Print Report
A3868 Adenostoma fasciculatum Chaparral Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This widespread chaparral alliance consist of stands dominated by Adenostoma fasciculatum, by itself or with several other chaparral species. It occurs on dry slopes and ridges of interior California between 10 and 1800 m elevation, on shallow, mafic-derived soils.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chamise Chaparral Alliance
Colloquial Name: Interior California Chamise Chaparral
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance is dominated by Adenostoma fasciculatum. Mature stands are densely interwoven thickets of Adenostoma fasciculatum, with other species contributing very little to overall cover. Other shrubs may include Adenostoma sparsifolium, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida, Diplacus aurantiacus, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Quercus berberidifolia, Quercus wislizeni, Salvia apiana, Salvia mellifera, Toxicodendron diversilobum, Hesperoyucca whipplei, and various Ceanothus spp. Emergent trees of Quercus wislizeni may be present. There is very little understory or herbaceous litter. 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, on xeric sites. Stands of this alliance usually occur on shallow, mafic-derived soils. Habitats are varied topography. Soils are commonly shallow over colluvium and many kinds of bedrock.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Adenostoma fasciculatum is a strong dominant in the shrub layer; no other shrub species are important.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This alliance is a shrubland where Adenostoma fasciculatum is dominant, and indicators of the other alliances in this group are infrequent, or low cover, and not codominant. This alliance is the "basal" expression of xeric chaparral group which remains largely unchanged whether growing in Shasta County at its northern range or in northern Baja Mexico (its southern limits). It is defined by strong dominance of Adenostoma fasciculatum without any other characteristic codominant shrub species. Seral species following fire or other disturbance vary, including Eriodictyon spp., Lotus scoparius, Helianthemum scoparium, Trichostema lanatum, Dendromecon rigida, and many others. Shrublands of Eriodictyon crassifolium and Eriodictyon californicum should not be included here (T. Keeler-Wolf pers. comm. 2013).
In earlier treatments, several chaparral types (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995) were assigned to other mixed alliances when Adenostoma fasciculatum was codominant with other shrubs. Following extensive review and analysis of many more plots, it was concluded that with a few exceptions (e.g., Adenostoma fasciculatum - Salvia mellifera and Adenostoma fasciculatum - Salvia apiana alliances), most of these mixed stands are better treated as part of other alliances where the indicator species is either strongly dominant or codominant with Adenostoma fasciculatum.
In earlier treatments, several chaparral types (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995) were assigned to other mixed alliances when Adenostoma fasciculatum was codominant with other shrubs. Following extensive review and analysis of many more plots, it was concluded that with a few exceptions (e.g., Adenostoma fasciculatum - Salvia mellifera and Adenostoma fasciculatum - Salvia apiana alliances), most of these mixed stands are better treated as part of other alliances where the indicator species is either strongly dominant or codominant with Adenostoma fasciculatum.
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 is dominated by Adenostoma fasciculatum. Mature stands are densely interwoven thickets of Adenostoma fasciculatum, with other species contributing very little to overall cover. Other shrubs may include Adenostoma sparsifolium, Arctostaphylos glandulosa, Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos viscida, Diplacus aurantiacus, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Quercus berberidifolia, Quercus wislizeni, Salvia apiana, Salvia mellifera, Toxicodendron diversilobum, Hesperoyucca whipplei, and various Ceanothus spp. Emergent trees of Quercus wislizeni may be present. There is very little understory or herbaceous litter.
