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CEGL003536 Artemisia californica Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: A shrubland association found in the southern regions of California, generally below 700 m elevation, and dominated by Artemisia californica.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Coastal Sagebrush Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This shrubland occurs in the Central Coast, South Coast, Transverse and Peninsular ranges of California and south to at least the Mexican border. Stands occur at elevations below 700 m, mostly on southwestern aspects but occasionally on northern aspects. Slopes are gentle to steep, mostly moderate. Topography is variable along lower slopes to ridgetops. Parent material is often Mesozoic granite, occasionally sandstone, and soil texture varies from sand to clay and includes sand and clay loams. Stands are characterized by a dominance of Artemisia californica in the shrub layer and a mostly non-native herbaceous layer. Shrub species Malosma laurina and Eriogonum fasciculatum are often present but at relatively low cover. Herbaceous species may be abundant in the understory, including Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum, Logfia gallica, Lotus scoparius var. scoparius, Lotus wrangelianus, Bromus hordeaceus, Bromus rubens, Nassella lepida, Bromus madritensis, and Centaurea melitensis. An emergent tree layer is infrequent and may include Quercus agrifolia, Juglans californica, and Schinus molle.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: In addition to the studies listed in Related Concepts, Borchert et al. (2004) describe stands strongly dominated by Artemisia californica from the Los Padres National Forest of Monterey County south to Ventura County. Gordon and White (1994) describe this alliance in a similar setting to Borchert et al. (2004). White and Padley (1997) describe a California sagebrush series (alliance) in Riverside County that has a mean elevation of 410 m (1350 feet).

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

Floristics: Artemisia californica is the sole dominant shrub in the understory. Malosma laurina and Eriogonum fasciculatum are often present in the shrub layer but in relatively low cover. Herbaceous species may be abundant in the understory, including Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum, Logfia gallica (= Filago gallica), Lotus scoparius var. scoparius, Lotus wrangelianus, Bromus hordeaceus, Bromus rubens (= Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens), Nassella lepida, Bromus madritensis, and Centaurea melitensis. An emergent tree layer is infrequent and may include Quercus agrifolia, Juglans californica, and Schinus molle.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands occur at elevations below 700 m, mostly on southwestern aspects but occasionally on northern aspects. Slopes are gentle to steep, mostly moderate. Topography is variable along lower slopes to ridgetops. Parent material is often Mesozoic granite, occasionally sandstone, and soil texture varies from sand to clay and includes sand to clay loams.
Geographic Range: This shrubland is found in the Central Coast (Pinnacles National Monument), South Coast (including Ventura to western Riverside and San Diego counties), Transverse (including Santa Monica Mountains), and Peninsular ranges (including San Diego County: western foothills), and is likely to be found in Los Padres National Forest and south to at least the Mexican border.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN?


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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.b Coastal Sagebrush - Black Sage - White Sage Coastal Scrub Group G264 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Alliance A3883 Coastal Sagebrush - San Luis Purple Sage Mesic Scrub Alliance A3883 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003536 Coastal Sagebrush Shrubland CEGL003536 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Concept Lineage: The provisional/placeholder CEGL003013 has been replaced with several new types: CEGL003536, CEGL003540, CEGL003541, and CEGL003543.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Artemisia californica Association (Sproul et al. 2011)
= Artemisia californica (Stout et al. 2013)
= Artemisia californica (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.010.01]
= Artemisia californica Association (Evens and San 2006)
= Artemisia californica Association (Kirkpatrick and Hutchinson 1977)
= Artemisia californica Association (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
= Artemisia californica Shrubland Association (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
Concept Author(s): T. Keeler-Wolf and J. Evens (2006)

Author of Description: T. Keeler-Wolf, J. Evens, G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-25-07
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  • 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.
  • CNPS [California Native Plant Society]. 2015b. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02). Rare Plant Program, California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://www.rareplants.cnps.org].
  • 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.
  • HDR. 2014. Vegetation classification and mapping, Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, California. Unpublished report prepared by HDR for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, 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.
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  • 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.
  • Sproul, F., T. Keeler-Wolf, P. Gordon-Reedy, J. Dunn, A. Klein, and K. Harper. 2011. Vegetation classification manual for western San Diego County. AECOM, California Department of Fish and Game, San Diego Area Governments.
  • 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.
  • White, S. D., and W. D. Padley. 1997. Coastal sage scrub series of western Riverside County, California. Madroño 44:95-105.