Print Report

A3856 Malosma laurina - Rhus integrifolia Chaparral Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of shrublands dominated by Malosma laurina or Rhus integrifolia. They typically occur on steep slopes, from sea level to 750 m in elevation, on shallow coarse or fine-textured soils, and are located in the cismontane of southern California and Baja California, Mexico.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Laurel Sumac - Lemonade Sumac Chaparral Alliance

Colloquial Name: Laurel Sumac - Lemonade Sumac Chaparral

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This shrubland alliance contains Malosma laurina or Rhus integrifolia as the dominant shrubs in the canopy. Other shrubs present may include Artemisia californica, Ceanothus megacarpus, Diplacus aurantiacus, Encelia californica, Eriogonum cinereum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Keckiella antirrhinoides, Rhamnus ilicifolia, Rhus ovata, Salvia leucophylla, Salvia mellifera, Tetracoccus dioicus, Toxicodendron diversilobum, and/or Hesperoyucca whipplei. Emergent trees may include Juglans californica, Quercus agrifolia, Platanus racemosa, or Sambucus nigra with sparse cover. Shrubs are <4 m tall, and the canopy is open or continuous. Herbaceous layer is sparse or grassy. This shrubland alliance is found in cismontane southern California and Baja California, Mexico, where the summers are very dry and warm, and winters are mild. The bulk of precipitation occurs from November to April and falls as rain. Yearly rainfall totals average between 20 and 30 cm. Stands typically occur on steep slopes, from sea level to 750 m in elevation. The soils are shallow, and can be coarse or fine-textured.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrublands dominated by either Malosma laurina or Rhus integrifolia, often mixed with other southern coastal scrub species.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance and its associations are often overlooked as they are often lumped with mixed coastal scrub or chaparral, but many characteristic chaparral species are absent or occur only uncommonly.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This sclerophyllous, temperate, broad-leaved evergreen shrubland forms an open to continuous canopy less than 4 m in height. Emergent trees (15-20 m tall) may be present.

Floristics: This shrubland alliance contains Malosma laurina or Rhus integrifolia as the dominant shrubs in the canopy. Other shrubs present may include Artemisia californica, Ceanothus megacarpus, Diplacus aurantiacus, Encelia californica, Eriogonum cinereum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Keckiella antirrhinoides, Rhamnus ilicifolia, Rhus ovata, Salvia leucophylla, Salvia mellifera, Tetracoccus dioicus, Toxicodendron diversilobum, and/or Hesperoyucca whipplei. Emergent trees may include Juglans californica, Quercus agrifolia, Platanus racemosa, or Sambucus nigra with sparse cover. Shrubs are <4 m tall, and the canopy is open or continuous. Herbaceous layer is sparse or grassy. Exotic invasives species may be present and include Schinus terebinthifolius, Schinus molle, and Pennisetum setaceum.

Dynamics:  Malosma laurina and Rhus integrifolia will root-sprout after fire, which is an advantage over other coastal sage scrub species that are not stimulated by fire; however, the natural fire-return interval for this alliance is unknown (Sawyer et al. 2009). Stands of Rhus integrifolia are expanding since the 1930s likely due to increased fire frequency.
Environmental Description:  Stands typically occur on steep slopes. Elevations range from sea level to 750 m. Soils are shallow and coarse. The climate where stands of this alliance grow is very dry and warm through the summer months. Winters are mild. The bulk of precipitation occurs from November to April and falls as rain. Yearly rainfall totals average between 20 and 30 cm.
Geographic Range: Stands of this alliance are found in the outer southern Coast Ranges, the western Transverse Ranges, and the Peninsular Ranges into Baja California, 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 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.1 Chamise - Whiteleaf Manzanita - Scrub Oak Chaparral Macrogroup M043 2.B.1.Na.1
Group 2.B.1.Na.1.c Woolly-leaf Manzanita - Glossyleaf Manzanita - Barranca Brush Maritime Chaparral Group G258 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Alliance A3856 Laurel Sumac - Lemonade Sumac Chaparral Alliance A3856 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL003696 Laurel Sumac Shrubland CEGL003696 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL003697 Laurel Sumac - Coastal Sagebrush Shrubland CEGL003697 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL003698 Laurel Sumac - Coastal Buckwheat Shrubland CEGL003698 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL003702 Laurel Sumac - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat Shrubland CEGL003702 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL003703 Laurel Sumac - Black Sage Shrubland CEGL003703 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL003718 Lemonade Sumac Shrubland CEGL003718 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL003719 Lemonade Sumac - Coastal Sagebrush - Coastal Buckwheat Shrubland CEGL003719 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL003720 Lemonade Sumac - Prickly-pear species - Coastal Buckwheat Shrubland CEGL003720 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Concept Lineage: includes A.774 and A.2674

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Malosma laurina (Laurel sumac scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [45.455.00]
> Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade berry scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.803.00]
>< Granitic Southern Mixed Chaparral (#37121) (Holland 1986b)
>< Mafic Southern Mixed Chaparral (#37122) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • 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.
  • 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.