Print Report

A3793 Quercus john-tuckeri - Quercus cornelius-mulleri - Fremontodendron californicum Chaparral Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This chaparral alliance is characterized by evergreen scrub oak species and other sclerophyllous shrubs with dominant diagnostic species such as Ceanothus greggii, Fremontodendron californicum, Juniperus californica, Quercus cornelius-mulleri, or Quercus john-tuckeri. It occurs from arid, interior southern California and adjacent Mojave and Colorado deserts to the east.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Tucker Oak - Muller Oak - California Flannelbush Chaparral Alliance

Colloquial Name: Tucker Oak - Muller Oak - California Flannelbush Chaparral

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This chaparral alliance is characterized by evergreen scrub oak species and other sclerophyllous shrubs. Dominant diagnostic species include Ceanothus greggii, Fremontodendron californicum, Juniperus californica, Quercus cornelius-mulleri, or Quercus john-tuckeri. Many other chaparral species may be present. Some emergent trees may be present, but they are not common. This vegetation type generally intergrades with other chaparral types or pinyon-juniper woodlands. This alliance occurs from arid, interior southern California and adjacent Mojave and Colorado deserts to the east. Stands occur primarily on upper slopes and ridgetops with shallow, well-drained soils. The elevation ranges from 300-1700 m, and yearly precipitation totals are generally less than 30 cm. Droughts are common.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrublands dominated by diagnostic species Ceanothus greggii, Fremontodendron californicum, Juniperus californica, Quercus cornelius-mulleri, or Quercus john-tuckeri.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Placement of this alliance in the USNVC needs further review. The southern California associations in the western interior chaparral group are problematic. If primarily western Mojave then perhaps Mojave mid-elevation scrub groups, but they also occur in cismontane California, so likely could be included in one of the many California chaparral groups. The three component old alliances have a similar range and habitats. Ceanothus greggii is a widespread chaparral shrub the may codominant with chaparral from other groups.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This broad-leaved evergreen shrubland is characterized by an intermittent canopy of shrubs less than 3 m in height. Occasional emergent trees (5-10 m tall) may be present. The herbaceous layer is sparse.

Floristics: This chaparral alliance is characterized by evergreen scrub oak species and other sclerophyllous shrubs. Dominant diagnostic species include Ceanothus greggii, Fremontodendron californicum, Juniperus californica, Quercus cornelius-mulleri, and Quercus john-tuckeri. Many other shrub species may be present to codominant such as Adenostoma fasciculatum, Adenostoma sparsifolium, Arctostaphylos glauca, Ceanothus cuneatus, Cercocarpus montanus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Ericameria linearifolia, Eriogonum fasciculatum, and Garrya flavescens. Emergent trees such as Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus douglasii, Pinus coulteri, Pinus monophylla, Pinus quadrifolia and Pinus sabiniana may be occasionally present. The herbaceous layer is sparse.

Dynamics:  This chaparral alliance occurs in drier and colder regions than other types. This alliance is found often on recently burned sites. It is not as prone to fire as other chaparral vegetation types due to lighter fuel loads. Quercus cornelius-mulleri or Quercus john-tuckeri vigorously sprouts from root crowns after fire (Sawyer et al. 2009).
Environmental Description:  This chaparral alliance occurs from arid, interior southern California and adjacent Mojave and Colorado deserts to the east. Stands occur primarily on upper slopes and ridgetops with shallow, well-drained soils. The elevation ranges from 300-1700 m, and yearly precipitation totals are generally less than 30 cm. Droughts are common. This vegetation type generally intergrades with other chaparral types or pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the western Mojave and Colorado deserts and throughout the interior of southern California. It may also be found in Baja California, Mexico.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN?


Confidence Level: Low

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.2 Sonoran Scrub Oak - Pointleaf Manzanita - Desert Ceanothus Warm Interior Chaparral Macrogroup M091 2.B.2.Ng.2
Group 2.B.2.Ng.2.b Sonoran Scrub Oak - Desert Ceanothus - Mexican Manzanita Chaparral Group G281 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Alliance A3793 Tucker Oak - Muller Oak - California Flannelbush Chaparral Alliance A3793 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Association CEGL002727 Tucker Oak - California Juniper Shrubland CEGL002727 2.B.2.Ng.2.b
Concept Lineage: A.766 and A.2521 and A.2522. This new alliance includes associations from Old Alliance III.A.2.N.c. Ceanothus greggii - Fremontodendron californicum Shrubland Alliance (A.766), Old Alliance III.A.2.N.c. Quercus cornelius-mulleri Shrubland Alliance (A.2521), and Old Alliance III.A.2.N.c. Quercus john-tuckeri Shrubland Alliance (A.2522).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Ceanothus greggii (Cup leaf ceanothus chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.212.00]
> Quercus cornelius-mulleri (Muller oak chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.415.00]
> Quercus cornelius-mulleri Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012)
> Quercus john-tuckeri (Tucker oak chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.418.00]
? Semi-Desert Chaparral (#37400) (Holland 1986b)
? Semi-desert chaparral (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by M. Schindel.

Version Date: 12-18-14
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  • Evens, J. M., D. Roach-McIntosh, and D. Stout. 2012. Vegetation descriptions for Joshua Tree National Park. Unpublished report submitted to USDI, National Park Service, Mojave Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA.
  • 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.
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  • Keeler-Wolf, T. 1997. Preliminary table of Mojave Desert ecosystem vegetation types.
  • 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.
  • Stout, D., J. Buck-Diaz, S. Taylor, and J. M. Evens. 2013. Vegetation mapping and accuracy assessment report for Carrizo Plain National Monument. California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program, Sacramento, CA. 71 pp.