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CEGL003009 Arctostaphylos myrtifolia Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Ione Manzanita Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This vegetation type is found in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, at elevations ranging from 100 to 300 m. The region where it occurs is directly to the east of the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay, where maritime air masses can pass into the Central Valley. This is a low, heath-like chaparral vegetation type composed of shrubs less than 1 m in height and scattered forbs. The broad-leaved evergreen shrub Arctostaphylos myrtifolia dominates, and sometimes is the only shrub present. In mature stands, cover of shrubs usually exceeds 50%. Other shrubs that may be present include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Frangula californica ssp. tomentella, Quercus berberidifolia, Quercus wislizeni, Arctostaphylos viscida, and Ceanothus tomentosus. The herbaceous layer is sparse, but may include the forbs Lotus scoparius, Eriogonum apricum and Helianthemum scoparium. A layer of both mosses and lichens is present. The climate is dry and hot in summer, with prolonged periods of intense heat. However, the influence of maritime air results in summer high temperatures that are less intense than elsewhere in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Winters are cool and moist. Annual precipitation ranges from 53 cm to slightly over 80 cm, and most occurs during the winter months as rain. Frosts are infrequent and slight. Relative humidities are high enough to support epiphytic lichens. This vegetation type is restricted to outcrops of the Eocene Ione Formation or sediments derived from this formation. The formation is composed of kaolinitic clay minerals, quartz sand, and ironstone. The soils are strongly acidic, shallow, nutrient-poor and relatively coarse in texture. Sites supporting this type include exposed southerly slopes and ridgetops, as well as gullies and washes. This association requires fire, both for regeneration and to prevent shading from surrounding chaparral types.
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: This is a low, heath-like chaparral vegetation type composed of shrubs less than 1 m in height and scattered forbs. The broad-leaved evergreen shrub Arctostaphylos myrtifolia dominates, and sometimes is the only shrub present. In mature stands, cover of shrubs usually exceeds 50%. Other shrubs that may be present include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Frangula californica ssp. tomentella (= Rhamnus tomentella), Quercus berberidifolia, Quercus wislizeni, Arctostaphylos viscida, and Ceanothus tomentosus. The herbaceous layer is sparse, but may include the forbs Lotus scoparius, Eriogonum apricum, and Helianthemum scoparium (= Helianthemum suffrutescens). A layer of both mosses and lichens is present.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This vegetation type is found in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, at elevations ranging from 100 to 300 m. The region where it occurs is directly to the east of the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay, where maritime air masses can pass into the Central Valley. The climate is dry and hot in summer, with prolonged periods of intense heat. However, the influence of maritime air results in summer high temperatures that are less intense than elsewhere in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Winters are cool and moist. Annual precipitation ranges from 53 cm to slightly over 80 cm, and most occurs during the winter months as rain. Frosts are infrequent and slight. Relative humidities are high enough to support epiphytic lichens. This vegetation type is restricted to outcrops of the Eocene Ione Formation or sediments derived from this formation. The formation is composed of kaolinitic clay minerals, quartz sand, and ironstone. The soils are strongly acidic, shallow, nutrient-poor and relatively coarse in texture. Sites supporting this type include exposed southerly slopes and ridgetops, as well as gullies and washes.
Geographic Range: This shrubland is restricted to outcroppings of the Eocene Ione Formation. This formation covers about 91 square miles in Amador County and a few locales in Calaveras County. Ione Manzanita Shrubland is found at elevations between 60 and 1900 feet, with the most vigorous populations between 280 and 900 feet.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688818
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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 | A3865 Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita - Ione Manzanita - Whiteleaf Manzanita Chaparral Alliance | A3865 | 2.B.1.Na.1.a |
| Association | CEGL003009 Ione Manzanita Shrubland | CEGL003009 | 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 myrtifolia (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.304.01]
= Arctostaphylos myrtifolia Association (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Arctostaphylos myrtifolia Shrubland (Gankin and Major 1964)
= Arctostaphylos myrtifolia Shrubland (Singer 1978)
= Arctostaphylos myrtifolia Association (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Arctostaphylos myrtifolia Shrubland (Gankin and Major 1964)
= Arctostaphylos myrtifolia Shrubland (Singer 1978)
- Buck-Diaz, J., S. Batiuk, and J. M. Evens. 2012. Vegetation alliances and associations of the Great Valley ecoregion, California. California Native Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/pdf/great_valley_eco-vegclass2012.pdf]
- Gankin, R., and J. Major. 1964. Arctostaphylos myrtifolia, its biology and relationship to the problem of endemism. Unpublished report on file on file at California Natural Diversity Database.
- 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.
- Singer, M. J. 1978. The soils of Ione. Fremontia 6:11-13.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.