Print Report

A3858 Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. crustacea - Arctostaphylos tomentosa Central Coast & Island Chaparral Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance comprises chaparral shrublands dominated by one or more species of Arctostaphylos, as well as stands of Quercus dumosa and Quercus pacifica, some of which are very rare and localized. This shrubland alliance occurs in the zone of coastal fog incursion along California''s central coast and Channel Islands.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Brittleleaf Manzanita - Woolly-leaf Manzanita Central Coast & Island Chaparral Alliance

Colloquial Name: Central California Coast & Island Manzanita Chaparral

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance comprises chaparral shrublands dominated by one or more species of Arctostaphylos, as well as stands of Quercus dumosa and Quercus pacifica, all of them endemic to the central and southern California coast. These include Arctostaphylos hookeri, Arctostaphylos montereyensis, Arctostaphylos morroensis, Arctostaphylos pajaroensis, Arctostaphylos pumila, Arctostaphylos purissima, Arctostaphylos rudis, Arctostaphylos silvicola, Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. crustacea, and Arctostaphylos tomentosa. Other associates in the shrub canopy may include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Artemisia californica, Ceanothus spp., Diplacus aurantiacus, Ericameria ericoides, Eriodictyon altissimum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Frangula californica ssp. californica, Prunus ilicifolia, Salvia mellifera, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. Emergent Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber and/or Quercus agrifolia may be present. The herbaceous layer is sparse. These are the chaparrals found generally along the central coast, south of San Francisco Bay, to Santa Barbara County and on the Channel Islands. Elevations range between sea level and 1500 m. The climate is distinctly Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The coastal zone that this alliance inhabits is tempered by summer fog, and moisture levels are higher through the summer, while temperatures are lower than for most other chaparral types. Stands grow on substrates derived from stabilized sand dunes, sandstone, shale, or volcanic material, including coarse marine sandstone, eolian sand deposits, shale, granitics, and fine-textured mudstones and siltstones.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Dominated by one or more species of California endemic Arctostaphylos spp. (Arctostaphylos hookeri, Arctostaphylos montereyensis, Arctostaphylos morroensis, Arctostaphylos pajaroensis, Arctostaphylos pumila, Arctostaphylos purissima, Arctostaphylos rudis, Arctostaphylos silvicola, Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. crustacea, Arctostaphylos tomentosa), or Quercus pacifica or Quercus dumosa.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Combination of several Sawyer et al. (2009) alliances, generally those found along the central and southern California coast where associated floristic composition is from the adjacent/nearby southern coastal scrub. These are all fire-dependent shrublands. For now, stands of Quercus pacifica are included here, but an alternative treatment would be an alliance of "island chaparral," with Quercus pacifica and one or more Arctostaphylos species or subspecies that are restricted to those islands. Quercus dumosa, as defined by California (T. Keeler-Wolf pers. comm. 2013) as a rare plant dominating a few stands, is included in this alliance for now.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This sclerophyllous, temperate, broad-leaved evergreen shrubland forms a dense shrub canopy less than 3 m in height. Emergent trees (10-15 m tall) may be present. The herbaceous layer is sparse.

Floristics: This alliance comprises chaparral shrublands dominated by one or more species of Arctostaphylos, as well as stands of Quercus dumosa and Quercus pacifica, all of them endemic to the central and southern California coast. These include Arctostaphylos hookeri, Arctostaphylos montereyensis, Arctostaphylos morroensis, Arctostaphylos pajaroensis, Arctostaphylos pumila, Arctostaphylos purissima, Arctostaphylos rudis, Arctostaphylos silvicola, Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. crustacea (= Arctostaphylos crustacea), and Arctostaphylos tomentosa. Other associates in the shrub canopy may include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Artemisia californica, Ceanothus spp., Diplacus aurantiacus, Ericameria ericoides, Eriodictyon altissimum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Frangula californica, Frangula californica ssp. californica, Prunus ilicifolia, Salvia mellifera, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. Emergent Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber and/or Quercus agrifolia may be present. The herbaceous layer is sparse.

