Print Report

A3869 Ceanothus cuneatus Chaparral Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance consists of chaparral dominated by Ceanothus cuneatus often with other shrubs such as Adenostoma fasciculatum and various Arctostaphylos and Ceanothus species. It occurs from Oregon south into Baja California, Mexico, and occupies mostly dry alluvial fans, slopes, and ridges and occurs in various elevational zones throughout its range.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Buckbrush Chaparral Alliance

Colloquial Name: Buckbrush Chaparral

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of chaparral dominated by Ceanothus cuneatus. Other codominant shrubs include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos glauca, Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos tomentosa, Ceanothus integerrimus, Cercocarpus montanus, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Garrya fremontii, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Juniperus californica, Quercus berberidifolia, Quercus john-tuckeri, Rhus ovata, Salvia mellifera, and Hesperoyucca whipplei. Emergent trees such as Calocedrus decurrens, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus sabiniana, Quercus douglasii, and/or Quercus wislizeni may be present at low cover. Shrubs are generally <3.5 m in height, and their canopy is intermittent to continuous. The herbaceous layer is sparse to grassy. This western shrubland alliance occurs from Oregon south into Baja California, Mexico. Stands are found in the Cascade, Coast, Transverse and Peninsular ranges, Klamath Mountains, and Sierra Nevada. It occupies mostly dry alluvial fans, slopes, and ridges and occurs in various elevational zones throughout its range, generally on shallow, well-drained, gravelly soils, including nutrient-deficient serpentine soils.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Both Adenostoma fasciculatum and Ceanothus cuneatus have 30-60% relative cover in the shrub canopy (Gordon and White 1994); Ceanothus cuneatus >60% relative cover in the shrub canopy (Borchert et al. 2004, Keeler-Wolf et al. 2004).

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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 chaparral shrubland is dominated by Ceanothus cuneatus. Other codominant shrubs include Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos glauca, Arctostaphylos manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula, Arctostaphylos tomentosa, Ceanothus integerrimus, Cercocarpus montanus, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Garrya fremontii, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Juniperus californica, Quercus berberidifolia, Quercus john-tuckeri, Rhus ovata, Salvia mellifera, and Hesperoyucca whipplei. Emergent trees such as Calocedrus decurrens, Pinus jeffreyi, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus sabiniana, Quercus douglasii, and/or Quercus wislizeni may be present at low cover.

Dynamics:  Stands of this alliance are rarely self-perpetuating. Most are established after disturbance (fire) and are transitional to other chaparral and forest vegetation types.
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, dry alluvial fans, and ridges, and usually occurs on xeric sites. Stands of this alliance usually occur on shallow, mafic-derived soils. Precipitation is very seasonal, with long, dry summers and cool, moist winters. Precipitation varies from about 60 cm per year in the northern part of the range to less than 30 cm per year at the southern limits.
Geographic Range: This shrubland alliance occurs from Oregon south into Baja California, Mexico. Stands are found in the Cascade, Coast, Transverse and Peninsular ranges, Klamath Mountains, and Sierra Nevada.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN, OR


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 A3869 Buckbrush Chaparral Alliance A3869 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003025 Buckbrush Shrubland CEGL003025 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003158 Buckbrush / Grass species Shrubland CEGL003158 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003468 Chamise - Buckbrush Sierran Chaparral Shrubland CEGL003468 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Association CEGL003561 Buckbrush - Scrub Oak Shrubland CEGL003561 2.B.1.Na.1.a
Concept Lineage: includes A.765

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Ceanothus cuneatus (Wedge leaf ceanothus chaparral, Buck brush chaparral) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.211.00]
= Ceanothus cuneatus Alliance (Wedge leaf ceanothus chaparral) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
= Ceanothus cuneatus Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [37.211.00]
< Chamise Chaparral (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
< Chamise Chaparral (Chamisal) (#37200) (Holland 1986b)
>< Chamise-Wedgeleaf Ceanothus Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
? G7411212 BADFA00 (Barrows 1989)
>< Mixed Montane Chaparral (#37510) (Holland 1986b)
>< Wedgeleaf Ceanothus Series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
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
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