Print Report

CEGL003549 Baccharis salicifolia Riparian Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Mule-fat Riparian Shrubland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This riparian shrubland is known from central and southern interior coastal mountains of California, the Anza-Borrego Desert, and south into Baja California, Mexico. It is often found along washes, springs and riparian corridors. It is usually a small stringer community. It can occur on steep slopes associated with springs. Soils are course to fine sandy loams, mostly derived from alluvium. Elevation ranges from 216 to over 914 m (708-3000+ feet). The shrub layer is dominated by Baccharis salicifolia. Non-native Tamarix is often found but usually in relatively low cover. Baccharis pilularis may also be present in low cover. The herbaceous layer is dominated by a variety of non-native and native species such as Ambrosia psilostachya, Bromus hordeaceus, Hirschfeldia incana, Lepidium latifolium, Artemisia douglasiana, and Urtica dioica. Salix gooddingii or Platanus racemosa may be emergent in some stands.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: A similar Baccharis salicifolia - Sambucus mexicana association has been described from western Riverside County (Klein and Evens 2006). Very similar stands occur at least as far north as Shasta County in the Sacramento Valley of California (T. Keeler-Wolf pers. obs. 2004). Due to the inherent variability of these riparian scrublands, it remains to be seen if these associations should stay separate.

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

Floristics: Baccharis salicifolia is usually dominant. Non-native Tamarix is often found but usually in relatively low cover. Baccharis pilularis may also be present in low cover. Salix gooddingii may be emergent in some stands. The herbaceous layer is dominated by a variety of non-native and native species such as Ambrosia psilostachya, Bromus hordeaceus, Hirschfeldia incana, Lepidium latifolium, Artemisia douglasiana, and Urtica dioica. Other herbaceous species include forbs Pseudognaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens (= Gnaphalium canescens ssp. beneolens), Lotus unifoliolatus var. unifoliolatus (= Lotus purshianus var. purshianus), Melilotus indicus, and Rumex salicifolius, and graminoids Aira caryophyllea, Bromus diandrus, and Vulpia myuros.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This shrubland is often found along washes, springs and riparian corridors. It is usually small, stringer community. It can occur on steep slopes associated with springs. Soils are course to fine sandy loams, mostly derived from alluvium. Elevation ranges from 216 m to over 915 m (708-3000+ feet). In the Anza-Borrego Desert, Baccharis salicifolia is found scattered as small stands associated with springs and riparian stringers above 915 m and is most extensive at Sentenac Cienega.
Geographic Range: This association is known from the Santa Monica Mountains region, interior Central Coast Ranges (Pinnacles National Monument), central San Diego County, and the Anza-Borrego Desert. In addition, Baccharis salicifolia stands range widely from the northern Sacramento Valley south into Baja California, Mexico.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CA, MXBCN, NM, UT


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.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nc Southwestern North American Warm Desert Freshwater Marsh & Bosque Division D032 2.C.4.Nc
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nc.1 Warm Desert Lowland Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M076 2.C.4.Nc.1
Group 2.C.4.Nc.1.b Honey Mesquite - Velvet Mesquite - False Willow species North American Warm Desert Riparian Low Bosque & Shrubland Group G533 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Alliance A0933 Mule-fat Wet Shrubland Alliance A0933 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL003549 Mule-fat Riparian Shrubland CEGL003549 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Baccharis salicifolia Association (Sproul et al. 2011)
? Baccharis salicifolia (Sawyer et al. 2009) [63.510.01]
= Baccharis salicifolia Riparian Shrubland (Evens and San 2006)
= Baccharis salicifolia Riparian Shrubland (Klein and Evens 2006)
= Baccharis salicifolia Riparian Shrubland (Keeler-Wolf et al. 1998a)
= Baccharis salicifolia Riparian 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
  • 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.
  • Kearsley, M. J. C., K. Green, M. Tukman, M. Reid, M. Hall, T. J. Ayers, and K. Christie. 2015. Grand Canyon National Park-Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument vegetation classification and mapping project. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR--2015/913. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 75 pp. plus appendices.
  • 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., C. Roye, and K. Lewis. 1998a. Vegetation mapping and classification of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California. Unpublished report on file at California Natural Diversity Database, California Department Fish and Game, Sacramento.
  • 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.
  • Klein, A., and J. Evens. 2006. Vegetation alliances of western Riverside County, California. Contract Number: P0185404. Final report prepared for The California Department of Fish and Game, Habitat Conservation Division. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. 332 pp. [http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/vegcamp/pdfs/VegMappingRpt_Western_Riverside.pdf]
  • Muldavin, E., P. Durkin, M. Bradley, M. Stuever, and P. Mehlhop. 2000a. Handbook of wetland vegetation communities of New Mexico. Volume I: Classification and community descriptions. Final report to the New Mexico Environment Department and the Environmental Protection Agency prepared by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
  • Reid, M. S., and M. E. Hall. 2010. Vegetation classification of Grand Canyon National Park. Draft report submitted to 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.
  • Schulz, K. A. 2004. Vegetation classification of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona. Unpublished report submitted to USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. NatureServe, Western Regional Office, Boulder, CO.
  • 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.
  • Tendick, A., J. Spence, M. Reid, K. Shulz, G. Kittel, K. Green, A. Wight, and G. Wakefield. 2017. Vegetation classification and mapping project report, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/NCPN/NRR—2017/1500. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO. 1464 pp.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.