Print Report

A3750 Platanus racemosa - Quercus agrifolia - Juglans californica Riparian Woodland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This riparian woodland alliance is dominated by Platanus racemosa and/or Quercus agrifolia and is found in gullies, intermittent streams, springs, seeps, streambanks and floodplain terraces. This is not to be confused with Quercus agrifolia upland stands. Codominant trees may include Alnus rhombifolia, Juglans californica, Populus fremontii, Salix exigua, Salix gooddingii, Salix laevigata, Salix lasiolepis, Salix lutea, and Umbellularia californica.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: California Sycamore - California Live Oak - Southern California Walnut Riparian Woodland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Californian Sycamore - Live Oak - Walnut Riparian Woodland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of riparian woodlands dominated by Platanus racemosa and/or Quercus agrifolia. Other trees present may include Alnus rhombifolia, Juglans californica, Populus fremontii, Salix exigua, Salix gooddingii, Salix laevigata, Salix lasiolepis, Salix lutea, and Umbellularia californica. Shrubs can be uncommon to frequent and may include Baccharis salicifolia and Toxicodendron diversilobum. The ground layer is grassy and may include Avena barbata and/or Bromus hordeaceus. This alliance is not to be confused with upland stands of Quercus agrifolia, and must have wetland understory indicators to belong to this riparian alliance. It is found in California and possibly Baja California in gullies, intermittent streams, springs, seeps, streambanks and terraces adjacent to floodplains subject to flooding and seasonal saturation.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Platanus racemosa and/or Quercus agrifolia with >30% relative cover.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance ocurs in draws/ canyons, riparian settings.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This temporarily flooded, cold-deciduous woodland forms an open canopy less than 35 m in height. A subcanopy may be present. Shrubs are infrequent to common. The herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids.

Floristics: Platanus racemosa and/or Quercus agrifolia are the dominant species in the widely spaced tree canopy of this California riparian woodland. Other trees present may include Alnus rhombifolia, Populus fremontii, Quercus agrifolia, Quercus lobata, Salix gooddingii, Salix laevigata, Salix lasiolepis, Salix lutea, and Umbellularia californica. Shrubs can be uncommon to frequent and may include Baccharis salicifolia and Toxicodendron diversilobum. The ground layer is grassy and may include Avena barbata and/or Bromus hordeaceus.

Dynamics:  This alliance grows in areas with permanent soil moisture at depth. Dominant tree species are well-adapted to periodic, high-intensity flooding.
Environmental Description:  This riparian woodland of northern, central, and southern California occurs where soils are permanently saturated at depth with freshwater. Stands are found in gullies, depositional deposits along intermittent streams, springs, seeps, stream- and riverbanks, and terraces adjacent to floodplains subject to high-intensity flooding. Soils are alluvial, rocky or cobbly. This alliance grows in areas which typically receive the bulk of their yearly precipitation between November and April, leading to higher streamflows and intermittent flooding. Stands are found from sea level to 2400 m elevation.
Geographic Range: This formerly widespread riparian alliance is still found in scattered stands along California''s central and southern Coast Ranges, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the montane Peninsular and Transverse ranges, and the western Mojave and Colorado deserts. It is likely to also occur in scattered localities in northern Mexico.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN?


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 1 Forest & Woodland Class C01 1
Subclass 1.B Temperate & Boreal Forest & Woodland Subclass S15 1.B
Formation 1.B.3 Temperate Flooded & Swamp Forest Formation F026 1.B.3
Division 1.B.3.Nd Western North American Interior Flooded Forest Division D013 1.B.3.Nd
Macrogroup 1.B.3.Nd.2 Interior Warm & Cool Desert Riparian Forest Macrogroup M036 1.B.3.Nd.2
Group 1.B.3.Nd.2.b Western Interior Riparian Forest & Woodland Group G797 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Alliance A3750 California Sycamore - California Live Oak - Southern California Walnut Riparian Woodland Alliance A3750 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002851 White Alder - California Sycamore Riparian Forest CEGL002851 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002852 Southern California Walnut / Coastal Sagebrush / Giant Wildrye Riparian Woodland CEGL002852 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002853 Southern California Walnut / Redheart Riparian Woodland CEGL002853 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002854 Southern California Walnut / Toyon Riparian Woodland CEGL002854 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002855 Southern California Walnut / Laurel Sumac Riparian Woodland CEGL002855 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002856 California Sycamore South Coast Riparian Woodland CEGL002856 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002857 California Sycamore / Annual Grass-Herb Riparian Woodland CEGL002857 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002858 California Sycamore - California Live Oak Riparian Woodland CEGL002858 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002859 California Sycamore - California Live Oak / Arroyo Willow Riparian Woodland CEGL002859 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002867 California Live Oak - Southern California Walnut Riparian Woodland CEGL002867 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002868 California Live Oak - Arroyo Willow Riparian Woodland CEGL002868 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002876 California Laurel - Southern California Walnut / Redheart Riparian Forest CEGL002876 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002877 California Laurel - California Sycamore Riparian Forest CEGL002877 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002887 Southern California Walnut / Annual Grass-Herb Riparian Woodland CEGL002887 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL002897 California Sycamore - California Live Oak / Mule-fat / Douglas'' Sagewort South Coast Riparian Woodland CEGL002897 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Association CEGL005312 California Live Oak / Pacific Poison-oak Riparian Woodland CEGL005312 1.B.3.Nd.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Platanus racemosa (California sycamore woodlands) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [61.310.00]
> Platanus racemosa Alliance (California sycamore woodlands) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
>< Quercus agrifolia (Coast live oak woodland) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [71.060.00]
> Quercus agrifolia Alliance (Coast live oak woodland) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Umbellularia californica (California bay forest) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [74.100.00]
? Central Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest (#61220) (Holland 1986b)
? Coast Live Oak Forest (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
? Coast Live Oak Woodland (#71160) (Holland 1986b)
>< Northern Riparian Woodland (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
? Southern Coast Live Oak Riparian Forest (#61310) (Holland 1986b)
? Sycamore Alluvial Woodland (#62100) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • Allen, B. H., R. R. Everet, and B. A. Holzman. 1991. A classification system for California''s hardwood rangelands. Hilgardia 59:1-45.
  • Allen, B. H., R. R. Evett, B. A. Holzman, and A. J. Martin. 1989. Report on rangeland cover type description for California hardwood rangelands. Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and Department of Forestry and Resource Management. Berkeley, CA.
  • Barbour, M. G., and J. Major, editors. 1977. Terrestrial vegetation of California. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 1002 pp.
  • Buck-Diaz, J., S. Batiuk, and J. M. Evens. 2012. Vegetation alliances and associations of the Great Valley ecoregion, California. California Native Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/pdf/great_valley_eco-vegclass2012.pdf]
  • Cheatham, N. H., and J. R. Haller. 1975. An annotated list of California habitat types. Unpublished report. University of California, Natural Land and Water Reserves System.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
  • Holland, R. F. 1986b. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Unpublished report prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, Nongame-Heritage Program and Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento. 156 pp.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Sawyer, J. O., and T. Keeler-Wolf. 1995. A manual of California vegetation. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 471 pp.
  • 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.