Print Report
M094 Arctostaphylos patula - Ceanothus velutinus - Quercus vacciniifolia Montane Chaparral Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: These chaparral shrublands occur between low-elevation desert landscapes and higher subalpine woodlands of the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and interior mountain ranges of the western U.S., generally among montane forests above 1500 m (4550 feet) elevation.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Greenleaf Manzanita - Snowbrush Ceanothus - Huckleberry Oak Montane Chaparral Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: Cool Interior Chaparral
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: These are chaparral shrublands found among montane forests of the Cascades south into Baja California, Mexico, and east in scattered locations on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades and into the western Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, and Rocky Mountains. These hardy shrublands have open canopies with little undergrowth and are dominated by evergreen or winter-deciduous shrubs; some stands can have high densities of shrubs. Dominant and diagnostic shrubs include Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Arctostaphylos patula, Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus diversifolius, Ceanothus integerrimus, Ceanothus pinetorum, Ceanothus sanguineus (in Oregon), Ceanothus velutinus, Cercocarpus intricatus, Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Chrysolepis sempervirens, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Garrya flavescens, Holodiscus discolor, Prunus emarginata, Prunus subcordata, Purshia stansburiana, Quercus garryana var. fruticosa, Quercus sadleriana, Quercus vacciniifolia, and Rhus trilobata. This macrogroup occurs on sideslopes between low-elevation desert landscapes and higher pinyon-juniper woodlands of the western and central Great Basin on steep, exposed slopes with rocky and/or shallow soils, and among montane forests of the Rocky Mountains, Cascades and Sierra Nevada, above 1500 m (4550 feet) elevation where much of the annual precipitation occurs as snow. The shrubs are adapted to freezing temperatures and cold winters. Most of these chaparral species are fire-adapted, resprouting vigorously after burning or producing fire-resistant seeds. These may be short-duration chaparrals in previously forested areas that have experienced crown fires or recent logging. Occurrences likely shift across montane forested landscapes with catastrophic fire events.
Diagnostic Characteristics: In the Great Basin, Cascades, and Rocky Mountains these are open-canopy broad-leaved evergreen shrublands dominated by Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Ceanothus martinii, Ceanothus velutinus, and Purshia stansburiana (deciduous, but included here). In California, chaparral or open shrubland found among montane forests above 1500 m (4550 feet) elevation. Typical sclerophyllous chaparral shrubs include Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus diversifolius, Ceanothus pinetorum, Ceanothus integerrimus, Ceanothus velutinus, Chrysolepis sempervirens, Quercus sadleriana, and Quercus vacciniifolia. Winter-deciduous shrubs may dominate, such as Prunus emarginata, Prunus subcordata, and Ceanothus sanguineus (in Oregon), Holodiscus discolor, and Quercus garryana var. fruticosa (in California).
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Sawyer et al. (2009) place shrublands dominated by Ceanothus integerrimus, Prunus emarginata, Holodiscus discolor, and Quercus garryana var. fruticosa into a Southern Vancouverian Montane Deciduous Scrub group or a Rock Outcrop group for the Holodiscus shrublands, but no such groups currently have been defined within existing macrogroups. While these taxa are deciduous rather than evergreen, they occur in the same areas as the chaparrals, and often have shared floristic characteristics as the Arctostaphylos, Ceanothus, Chrysolepis and evergreen oak shrublands. For now these types are placed in this cool montane chaparral macrogroup. Ceanothus fendleri associations might best fit here. A provisional association dominated by Arctostaphylos columbiana has been reported from Olympic National Park and is described as occurring south into the Cascades; while poorly known or described, it is included here for now. Purshia stansburiana is not a species commonly thought of as chaparral. However, on the Colorado Plateau and into the Grand Canyon region, it is often associated with Arctostaphylos patula. For now, associations dominated by Purshia stansburiana are included in this macrogroup, but perhaps better belong in some other. ~Ceanothus velutinus Shrubland (CEGL002167)$$ was listed in this type but is being moved out, probably to ~Central Rocky Mountain Montane-Foothill Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup (M048)$$. Linda Vance (pers. comm. 2014) considers this type to be very unlikely in Montana.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Tall persistent or post fire shrublands 1-3 m tall, broad-leaved evergreen or winter deciduous, generally little to no undergrowth.
