Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Scrub Oak - Eastwood''s Manzanita - California Ash Chaparral Group

Colloquial Name: Californian Mesic & Pre-montane Chaparral

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group includes both frost-intolerant mesic chaparrals at lower elevations and the "pre-montane" chaparrals with a composition including more frost-tolerant species. This shrubland group occurs in mesic site conditions, such as north-facing slopes, concavities, or toeslopes, with well-drained soils throughout Mediterranean California, mostly inland from the coastal fog belt. It also includes sclerophyllous scrub shrublands that are more frost-tolerant and found at higher, cooler and generally more mesic sites than ~Californian Xeric Chaparral Group (G257)$$. It occurs most often on north-facing slopes up to 1500 m (4550 feet) in elevation and up to 1830 m (6000 feet) in southern California. This group tends to be dominated by a variety of mixed or single-species, evergreen, sclerophyllous shrubs that resprout from lignotubers following fire, but also includes obligate seeding indicator shrubs. Some common and characteristic mesic chaparral species include Quercus berberidifolia, Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Fraxinus dipetala, Garrya flavescens, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Prunus ilicifolia, Rhamnus crocea, and Rhamnus ilicifolia. Some winter-deciduous species include Cercis canadensis var. texensis, Lonicera spp., Styrax redivivus, Toxicodendron diversilobum, Ribes spp., and Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis, and usually complement the predominant sclerophylls. Weakly resprouting or obligate seeders that also commonly occur in this group include arborescent Ceanothus spp., such as Ceanothus spinosus, Ceanothus tomentosus, and Ceanothus leucodermis. Although usually considered trees, Umbellularia californica and Aesculus californica can also occur as shrubs and, lacking disturbance, can grow to tree size, as do some of the other chaparral shrubs (some old-growth stands can reach 10.6 m [35 feet] in height!).

The pre-montane chaparrals are particularly well-developed in central and southern California mountains, occurring below montane chaparral/scrub types (which receive much more precipitation as snow and tend to be very cold-hardy) and the lower elevation mesic chaparrals described above (which contain species that are not as tolerant of freezing temperatures). Characteristic species include Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Ceanothus palmeri, and Ceanothus leucodermis). Depending upon fire history, emergent conifers such as Pinus sabiniana, Pinus ponderosa, and Pseudotsuga menziesii may be present. Most chaparral species are fire-adapted, resprouting vigorously after burning or producing fire-resistant seeds. However, this is not a group that requires frequent fire for perpetuation.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This group tends to be dominated by a variety of mixed or single-species, evergreen, sclerophyllous or winter-deciduous shrubs that resprout from lignotubers following fire, although some are obligate seeders. Common species include Quercus berberidifolia, Quercus wislizeni var. frutescens, Quercus chrysolepis, Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Fraxinus dipetala, Garrya flavescens, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Lonicera spp., Malosma laurina, Prunus ilicifolia, Rhamnus crocea, Rhamnus ilicifolia, Toxicodendron diversilobum, Ribes spp., and Sambucus spp. Species of manzanita include Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos pringlei ssp. drupacea, and Ceanothus oliganthus.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The pre-montane chaparrals are not well-described in the literature. We need additional information regarding its species composition, range of distribution, environmental setting, and other characteristics.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available