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CEGL003184 Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: This shrubland association of coastal California is found on gentle to steep slopes at elevations between 2 and 547 m, characterized by a dominance of Baccharis pilularis and subdominance of Artemisia californica in the shrub layer.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Coyotebrush - Coastal Sagebrush Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This shrubland association occurs in coastal California on gentle to steep slopes of flat to variable aspect at low elevations between 2 and 547 m. It is characterized by a dominance of Baccharis pilularis and subdominance of Artemisia californica in the shrub layer. The herbaceous layer is more variable than the Baccharis pilularis / annual grass - herb association and tends to have more cover by tall exotic herbs such as Brassica nigra and Foeniculum vulgare. The emergent tree layer is generally absent but can include exotic ruderals such as Schinus molle and Eucalyptus spp., as well as the native Quercus lobata and Quercus agrifolia.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Although similar associations have been described elsewhere, there are minor differences in some of these from the presently described association. There is some debate about whether to erect a mixed Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica alliance to contain a range of associations characterized by the presence or codominance of these two species of shrubs or to place the associations into the Baccharis pilularis alliance. Currently Borchert et al. (2004) recognize this mixed alliance.

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

Floristics: It is characterized by a dominance of Baccharis pilularis and subdominance of Artemisia californica in the shrub layer. The herbaceous layer is more variable than the Baccharis pilularis / annual grass - herb association and tends to have more cover by tall exotic herbs such as Brassica nigra and Foeniculum vulgare. The emergent tree layer is generally absent but can include exotic ruderals such as Schinus molle and Eucalyptus spp., as well as the native Quercus lobata and Quercus agrifolia.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This shrubland association occurs on gentle to steep slopes of flat to variable aspect at low elevations between 2 and 547 m.
Geographic Range: This association is well known from the Santa Monica Mountains. Similar associations with Baccharis pilularis and Artemisia californica as main components have been noted as far south as San Diego County (Heady et al. 1977, Kirkpatrick and Hutchinson 1977, Evens and San 2005) and as far north as the San Francisco Bay region (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2003, Evens and San 2004). Borchert et al. (2004) describes a similar series of stands they call the Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica alliance from the coastal portions of the Los Padres National Forest in Monterey County.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5

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.2 Coastal Sagebrush - Black Sage - Coyotebrush Coastal Scrub Macrogroup M044 2.B.1.Na.2
Group 2.B.1.Na.2.c Californian North Coastal & Mesic Scrub Group G662 2.B.1.Na.2.c
Alliance A0836 Coyotebrush Scrub Alliance A0836 2.B.1.Na.2.c
Association CEGL003184 Coyotebrush - Coastal Sagebrush Shrubland CEGL003184 2.B.1.Na.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica - Heteromeles arbutifolia (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.060.19]
= Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica - Heteromeles arbutifolia Shrubland Association (Evens and San 2004)
= Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica - Toxicodendron / Monardella villosa (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.060.18]
= Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica - Toxicodendron diversilobum / Monardella villosa Association (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2003a)
= Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica - Toxicodendron diversilobum / Monardella villosa Association (Schirokauer et al. 2003) [pi code 24051]
? Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.060.05]
= Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica (Heady et al. 1977)
= Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica Alliance (Borchert et al. 2004)
= Baccharis pilularis - Artemisia californica Association (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
= Baccharis pilularis-Artemisia californica Shrubland Association (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
Concept Author(s): Borchert et al. (2004)

Author of Description: T. Keeler-Wolf

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-06-03
  • 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., 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.
  • Heady, H. F., T. C. Foin, M. M. Hektner, D. W. Taylor, M. G. Barbour, and W. J. Barry. 1977. Coastal prairie and northern coastal scrub. Pages 733-760 in: M. G. Barbour and J. Major, editors. Terrestrial Vegetation of California. Wiley-Interscience, reprinted by the California Native Plant Society 1988, Sacramento, CA.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T. Personal communication. Senior Vegetation Ecologist, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., M. Schindel, S. San, P. Moore, and D. Hickson. 2003a. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. Unpublished report by NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.
  • 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.
  • Kirkpatrick, J. B., and C. F. Hutchinson. 1977. The community composition of coastal sage scrub. Vegetatio 35:21-33.
  • Rodriguez, D., K. G. Sikes, T. Keeler-Wolf, G. Kittel, J. Curtis, C. Curley, and J. Evens. 2017. Vegetation classification of Channel Islands National Park. Report to the National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
  • 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.
  • Schirokauer, D., T. Keeler-Wolf, J. Meinke, and P. van der Leeden. 2003. Plant community classification and mapping project. Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco Water Department Watershed Lands, Mount Tamalpais, Tomales Bay, and Samuel P. Taylor State Parks. Final report. California State Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, National Park Service, Point Reyes Station, and Aerial Information Systems, Redlands, CA. 82 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/pore_goga/index.html]
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.