Floristics: In California and the Oregon Cascades, these shrublands are typically dominated by sclerophyllous shrubs. Characteristic shrub species include Ceanothus cordulatus, Ceanothus diversifolius, Ceanothus integerrimus, Ceanothus velutinus, Ceanothus pinetorum, Chrysolepis sempervirens (= Castanopsis sempervirens), Notholithocarpus densiflorus var. echinoides (= Lithocarpus densiflorus var. echinoides), Quercus sadleriana, and Quercus vacciniifolia. Other evergreen species, such as Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos manzanita, and Garrya fremontii, are common in some stands. Characteristic winter-deciduous shrubs might dominate some stands, but are commonly present even where not dominant, such as Prunus emarginata, Prunus subcordata, and Ceanothus sanguineus (in Oregon), Prunus virginiana, Holodiscus discolor (= Holodiscus microphyllus), and Quercus garryana var. fruticosa (= var. breweri). Other shrub species include Amelanchier alnifolia, Symphoricarpos mollis, Chamaebatia foliolosa, and Cercocarpus spp. Emergent Abies concolor, Pinus lambertiana, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus sabiniana, Pinus ponderosa, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus wislizeni, and Quercus kelloggii trees may be present at sparse cover. The herbaceous layer is variable depending on cover of shrubs (dense shrublands have little understory) and substrate.
Further east, in the Great Basin, Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountains, the diversity of shrubs tends to be less, but some species are shared with California montane chaparral. Characteristic shrubs include Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Ceanothus velutinus, Ceanothus martinii, Ceanothus prostratus, and Purshia stansburiana. Other winter-deciduous shrubs are often present, including Amelanchier alnifolia, Artemisia tridentata, Eriogonum spp., Prunus virginiana, and Symphoricarpos spp. Emergent Abies concolor, Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus edulis, Pinus flexilis, Pinus monophylla, Pinus ponderosa, Pseudotsuga menziesii trees may be present at sparse cover. The herbaceous layer is variable depending on cover of shrubs (dense shrublands have little understory) and substrate, but will include a variety of grass and forb taxa common to the Intermountain West and montane zones of the Rocky Mountains.
Further east, in the Great Basin, Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountains, the diversity of shrubs tends to be less, but some species are shared with California montane chaparral. Characteristic shrubs include Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos nevadensis, Ceanothus velutinus, Ceanothus martinii, Ceanothus prostratus, and Purshia stansburiana. Other winter-deciduous shrubs are often present, including Amelanchier alnifolia, Artemisia tridentata, Eriogonum spp., Prunus virginiana, and Symphoricarpos spp. Emergent Abies concolor, Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus scopulorum, Pinus edulis, Pinus flexilis, Pinus monophylla, Pinus ponderosa, Pseudotsuga menziesii trees may be present at sparse cover. The herbaceous layer is variable depending on cover of shrubs (dense shrublands have little understory) and substrate, but will include a variety of grass and forb taxa common to the Intermountain West and montane zones of the Rocky Mountains.
Dynamics: Two phases are recognized: first, early-seral and post-fire or post-logging shrub fields with few conifers; and second, edaphically controlled sites, with soils that are too dry or shallow-soiled for trees, hence sites where shrubs stay dominant (such as Quercus vacciniifolia, Chrysolepis sempervirens). Most chaparral species are fire-adapted, resprouting vigorously after burning or producing fire-resistant seeds. Occurrences of this macrogroup likely shift across montane forested landscapes with catastrophic fire events. Clearcut logging can also trigger regeneration of some of the chaparral species.
