Print Report
A3857 Ceanothus papillosus - Ceanothus verrucosus Post-fire Chaparral Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These shrublands are dominated by one of either Ceanothus papillosus or Ceanothus verrucosus and are generally short-lived (decades) post-fire communities. Periodic fire disturbance is a driving factor. Stands are found in central and southern coastal areas of California, extending into northern Baja California, Mexico.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Wartleaf Ceanothus - Barranca Brush Post-fire Chaparral Alliance
Colloquial Name: Post-fire Wartleaf Ceanothus - Barranca Brush Chaparral
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: These shrublands are dominated by one of either Ceanothus papillosus or Ceanothus verrucosus and are generally short-lived (decades) post-fire communities. Periodic fire disturbance is a driving factor. Ceanothus papillosus-dominated stands include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Ceanothus cuneatus, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Quercus berberidifolia, Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus wislizeni, Salvia mellifera, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. Emergent Pinus coulteri, Pinus ponderosa, Quercus agrifolia, Quercus chrysolepis, and Umbellularia californica trees may be present and sparse. Shrubs are <3.5 m tall, and the canopy is continuous or intermittent. Herbaceous layer is sparse. Habitats are variable topography. Soils are moderately deep and well-drained. Elevation is 600-1500 m. Ceanothus verrucosus-dominated stands include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Cneoridium dumosum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Lotus scoparius, Malosma laurina, Rhus integrifolia, Salvia mellifera, and Xylococcus bicolor. Shrubs are <3 m tall, and the canopy is continuous. Herbaceous layer is variable. This alliance is found in central and southern coastal areas of California, extending into northern Baja California, Mexico. Habitats are slopes, ridges, and coastal terraces. Elevation is 50-300 m.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Shrublands dominated by one of either Ceanothus papillosus or Ceanothus verrucosus.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Sawyer et al. (2009) Ceanothus papillosus Alliance and Ceanothus verrucosus Provisional Alliance are combined here as they are both fire-driven communities, and also occur within and adjacent to surrounding coastal scrub or chaparral types. Ceanothus papillosus is a short-lived obligate seeder that dominates stands for several years following fires. As an obligate-seeding species, Ceanothus verrucosus has a persistent seed bank, and stands of almost pure Ceanothus grow rapidly and dominate a few years following fire. Geographically these could be split into a northern central coast alliance of Ceanothus papillosus and a more southerly alliance of Ceanothus verrucosus; however, they respond similarly to fire, live for a similar length of time, and have similar codominant species. Need more information to spilt them.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Ceanothus papillosus-dominated stands include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Ceanothus cuneatus, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Quercus berberidifolia, Quercus chrysolepis, Quercus wislizeni, Salvia mellifera, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. Emergent Pinus coulteri, Pinus ponderosa, Quercus agrifolia, Quercus chrysolepis, and Umbellularia californica trees may be present and sparse. Shrubs are <3.5 m tall, and the canopy is continuous or intermittent. Herbaceous layer is sparse. Ceanothus verrucosus-dominated stands include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Cneoridium dumosum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Lotus scoparius, Malosma laurina, Rhus integrifolia, Salvia mellifera, and Xylococcus bicolor. Shrubs are <3 m tall, and the canopy is continuous. Herbaceous layer is variable.
Dynamics: Periodic fire disturbance is a driving factor.
Environmental Description: Habitats for Ceanothus papillosus-dominated stands are variable topography. Soils are moderately deep and well-drained. Elevation is 600-1500 m. Habitats Ceanothus verrucosus-dominated stands are slopes, ridges, and coastal terraces. Elevation is 50-300 m.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in central and southern coastal areas of California, extending into northern Baja California, Mexico.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: CA, MXBCN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899908
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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 | A3857 Wartleaf Ceanothus - Barranca Brush Post-fire Chaparral Alliance | A3857 | 2.B.1.Na.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Ceanothus papillosus (Wart leaf ceanothus chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.215.00]
> Ceanothus verrucosus (Wart-stemmed ceanothus chaparral) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.216.00]
> Ceanothus verrucosus (Wart-stemmed ceanothus chaparral) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.216.00]
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.