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CEGL003066 Opuntia littoralis Shrubland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Coastal Prickly-pear Shrubland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This vegetation type occurs along the southern coastal region of California and on the Channel Islands off the southern coast. Climate and soil-moisture availability are the determining factors in the distribution of Opuntia littoralis shrublands. Overall, the southern coastal regions have low average annual precipitation, typically less than 30 cm annually. A very high percentage of this precipitation falls during the fall and winter months as rain, while summers are typically hot and dry. Winter temperatures are mild. This vegetation type is found on xeric, somewhat steep foothill slopes, usually on southerly aspects, from sea level to over 1000 m elevation. Soils are derived from colluvium, poorly developed, thin and rocky, with low moisture-holding capacity and loamy textures. This coastal scrub vegetation type is distinguished by the conspicuous presence, and occasional dominance, of stem-succulent cacti species, particularly Opuntia littoralis, Opuntia oricola, Cylindropuntia prolifera, and Cylindropuntia californica var. parkeri. Several other shrub species are commonly present, most of them summer-dormant leaf succulents. Species can include Artemisia californica, Encelia californica, Cneoridium dumosum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Euphorbia misera, Cleome isomeris, Lycium spp., Mirabilis laevis, and Salvia mellifera. The shrub layer is typically less than 2 m in height and has a continuous to intermittent canopy cover. Emergent individuals of the taller, broad-leaved shrubs Rhus integrifolia and/or Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea can be present. The herbaceous layer is variable in species composition and abundance, but perennial succulents of the genus Dudleya are usually present.
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 coastal scrub vegetation type is distinguished by the conspicuous presence, and occasional dominance, of stem-succulent cacti species, particularly Opuntia littoralis, Opuntia oricola, Cylindropuntia prolifera (= Opuntia prolifera), and Cylindropuntia californica var. parkeri (= Opuntia parryi). Several other shrub species are commonly present, most of them summer-dormant leaf succulents. Species can include Artemisia californica, Encelia californica, Cneoridium dumosum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Euphorbia misera, Cleome isomeris (= Isomeris arborea), Lycium spp., Mirabilis laevis (= Mirabilis californica), and Salvia mellifera. The shrub layer is typically less than 2 m in height and has a continuous to intermittent canopy cover. Emergent individuals of the taller, broad-leaved shrubs Rhus integrifolia and/or Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea (= Sambucus mexicana) can be present. The herbaceous layer is variable in species composition and abundance, but perennial succulents of the genus Dudleya are usually present.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Climate and soil-moisture availability are the determining factors in the distribution of Opuntia littoralis shrublands. Overall, the southern coastal regions have low average annual precipitation, typically less than 30 cm annually. A very high percentage of this precipitation falls during the fall and winter months as rain, while summers are typically hot and dry. Winter temperatures are mild. This vegetation type is found on xeric, somewhat steep foothill slopes, usually on southerly aspects, from sea level to over 1000 m elevation. Soils are derived from colluvium, poorly developed, thin and rocky, with low moisture-holding capacity and loamy textures.
Geographic Range: It occurs along the southern coastal region of California, and on the Channel Islands off the southern coast.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: CA, MXBCN?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689793
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.A Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Woodland, Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S06 | 3.A |
| Formation | 3.A.2 Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F015 | 3.A.2 |
| Division | 3.A.2.Na North American Warm Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D039 | 3.A.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 3.A.2.Na.4 Saguaro - Organ Pipe Cactus - Burrobush Mojave-Sonoran Semi-Desert Scrub Macrogroup | M088 | 3.A.2.Na.4 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.4.a Coastal Agave - Boojum Tree - Tree Yucca / Live-forever species Coastal Succulent Scrub Group | G298 | 3.A.2.Na.4.a |
| Alliance | A3885 Coastal Prickly-pear - Chaparral Prickly-pear - Coastal Cholla Succulent Scrub Alliance | A3885 | 3.A.2.Na.4.a |
| Association | CEGL003066 Coastal Prickly-pear Shrubland | CEGL003066 | 3.A.2.Na.4.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Opuntia littoralis (Coast prickly pear scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.150.00]
< Opuntia littoralis Shrubland Alliance (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Coastal Sage Scrub: Arid tropic scrub/semidesert division (Venturan and Digan) (Axelrod 1978)
< Opuntia littoralis Shrubland Alliance (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Coastal Sage Scrub: Arid tropic scrub/semidesert division (Venturan and Digan) (Axelrod 1978)
- Axelrod, D. I. 1978. The origin of coastal sage vegetation, Alto and Baja, California. American Journal of Botany 65:1117-1131.
- 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.
- Thorne, R. F. 1982. The desert and other transmontane plant communities of southern California. Aliso 10(2):219-257.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.