Environmental Description: These are chaparral or open shrublands found at montane elevations throughout much of the western U.S., from the Sierra Nevada and Cascades and into the western Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, and Rocky Mountains. They occur in summer-dry habitats from 800 to 3000 m elevation. Can occur as low as 50 m in California, but mostly is found above 1500 m. Much of the precipitation comes as winter snow, and summer drought-stress is characteristic. These shrublands are mostly found on steep, usually south-facing or exposed slopes, where soils are rocky, shallow and well-drained, often glaciated. These are typically zonal disclimax or, occasionally, edaphic climax brushfields which occur in association with dry needle-leaved evergreen forests or woodlands. These shrublands are typically established after stand-replacing fires or clearcut logging in montane conifer forests or pinyon-juniper woodlands, and may be seral to forest after several decades. Excessively rocky or droughty, fire-prone sites in the forest may support relatively persistent stands of this macrogroup. These are in mosaics of woodlands and chaparral and may have conifer species invading if good seed source is available.
Geographic Range: Very widely distributed, but these are small or patchily distributed occurrences in many areas. Found from southern Cascades of Oregon to the Klamath Mountains and Peninsular Ranges of California into Baja California, Mexico, and east into the western and central Great Basin, east slopes of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades. It is also found in limited, small-patch occurrences throughout the montane zone of mountain ranges in the western U.S.
Nations: CA?,MX,US
States/Provinces: AB?, AZ, BC?, CA, CO, ID, MT, MXBCN, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.836040
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.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Ng Western North American Interior Chaparral Division | D061 | 2.B.2.Ng |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Ng.1 Greenleaf Manzanita - Snowbrush Ceanothus - Huckleberry Oak Montane Chaparral Macrogroup | M094 | 2.B.2.Ng.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Ng.1.a Greenleaf Manzanita - Pinemat Manzanita - Snowbrush Ceanothus Montane Sclerophyll Scrub Group | G282 | 2.B.2.Ng.1.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Bittercherry (419) (Shiflet 1994) [Sierran chaparral on east side includes Prunus emarginata shrublands.]
>< Great Basin Montane Scrubland (132.1) (Brown 1982a) [Not equivalent, but Brown''s (1982a) type includes the concept of this macrogroup. His type is under his Cold-temperate Scrublands.]
> Montane Shrubland (209) (Shiflet 1994)
> Snowbush (420) (Shiflet 1994)
>< Great Basin Montane Scrubland (132.1) (Brown 1982a) [Not equivalent, but Brown''s (1982a) type includes the concept of this macrogroup. His type is under his Cold-temperate Scrublands.]
> Montane Shrubland (209) (Shiflet 1994)
> Snowbush (420) (Shiflet 1994)
- Barbour, M. G., and J. Major, editors. 1988. Terrestrial vegetation of California: New expanded edition. California Native Plant Society, Special Publication 9, Sacramento. 1030 pp.
- Barbour, M. G., and W. D. Billings, editors. 2000. North American terrestrial vegetation. Second edition. Cambridge University Press, New York. 434 pp.
- Brown, D. E., editor. 1982a. Biotic communities of the American Southwest-United States and Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 4(1-4):1-342.
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Holland, V. L., and D. J. Keil. 1995. California vegetation. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, IA. 516 pp.
- Keeler-Wolf, T., M. Schindel, S. San, P. Moore, and D. Hickson. 2003a. Classification of the vegetation of Yosemite National Park and surrounding environs in Tuolumne, Mariposa, Madera and Mono counties, California. Unpublished report by NatureServe in cooperation with the California Native Plant Society and California Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, CA.
- 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.
- Shiflet, T. N., editor. 1994. Rangeland cover types of the United States. Society for Range Management. Denver, CO. 152 pp.
- Vance, Ph.D., Linda. Personal communication. Senior Ecologist/Spatial Analysis Lab Director, Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT.