Plant Society and California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA. 273 pp.
  • Evens, J., and S. San. 2004. Vegetation associations of a serpentine area: Coyote Ridge, Santa Clara County, California. Unpublished report. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
  • Evens, J., and S. San. 2006. Vegetation alliances of the San Dieguito River Park region, San Diego County, California. Final report (August 2005) Version 2 (revised May 2006). Prepared by California Native Plant Society in cooperation with the California Natural Heritage Program of the California Department of Fish and Game and San Diego Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. 271 pp.
  • Gordon, H. J., and T. C. White. 1994. Ecological guide to the southern California chaparral plant series. Technical Report R5-ECOL-TP-005. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, San Francisco, CA.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T. 1990a. Ecological surveys of Forest Service Research Natural Areas in California. General Technical Report PSW-125. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Berkeley, CA. 165 pp.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., and J. Evens. 2006. Vegetation classification of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and environs in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, California. A report submitted to National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch and The California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program, Sacramento, CA.
  • Kittel, G., E. Reyes, J. Evens, J. Buck, and D. Johnson. 2012a. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Pinnacles National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/SFAN/NRR-2012/574. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 428 pp.
  • Sawyer, J. O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J. Evens. 2009. A manual of California vegetation. Second edition. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento CA. 1300 pp.
  • Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
  • Stout, D., J. Buck-Diaz, S. Taylor, and J. M. Evens. 2013. Vegetation mapping and accuracy assessment report for Carrizo Plain National Monument. California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program, Sacramento, CA. 71 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.