Print Report

G264 Artemisia californica - Salvia mellifera - Salvia apiana Coastal Scrub Group

Type Concept Sentence: This coastal sage scrub group includes coastal (fog-drenched) mixed shrublands below 1000 m (3000 feet) elevation with Artemisia californica, Diplacus aurantiacus, Encelia californica, Eriogonum cinereum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Lotus scoparius, Lupinus albifrons, Lycium brevipes, Lycium californicum, Malosma laurina, Opuntia littoralis, Rhus integrifolia, Salvia apiana, Salvia leucophylla, and/or Salvia mellifera, found from Marin County, California, south into Baja Norte, Mexico.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Coastal Sagebrush - Black Sage - White Sage Coastal Scrub Group

Colloquial Name: Central & Southern Californian Coastal Sage Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group includes mixed coastal shrublands from Marin County, California, south into Baja Norte, Mexico. It is dominated by drought-deciduous shrubs but at times can have characteristic (constant but not dominant) resprouting, deep-rooted sclerophyllous shrubs. It occurs below 1000 m (3000 feet) elevation and may extend inland from the maritime zone in hotter, drier conditions than northern (less fog-drenched) shrublands (e.g., areas with 10-60 cm of annual precipitation). Soils vary from coarse gravels to clays but typically only support plant-available moisture with winter and spring rains. Most predominant shrubs include Artemisia californica, Salvia mellifera, Salvia apiana, Salvia leucophylla, Encelia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Eriogonum cinereum, Lycium brevipes, Lycium californicum, and Opuntia littoralis. On recently disturbed sites, such as after fire, Diplacus aurantiacus, Lotus scoparius, and Lupinus albifrons can be dominant. Characteristic (constant but not dominant) resprouting, deep-rooted sclerophyllous shrubs include Malosma laurina, Rhus integrifolia, and Rhamnus crocea. Fire frequency was historically low, but in recent years, with adjacency to urban and suburban areas, the fire frequency has increased (a result of arson or cigarette ignition) resulting in type conversion to non-native and ruderal annual grasslands. Malosma laurina and Rhus integrifolia are also increasing in abundance because they can continually resprout after repeated fires. In places, Opuntia littoralis may proliferate and cover entire slopes in dry rocky areas with repeated fires that have killed the scrub taxa, while Opuntia littoralis can resprout and spread to cover large patches.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Most predominant shrubs include Artemisia californica, Salvia mellifera, Salvia apiana, Salvia leucophylla, Encelia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Eriogonum cinereum, and Opuntia littoralis.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This group includes a number of other, early-seral shrublands identified by Sawyer et al. (2009), dominated by species such as Eriodictyon californicum, Lupinus albifrons, Lotus scoparius, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Hazardia squarrosa, Ericameria palmeri, Ericameria linearifolia, Gutierrezia californica, Keckiella antirrhinoides, Dendromecon rigida, and Isocoma menziesii. The ecology/environmental parameters of these seral scrub types are different than the parameters of the alliances/associations in this group (G264). A separate seral scrub group may be needed instead of lumping them into this group. Also some of these seral scrub associations occur in the Sierra Nevada and Sierra Nevada foothills (along steep slopes, dry alluvial terraces, and areas where chaparral has recently burned), while these more coastal scrub types of this group do not. Especially since ~Californian Coastal Scrub Macrogroup (M044)$$ only includes one group right now, it makes sense to have two groups with the disturbance scrub types in that the second group (J. Evens pers. comm. 2013).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: It is dominated by drought-deciduous shrubs 1-2 m in height but at times can have characteristic (constant but not dominant) resprouting, deep-rooted sclerophyllous shrubs. It is often called "soft" chaparral; while a dense thicket, it is possible to navigate through it as the branches are forgiving.

Floristics: Most predominant shrubs include Artemisia californica, Salvia mellifera, Salvia apiana, Salvia leucophylla, Encelia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Eriogonum cinereum, Lycium brevipes, Lycium californicum, and Opuntia littoralis. On recently disturbed sites, such as after fire, Diplacus aurantiacus (= Mimulus aurantiacus), Lotus scoparius, and Lupinus albifrons can be dominant. Characteristic (constant but not dominant) resprouting, deep-rooted sclerophyllous shrubs include Malosma laurina, Rhus integrifolia, and Rhamnus crocea.

Dynamics:  Fire frequency was historically low, but in recent years, with adjacency to urban and suburban areas, the fire frequency has increased (a result of arson or cigarette ignition) resulting in type conversion to non-native and ruderal annual grasslands and early-seral types. Malosma laurina and Rhus integrifolia are also increasing in abundance because they can continually resprout after repeated fires. In places, Opuntia littoralis may proliferate and cover entire slopes in dry rocky areas with repeated fires that have killed the scrub taxa, while Opuntia littoralis can resprout and spread to cover large patches.
Environmental Description:  Occurs below 1000 m (3000 feet) elevation and may extend inland from the maritime zone in hotter, drier conditions than northern (less fog-drenched) shrublands (e.g., areas with 10-60 cm of annual precipitation). Soils vary from coarse gravels to clays but typically only support plant-available moisture with winter and spring rains.
Geographic Range: This group is found from Marin County, California, south into Baja Norte, Mexico. It occurs below 1000 m (3000 feet) elevation and may extend inland from the maritime zone.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN, NV


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.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 A3882 California Brittlebush - Coastal Buckwheat [Maritime] Scrub Alliance A3882 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Alliance A3883 Coastal Sagebrush - San Luis Purple Sage Mesic Scrub Alliance A3883 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Alliance A3884 Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - White Sage Xeric Scrub Alliance A3884 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Coastal Sage Shrub (205) (Shiflet 1994)
Concept Author(s): T.N. Shiflet (1994)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: J. Evens

Version Date: 10-09-13
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