Species of Interest: Quercus pacifica (CRPR 4.2) and Salvia brandegeei (CRPR 1B.2) are characteristic associates included in the names of the Channel Islands associations. Other species of interest present include Lotus dendroideus var. dendroideus (= Acmispon dendroideus var. dendroideus) (CRPR 4.2), Arctostaphylos confertiflora (FE, CRPR 1B.2), Ceanothus megacarpus var. insularis (CRPR 4.3), Jepsonia malvifolia (CRPR 4.2), Diplacus parviflorus (= Mimulus aurantiacus var. parviflorus) (CRPR 4.3), and Achnatherum diegoense (= Stipa diegoensis) (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), Dichondra occidentalis (CRPR 4.2), Dudleya greenei (CRPR 4.2), Eriogonum grande var. rubescens (CRPR 1B.2), Galium nuttallii ssp. insulare (CRPR 4.3), and Lepechinia fragrans (CRPR 4.2).
Species of Interest: Quercus pacifica (CRPR 4.2) and Salvia brandegeei (CRPR 1B.2) are characteristic associates included in the names of the Channel Islands associations. Other species of interest present include Lotus dendroideus var. dendroideus (= Acmispon dendroideus var. dendroideus) (CRPR 4.2), Arctostaphylos confertiflora (FE, CRPR 1B.2), Ceanothus megacarpus var. insularis (CRPR 4.3), Jepsonia malvifolia (CRPR 4.2), Diplacus parviflorus (= Mimulus aurantiacus var. parviflorus) (CRPR 4.3), and Achnatherum diegoense (= Stipa diegoensis) (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), Dichondra occidentalis (CRPR 4.2), Dudleya greenei (CRPR 4.2), Eriogonum grande var. rubescens (CRPR 1B.2), Galium nuttallii ssp. insulare (CRPR 4.3), and Lepechinia fragrans (CRPR 4.2).
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: 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 usually occur on shallow, mafic-derived soils. This alliance intergrades with other chaparral types, coastal scrubs, and grasslands.
Geographic Range: The alliance occurs across cismontane California in a variety of topographic settings from coastal bluffs to steep, lower montane slopes, and into Baja California, Mexico, and the Mojave Desert. It is relatively infrequent in the northern part of its range compared to its abundance in southern California.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: CA, MXBCN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899919
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G5
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: includes part of A.755
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Adenostoma fasciculatum (Chamise chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.101.00]
>< Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance (Chamise chaparral) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Adenostoma fasciculatum Shrubland Alliance (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
< Chamise Chaparral (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
< Chamise Chaparral (Chamisal) (#37200) (Holland 1986b)
? G7411212 BADFA00 (Barrows 1989)
>< Adenostoma fasciculatum Alliance (Chamise chaparral) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Adenostoma fasciculatum Shrubland Alliance (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
< Chamise Chaparral (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
< Chamise Chaparral (Chamisal) (#37200) (Holland 1986b)
? G7411212 BADFA00 (Barrows 1989)
- AIS [Aerial Information Systems, Inc.]. 2007. Santa Cruz Island photo interpretation and mapping classification report. Unpublished report to The Nature Conservancy, Redlands, CA.
- 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.
- Buck-Diaz, J., S. Batiuk, and J. M. Evens. 2012. Vegetation alliances and associations of the Great Valley ecoregion, California. California Native Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/pdf/great_valley_eco-vegclass2012.pdf]
- 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.
- 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.
- Junak, S., D. A. Knapp, J. R. Haller, R. Philbrick, A. Schoenherr and T. Keeler-Wolf. 2007. The Channel Islands. Chapter 9 in: M. G. Barbour, T. Keeler-Wolf and A. A. Schoenherr, editors. Terrestrial vegetation of California, third edition. University of California Press, Berkeley.
- Keeler-Wolf, T. Personal communication. Senior Vegetation Ecologist, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA.
- Rodriguez, D., K. G. Sikes, T. Keeler-Wolf, G. Kittel, J. Curtis, C. Curley, and J. Evens. 2017. Vegetation classification of Channel Islands National Park. Report to the National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- 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.
- Stout, D., J. Buck-Diaz, S. Taylor, and J. M. Evens. 2013. Vegetation mapping and accuracy assessment report for Carrizo Plain National Monument. California Native Plant Society, Vegetation Program, Sacramento, CA. 71 pp.