Species of Interest: Arctostaphylos confertiflora (FE, CRPR 1B.2), a Santa Rosa Island endemic, and Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. subcordata (= Arctostaphylos crustacea ssp. subcordata) (CRPR 4.2) may be dominant or codominant. Other species of interest present include Lotus dendroideus var. dendroideus (= Acmispon dendroideus var. dendroideus) (CRPR 4.2), Baccharis plummerae ssp. plummerae (CRPR 4.3), Ceanothus megacarpus var. insularis (CRPR 4.3), Galium nuttallii ssp. insulare (CRPR 4.3), Diplacus parviflorus (= Mimulus aurantiacus var. parviflorus) (CRPR 4.3), and Quercus pacifica (CRPR 4.2). The following species tracked by the CNPS Rare Plant Inventory (2015) occur at less than 20% constancy in samples of this alliance: Castilleja lanata ssp. hololeuca (= Castilleja hololeuca) (CRPR 1B.2), Cercocarpus montanus var. blancheae (= Cercocarpus betuloides var. blancheae) (CRPR 4.3), Chorizanthe wheeleri (CRPR 4.3), Dendromecon harfordii (CRPR 3.2), Dichondra occidentalis (CRPR 4.2), Dudleya candelabrum (CRPR 1B.2), Dudleya greenei (CRPR 4.2), Eriogonum grande var. grande (CRPR 4.2), Galium nuttallii ssp. insulare (CRPR 4.3), Hazardia detonsa (CRPR 4.3), Jepsonia malvifolia (CRPR 4.2), Pinus torreyana ssp. insularis (CRPR 1B.2), Quercus parvula var. parvula (CRPR 4.2), Rhamnus pirifolia (CRPR 4.2), Salvia brandegeei (CRPR 1B.2), Solanum clokeyi (CRPR 4.2), Achnatherum diegoense (= Stipa diegoensis) (CRPR 4.2).

Dynamics:  Coastal fog incursion is important to maintain stands of this alliance. Fire appears necessary for continued reproduction.
Environmental Description:  This shrubland alliance occurs in the zone of coastal fog incursion along California''s central coast. Elevations range between sea level and 1500 m. The climate is distinctly Mediterranean, with warm, dry summers and cool moist winters. The coastal zone this alliance inhabits is tempered by summer fog, and moisture levels are higher through the summer, while temperatures are lower than for most other chaparral types. Stands grow on sandy substrates derived from sandstone, shale, or volcanic material. Stands can be found on all slopes, and on deep or shallow soils. The soils may be rocky.
Geographic Range: This alliance can be found within the zone of coastal fog incursion along portions of California''s central and southern coast and onto the Channel Islands.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA


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 A3858 Brittleleaf Manzanita - Woolly-leaf Manzanita Central Coast & Island Chaparral Alliance A3858 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL003010 Woolly-leaf Manzanita Shrubland CEGL003010 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Association CEGL003179 Mount Tamalpais Manzanita Shrubland CEGL003179 2.B.1.Na.1.c
Concept Lineage: Includes A.761 and A.2604

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Arctostaphylos (crustacea, tomentosa) (Brittle leaf - Woolly leaf manzanita chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.308.00]
= Arctostaphylos (crustacea, tomentosa) Central Coast & Island Shrubland Alliance (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
> Arctostaphylos (purissima, rudis) (Burton Mesa chaparral) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.322.00]
> Arctostaphylos hookeri (Hooker’s manzanita chaparral) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.321.00]
> Arctostaphylos montereyensis (Monterey manzanita chaparral) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.314.00]
> Arctostaphylos morroensis (Morro manzanita chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.315.00]
> Arctostaphylos pajaroensis (Pajaro manzanita chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.316.00]
> Arctostaphylos pumila (Sandmat manzanita chaparral) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.318.00]
> Arctostaphylos silvicola (Silverleaf manzanita chaparral) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.320.00]
> Quercus pacifica (Island scrub oak chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.416.00]
? Central Maritime Chaparral (#37C20) (Holland 1986b) [sub-type]
>< Northern Maritime Chaparral (#37C10) (Holland 1986b) [sub-type]
>< Scrub Oak Chaparral (#37900) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid after Sawyer et al. (2009)

Author of Description: M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
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