Print Report

A3866 Arctostaphylos glauca Chaparral Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This shrubland alliance is dominated by Arctostaphylos glauca. Common associates include Adenostoma fasciculatum. Stands occur on coarse, thin soils in portions of central and southern California and Baja California, Mexico, where temperatures are moderated by coastal influence.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bigberry Manzanita Chaparral Alliance

Colloquial Name: Bigberry Manzanita Chaparral

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This shrubland alliance is dominated by Arctostaphylos glauca. Other shrubs present may include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus leucodermis, Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Quercus berberidifolia, Rhamnus ilicifolia, Salvia mellifera, and Hesperoyucca whipplei. Emergent trees may include Quercus wislizeni and Quercus dumosa. The herbaceous layer is sparse to well-developed, including a variety of native species such as Camissonia spp., Galium spp., Marah macrocarpus, Melica spp., and Phacelia spp. Stands occur on coarse, thin soils in portions of central and southern California and Baja California, Mexico, where temperatures are moderated by coastal influence. The summers are dry and warm, with high temperatures over 90°F being fairly common. The winters are cool and moist, although they are decidedly drier than the coastal regions north of San Francisco. Yearly rainfall totals average about 35 cm, with the bulk falling between November and April.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Arctostaphylos glauca is the most xerophytic of the California manzanitas and forms stands in the drier foothills and lower mountains of the inner central Coast Ranges southwards into the Transverse and Peninsular ranges of southern California and adjacent Mexico. Stands occur adjacent to pinyon and juniper woodlands and other desert alliances along the ecoregional boundaries of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance corresponds to the Arctostaphylos glauca Shrubland Alliance of Sawyer et al. (2009). It is predicated on the diagnostic value of Arctostaphylos glauca; otherwise the individual associations could be placed into the other alliances within this group.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This sclerophyllous, broad-leaved evergreen shrubland is dominated by a continuous canopy of shrubs less than 8 m in height. The herbaceous layer is sparse, and some small to medium emergent trees (15-20 m tall) may be present.

Floristics: This shrubland alliance is dominated by Arctostaphylos glauca. Other shrubs present may include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus leucodermis, Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber, Quercus berberidifolia, Rhamnus ilicifolia (= Rhamnus crocea ssp. ilicifolia), Salvia mellifera, and Hesperoyucca whipplei (= Yucca whipplei). Emergent trees may include Quercus wislizeni and Quercus dumosa. The herbaceous layer is sparse to well-developed, including a variety of native species such Camissonia spp., Galium spp., Marah macrocarpus, Melica spp., and Phacelia spp.

Dynamics:  This alliance occurs where temperatures are moderated by a slight coastal influence. Fire frequencies are lower than with many other chaparral vegetation types. It has adapted to cycles of drought and fire. The needle-like leaves of the dominant species are most active during the cool, moist winters, and become dormant (though still alive) during the intensely hot, dry summers. By fall these shrublands are very susceptible to fire. When plants of the nominal species burn, they crown-sprout to regenerate, though growth is slow because of the poor growing conditions. For several years after a fire a fairly dense herbaceous layer may exist.
Environmental Description:  This widespread chaparral alliance of dry slopes and ridges of interior California is found between 10 and 1800 m elevation. It can occur on all slopes and usually occurs on xeric sites. Stands of this alliance occur on shallow, mafic-derived soils, sandy loam or loam texture, most often shallow to moderately deep, often on granitic or metamorphic parent material, though some are found on serpentine. This alliance intergrades with other chaparral types, coastal scrubs, and grasslands.
Geographic Range: This shrubland alliance occurs in central and southern California and Baja California, Mexico.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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.a Chamise - Buckbrush - Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita Xeric Chaparral Group G257 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Alliance A3866 Bigberry Manzanita Chaparral Alliance A3866 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003008 Bigberry Manzanita Shrubland CEGL003008 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003504 Chamise - Bigberry Manzanita Shrubland CEGL003504 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: includes A.759

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Arctostaphylos glauca (Bigberry manzanita chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.301.00]
= Arctostaphylos glauca Shrubland Alliance (Evens et al. 2012)
= Arctostaphylos glauca Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [37.301.00]
>< Bigberry Manzanita Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
< Chamise Chaparral (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
< Chamise Chaparral (Chamisal) (#37200) (Holland 1986b)
>< Chamise-Bigberry Manzanita Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
? G7411212 BADFA00 (Barrows 1989)
>< Northern Mixed Chaparral (#37110) (Holland 1986b)
>< Northern North Slope Chaparral (#37E10) (Holland 1986b)
>< Southern North Slope Chaparral (#37E20) (Holland 1986b)
>< Upper Sonoran Manzanita Chaparral (#37B00) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid after Sawyer et al. (2009)

Author of Description: M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by T. Keeler-Wolf.

Version Date: 12-18-14
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