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A3883 Artemisia californica - Salvia leucophylla Mesic Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This is a dry to mesic (relative to the Eriogonum fasciculatum alliance) coastal scrub alliance with Artemisia californica, Salvia mellifera, and/or Salvia leucophylla. Characteristic species Baccharis pilularis, Baccharis sarothroides, Keckiella antirrhinoides, Leymus condensatus, and Malosma laurina are indicative of mesic settings within the coastal sage scrub group. This alliance is found in southern California, extending south into Baja California, Mexico. Habitats are slopes that are usually steep and rarely flooded low-gradient deposits along streams.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Coastal Sagebrush - San Luis Purple Sage Mesic Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: Mesic Coastal Sage Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This is a dry to mesic (relative to the Eriogonum fasciculatum alliance) coastal scrub alliance with Artemisia californica, Salvia mellifera, and/or Salvia leucophylla. Characteristic species Baccharis pilularis, Baccharis sarothroides, Keckiella antirrhinoides, Leymus condensatus, and Malosma laurina are indicative of mesic settings within the coastal sage scrub group. This alliance is found on California''s southern coast and Channel Islands, and inland along the base of the Transverse and Peninsular ranges, extending south into Baja California, Mexico. Elevation ranges from 0-1200 m. Habitats are slopes that are usually steep and rarely flooded low-gradient deposits along streams. It is found particularly on steep slopes and in high abundance on protected, north-facing hillsides. Soils are alluvial or colluvial-derived and shallow, although some places may be fine sandy clay loam to clay and relatively deep.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is defined for the more mesic portions of the coastal sage scrub, typically on north- or east-facing slopes or mesic settings, but not necessarily in the fog belt. Some individual associations may belong in one of the other alliances, but review/adjustment by California ecologists will clarify these. Post-fire and other disturbance / seral scrub types should be placed in their own alliance instead of here since their ecology is different from this group.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This microphyllous evergreen shrubland has an intermittent to continuous canopy less than 2 m in height. The herbaceous layer is variable.

Floristics: This scrub alliance is dominated by Artemisia californica, Salvia mellifera, and/or Salvia leucophylla. Characteristic species include Baccharis pilularis, Baccharis sarothroides, Keckiella antirrhinoides, Leymus condensatus, and Malosma laurina.

Species of Interest: Salvia brandegeei (CRPR 1B.2) is endemic to Santa Rosa Island and is characteristic of one of the associations in this alliance. All of the following species tracked by the CNPS Rare Plant Inventory (2015) occur at less than 20% constancy in samples of this alliance: Lotus argophyllus var. niveus (= Acmispon argophyllus var. niveus) (CE, CRPR 4.3), Lotus dendroideus var. dendroideus (= Acmispon dendroideus var. dendroideus) (CRPR 4.2), Lotus dendroideus var. veatchii (= Acmispon dendroideus var. veatchii) (CRPR 4.3), Arctostaphylos confertiflora (FE, CRPR 1B.2), Arctostaphylos viridissima (CRPR 4.2), Astragalus miguelensis (CRPR 4.3), Baccharis plummerae ssp. plummerae (CRPR 4.3), Calochortus catalinae (CRPR 4.2), Castilleja lanata ssp. hololeuca (= Castilleja hololeuca) (CRPR 1B.2), Ceanothus megacarpus var. insularis (CRPR 4.3), Cercocarpus montanus var. blancheae (= Cercocarpus betuloides var. blancheae) (CRPR 4.3), Chorizanthe wheeleri (CRPR 4.3), Cistanthe maritima (CRPR 4.2), Dichondra occidentalis (CRPR 4.2), Dudleya candelabrum (CRPR 1B.2), Dudleya greenei (CRPR 4.2), Eriogonum grande var. grande (CRPR 4.2), Eriogonum grande var. rubescens (CRPR 1B.2), Erysimum ammophilum (CRPR 1B.2), Erysimum insulare (CRPR 1B.3), Galium nuttallii ssp. insulare (CRPR 4.3), Hazardia detonsa (CRPR 4.3), Jepsonia malvifolia (CRPR 4.2), Lycium californicum (CRPR 4.2), Diplacus parviflorus (= Mimulus aurantiacus var. parviflorus) (CRPR 4.3), Quercus pacifica (CRPR 4.2), Rhamnus pirifolia (CRPR 4.2), Solanum clokeyi (CRPR 4.2), and Achnatherum diegoense (= Stipa diegoensis) (CRPR 4.2).

