Print Report

A3875 Cephalanthus occidentalis - Rosa californica Wet Shrubland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance covers riparian shrublands dominated by Rosa californica and/or Cephalanthus occidentalis found throughout California in narrow bands along riparian areas, edges of flooded basins and lakeshores and wetlands.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Buttonbush - California Wild Rose Wet Shrubland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Buttonbush - Wild Rose Wet Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists of riparian shrublands dominated by Rosa californica, Cephalanthus occidentalis, and/or Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea. Other shrubs present include Artemisia californica, Baccharis pilularis, Rubus armeniacus, Salix exigua, Salix exigua, Salix lasiolepis, Salix lucida ssp. lasiandra, Salvia mellifera, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis, Symphoricarpos mollis, Toxicodendron diversilobum, and Vitis californica. Emergent trees such as Fraxinus latifolia, Populus fremontii, Quercus lobata, and Salix laevigata may be present at low cover. It is found throughout California in narrow bands along riparian areas, edges of flooded basins and lakeshores and wetlands. Slopes are low (0-3%), and soils are highly variable, from clay, silt loam, to sand.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Riparian and wetland shrublands dominated by Cephalanthus occidentalis, Rosa californica, and/or Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The two nominal shrubs generally do not occur together.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Cold-deciduous shrubland forms an intermittent to continuous canopy less than 10 m in height. Emergent trees (20-35 m tall) may be present. The herbaceous layer is dominated by graminoids.

Floristics: Cephalanthus occidentalis, Rosa californica, or Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea (= Sambucus mexicana) is the sole dominant shrub. Other shrubs present may include Artemisia californica, Baccharis pilularis, Rubus armeniacus (= Rubus discolor), Salix exigua, Salix lasiolepis, Salvia mellifera, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis, Symphoricarpos mollis, Toxicodendron diversilobum, and Vitis californica. Emergent trees that may be present include Fraxinus latifolia, Populus fremontii, Quercus lobata, and Salix laevigata. Herbaceous species present tend to be dominated by graminoids species and often many non-native species.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This alliance is found along riparian areas and around wetlands, where it occurs in narrow strips along intermittently flooded or saturated sites between sea level and 300 m elevation. Other settings include near quiet waters of sloughs and oxbow lakes, but it is more commonly found along intermittently flooded and seasonally saturated floodplains. Slopes are low (0-3%). Soils are highly variable, from clay, silt loam, to sand. Some stands are found along roads, ditches, edges of drying marshes, riparian areas, washes, and other naturally disturbed or human-impacted areas.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found throughout California.

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.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nc Southwestern North American Warm Desert Freshwater Marsh & Bosque Division D032 2.C.4.Nc
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nc.1 Warm Desert Lowland Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M076 2.C.4.Nc.1
Group 2.C.4.Nc.1.b Honey Mesquite - Velvet Mesquite - False Willow species North American Warm Desert Riparian Low Bosque & Shrubland Group G533 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Alliance A3875 Common Buttonbush - California Wild Rose Wet Shrubland Alliance A3875 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL003034 Common Buttonbush - (Narrowleaf Willow, Pacific Willow) Wet Shrubland CEGL003034 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL003107 Blue Elderberry / Giant Wildrye - Annual Grass-Herb Wet Shrubland CEGL003107 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Association CEGL005315 California Wild Rose Wet Shrubland CEGL005315 2.C.4.Nc.1.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Cephalanthus occidentalis (Button willow thickets) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [63.300.00]
> Cephalanthus occidentalis Alliance (Button willow thickets) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
> Rosa californica (California rose briar patches) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [63.907.00]
> Rosa californica Alliance (California rose briar patches) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
>< Buttonbush Scrub (#63430) (Holland 1986b)
? Elderberry Savanna (#63430) (Holland 1986b)
>< Great Valley Riparian Scrub (#63400) (Holland 1986b)
>< Southern Riparian Scrub (#63300) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): G. Kittel, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • 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]
  • 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.
  • Keeler-Wolf, T., and M. Vaghti. 2000. Vegetation mapping of Suisun Marsh, Solano County, California. A report to the California Department of Water Resources. California Department of Fish and Game, California Natural Diversity Database, Sacramento, CA.
  • 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.