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A3867 Salvia apiana - Salvia mellifera - Adenostoma fasciculatum Chaparral Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of chaparral dominated by Adenostoma fasciculatum codominant with Salvia apiana and/or Salvia mellifera, in the shrub canopy. It occurs on lower to upper slopes of all aspects, especially on south-facing slopes in central and southern coastal California, inland from the fog belt.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: White Sage - Black Sage - Chamise Chaparral Alliance

Colloquial Name: White Sage - Black Sage - Chamise Chaparral

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of chaparral stands dominated by Adenostoma fasciculatum codominant with Salvia apiana and/or Salvia mellifera. Other codominant shrubs include Arctostaphylos spp., Artemisia californica, Ceanothus crassifolius, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus integerrimus, and other Ceanothus species, Encelia farinosa, Eriodictyon spp., Eriogonum fasciculatum, Lotus scoparius, Malosma laurina, Quercus berberidifolia, Rhamnus ilicifolia, Rhus ovata, Xylococcus bicolor, and Hesperoyucca whipplei. Emergent Juglans californica and Quercus agrifolia trees may be present with sparse cover. Shrubs are <3 m in height, and the canopy is open to continuous. The herbaceous layer is sparse to continuous, including annuals seasonally. This alliance occurs in central and southern coastal California, and probably extends south into Baja California, Mexico. Habitats are south- to east-facing slopes. Soils are shallow and may be rocky. Elevation is 300-1700 m. Stands occupy warm, well-drained slopes of coastal southern California inland from the summer fog belt. Conditions include stabilized alluvium, colluvium, and crystalline basement rocks including granitic and gabbro. Recent fires have burned many stands of this alliance. The name "alluvial fan chaparral" has been used for those on alluvium.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Adenostoma fasciculatum is codominant with Salvia apiana, Salvia mellifera, or Eriogonum fasciculatum in the shrub canopy.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This allaince combines three Sawyer et al. (2009) alliances. All three include mixing of chamise and chaparral species with various coastal sage scrub species such as Salvia apiana, Salvia mellifera, Salvia leucophylla, Artemisia californica, Xylococcus bicolor, and others. Combining the mixes of Salvia mellifera and Salvia apiana with Adenostoma into one alliance is good, but this should not include Xylococcus bicolor. That should remain separate, and perhaps just be called the Xylococcus bicolor alliance with the assumption that it codominates with chamise (T. Keeler-Wolf pers. comm. 2013). Xylococcus bicolor is a more mesic species and is a resprouter with limited ability to regenerate from seed, very different than Salvia and Adenostoma. It should be put in the mesic sclerophyll group, not xeric (T. Keeler-Wolf pers. comm. 2013).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This broad-leaved evergreen shrubland is dominated by a continuous canopy of shrubs less than 3 m in height. The herbaceous layer is sparse, and some small to medium emergent trees (15-20 m tall) may be present.

Floristics: This alliance consists of chaparral stands dominated by Adenostoma fasciculatum codominant with Salvia apiana and/or Salvia mellifera. Other codominant shrubs include Arctostaphylos spp., Artemisia californica, Ceanothus crassifolius, Ceanothus cuneatus, Ceanothus integerrimus, and other Ceanothus species, Encelia farinosa, Eriodictyon spp., Eriogonum fasciculatum, Lotus scoparius, Malosma laurina, Quercus berberidifolia, Rhamnus ilicifolia, Rhus ovata, Xylococcus bicolor, and Hesperoyucca whipplei. Emergent Juglans californica and Quercus agrifolia trees may be present with sparse cover. Shrubs are <3 m in height, and the canopy is open to continuous. The herbaceous layer is sparse to continuous, including annuals seasonally.

Dynamics:  This alliance 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:  Stands occur on lower to upper slopes of all aspects, especially on south-facing slopes, or well-drained alluvium. Stands have relatively open canopies with a structure and species composition intermediate between chaparral and coastal sage scrub. They occupy warm, well-drained slopes of coastal southern California inland from the summer fog belt and range northward to the inner Coast Ranges of Alameda County in central California. Sites include stabilized alluvium, colluvium, and crystalline basement rocks, including granite and gabbro. Holland (1986b) used the name "alluvial fan chaparral" for those on alluvium. Soils are shallow with loamy sand or sandy loam texture.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in central and southern coastal California inland from the fog belt, and probably extends south 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.a Chamise - Buckbrush - Sticky Whiteleaf Manzanita Xeric Chaparral Group G257 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Alliance A3867 White Sage - Black Sage - Chamise Chaparral Alliance A3867 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003520 Chamise - Buckbrush - Black Sage - Laurel Sumac Shrubland CEGL003520 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003524 Chamise - Black Sage Shrubland CEGL003524 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003529 Chamise - Black Sage - Laurel Sumac Shrubland CEGL003529 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003531 Chamise - Black Sage - Sugar Sumac Shrubland CEGL003531 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Adenostoma fasciculatum - Salvia apiana (Chamise - white sage chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.103.00]
> Adenostoma fasciculatum - Salvia mellifera (Chamise - black sage chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.102.00]
< Chamise Chaparral (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
< Chamise Chaparral (Chamisal) (#37200) (Holland 1986b)
? G7411212 BADFA00 (Barrows 1989)
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M.S. Reid and T. Keeler-Wolf

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

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Barrows, K. 1989. Operations and maintenance schedule for Baldwin Lake Ecological Reserve (and adjacent lands). Fourteen plant species (and animals and NC''s). Unpublished report on file at California Natural Diversity Database.
  • Cheatham, N. H., and J. R. Haller. 1975. An annotated list of California habitat types. Unpublished report. University of California, Natural Land and Water Reserves System.
  • Evens, J., and S. San. 2006. Vegetation alliances of the San Dieguito River Park region, San Diego County, California. Final report (August 2005) Version 2 (revised May 2006). Prepared by California Native Plant Society in cooperation with the California Natural Heritage Program of the California Department of Fish and Game and San Diego Chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Sacramento, CA. 271 pp.
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  • 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.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T. Personal communication. Senior Vegetation Ecologist, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.
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