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G257 Adenostoma fasciculatum - Ceanothus cuneatus - Arctostaphylos viscida Xeric Chaparral Group

Type Concept Sentence: This chaparral group consists of xeric and fire-adapted shrublands characterized by a mix of several species such as Adenostoma fasciculatum, Adenostoma sparsifolium, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos glauca, Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos stanfordiana, Arctostaphylos viscida, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus crassifolius, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus greggii, Ceanothus leucodermis, Ceanothus megacarpus, Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Cercocarpus montanus var. minutiflorus, Dendromecon rigida, Fremontodendron californicum, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Pickeringia montana, Rhus ovata, and/or Xylococcus bicolor. It is located inland from maritime chaparral from sea level up to 2200 m (7220 feet) elevation, from Baja Norte, Mexico, throughout California north into Oregon.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chamise - Buckbrush - Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita Xeric Chaparral Group

Colloquial Name: Californian Xeric Chaparral

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This shrubland group includes chaparral typically located inland from maritime chaparral from sea level up to 2200 m (7220 feet) elevation. It ranges from inland portions of Baja Norte, Mexico, southern, central and northern California through the northern end of the Central Valley and north into Oregon. This group is made up of a mixture of mostly obligate seeders. Characteristic species include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Adenostoma sparsifolium, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus megacarpus, Ceanothus crassifolius, Ceanothus leucodermis, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus greggii, Arctostaphylos viscida, Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos stanfordiana, Fremontodendron californicum, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Dendromecon rigida, Pickeringia montana, Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Cercocarpus montanus var. minutiflorus, Rhus ovata, and Xylococcus bicolor. Fire regimes are intense, stand-replacing crownfires. Scattered and young trees may occur, such as Pinus ponderosa, Pinus sabiniana, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Juniperus californica, Quercus engelmannii, and Quercus wislizeni.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrublands dominated by drought- and heat-tolerant seeders Adenostoma fasciculatum, Adenostoma sparsifolium, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus megacarpus, Ceanothus crassifolius, Ceanothus leucodermis, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus greggii, Arctostaphylos viscida, Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos stanfordiana, Fremontodendron californicum, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Dendromecon rigida, Pickeringia montana, and Rhus ovata.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Resprouter species include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Adenostoma sparsifolium, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus leucodermis, Cercocarpus montanus, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Fremontodendron californicum, Pickeringia montana, and Rhus ovata.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Closed-canopy shrublands up to 5 m tall. The canopy is generally so dense it precludes the passage of any person or animal taller than a rabbit or fox There is very little understory growth in mature stands, but there are abundant fire-following herbs within the first 3-5 years following fire.

Floristics: Characteristic species include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Adenostoma sparsifolium, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus megacarpus, Ceanothus crassifolius, Ceanothus leucodermis, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus greggii, Arctostaphylos viscida, Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos glauca, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos stanfordiana, Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber (= Cercocarpus betuloides), Cercocarpus montanus var. minutiflorus (= Cercocarpus minutiflorus), Fremontodendron californicum, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Dendromecon rigida, Pickeringia montana, Rhus ovata, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Xylococcus bicolor, and Yucca whipplei. Fire regimes are intense, stand-replacing crown fires. Scattered and young trees may occur, such as Pinus ponderosa, Pinus sabiniana, Juniperus californica, Quercus engelmannii, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Quercus wislizeni.

Dynamics:  In the southern portion of the range, Santa Ana winds drive late-summer, stand-replacing fires in these shrublands. These shrublands include extensive areas on coarse-grained soils with annual precipitation up to 75 cm (winter rain but not snow). Adjacent fine-textured soils support savanna under similar climatic regimes. These areas have supported extensive stand-replacing wildfires.
Environmental Description:  This group is typically located inland from maritime chaparral from sea level up to 2200 m (7220 feet) elevation. Climate: Chaparral is closely associated with the Mediterranean climate pattern of winter rain and summer drought. Within that regime it can be found under a wide range of rainfall and temperature conditions, but over 60% of the current distribution is in areas that receive between 250 and 750 mm of annual precipitation, and where average January daily temperature falls between 5-15°C, indicating that summer drought stress may limit chaparral shrub seedling establishment and that injury to adult shrubs from winter freezes may impose species-specific distributional limits [need citations to back up this statement]. This type is found adjacent to grasslands on deeper soils and oak savannas on finer soils, and on all aspects. Adenostoma fasciculatum stands occur more on more southerly aspects.
Geographic Range: This group includes chaparral from sea level up to approximately 2200 m (7220 feet ) elevation located inland from maritime chaparral. It ranges from inland portions of Baja Norte, Mexico, southern, central and northern California through the northern end of the Central Valley and north into Oregon.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN, OR


Confidence Level: High

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

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 A3864 Hoaryleaf Ceanothus - Bigpod Ceanothus Chaparral Alliance A3864 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Alliance A3865 Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita - Ione Manzanita - Whiteleaf Manzanita Chaparral Alliance A3865 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Alliance A3866 Bigberry Manzanita Chaparral Alliance A3866 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Alliance A3867 White Sage - Black Sage - Chamise Chaparral Alliance A3867 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Alliance A3868 Chamise Chaparral Alliance A3868 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Alliance A3869 Buckbrush Chaparral Alliance A3869 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: < Ceanothus Mixed Chaparral (208) (Shiflet 1994)
< Chamise Chaparral (206) (Shiflet 1994) [SRM groups all Adenostoma-dominated communities into one range type]
Concept Author(s): T.N. Shiflet (1994)

Author of Description: G. Kittel, M.S. Reid and T. Keeler-Wolf

Acknowledgements: T. Keeler-Wolf and P. Moore

Version Date: 10-09-13
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