Dynamics:  Plants of this alliance have adapted to hot, dry summers by becoming largely inactive during the hottest part of the year. Fire frequency is fairly high, and species in this alliance have adapted by crown-sprouting after fires. Borchert et al. (2004) summarized recent research as follows: "California sagebrush resprouts from a rootcrown after fire and in the interval between fires new sprouts continue to be produced from basal buds. Resprouting is variable geographically. At coastal sites, post-fire resprout cover and density were high. It has been found that individuals with smaller diameter stems resprouted more readily than those with larger stems. At inland sites, on the other hand, other research has noted very few resprouts. Still other research did not record any resprouts of this species post-fire. After the widespread wildfires of 1993, it was observed that <25% of California sagebrush had resprouted. Resprouts flower abundantly and set seed in the first post-fire year. Seedlings establish in the second year. The ratio of seedlings to resprouts can vary widely among burns, from 0.2 to 181. Seeds of California sage readily germinate in the light and establish in gaps and small soil disturbances in coastal sage scrub. However, breaking the dormancy of buried seeds (not exposed to the light) requires the leachate of charred wood."
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs on steep, south-facing slopes and on rarely flooded, low-gradient deposits along streams. Elevations range from sea level to 1200 m. Stands of this alliance are subject to long, dry summers. Some species are relatively inactive during the summer. Precipitation averages about 35 cm per year and falls predominantly between November and April.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found on California''s southern coast and Channel Islands, and inland along the base of the Transverse and Peninsular ranges, extending south into Baja California, Mexico. It also occurs in the central coastal interior mountains in San Benito County.

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.2 Coastal Sagebrush - Black Sage - Coyotebrush Coastal Scrub Macrogroup M044 2.B.1.Na.2
Group 2.B.1.Na.2.b Coastal Sagebrush - Black Sage - White Sage Coastal Scrub Group G264 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Alliance A3883 Coastal Sagebrush - San Luis Purple Sage Mesic Scrub Alliance A3883 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003012 Black Sage - Coastal Sagebrush Shrubland CEGL003012 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003536 Coastal Sagebrush Shrubland CEGL003536 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003540 Coastal Sagebrush / Giant Wildrye Shrubland CEGL003540 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003541 Coastal Sagebrush - Coastal Buckwheat Shrubland CEGL003541 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003543 Coastal Sagebrush - Orange Bush-monkeyflower Shrubland CEGL003543 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003544 Coastal Sagebrush - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat / Annual Grass-Herb Shrubland CEGL003544 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003545 Coastal Sagebrush - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - San Luis Purple Sage Shrubland CEGL003545 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003547 Coastal Sagebrush - San Luis Purple Sage Shrubland CEGL003547 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003548 Coastal Sagebrush - San Luis Purple Sage - Coastal Buckwheat / Needlegrass species Shrubland CEGL003548 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003723 San Luis Purple Sage Shrubland CEGL003723 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003727 Black Sage Shrubland CEGL003727 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003730 Black Sage - Laurel Sumac Shrubland CEGL003730 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003732 Black Sage - Sugar Sumac Shrubland CEGL003732 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Concept Lineage: includes A.2672, A.815, A.746

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Artemisia californica - Salvia mellifera (California sagebrush - black sage scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.120.00]
> Artemisia californica (California sagebrush scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.010.00]
> Artemisia californica Shrubland Alliance (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
> Keckiella antirrhinoides (Bush penstemon scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.065.00]
>< Salvia leucophylla (Purple sage scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.090.00]
> Salvia mellifera (Black sage scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.020.00]
>< Central Lucian Coastal Scrub (#32200) (Holland 1986b)
>< Diablan Sage Scrub (#32600) (Holland 1986b)
>< Northern Coastal Bluff Scrub (#31100) (Holland 1986b)
>< Southern Coastal Bluff Scrub (#31200) (Holland 1986b)
>< Venturan Coastal Sage Scrub (#32300) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): M.S. Reid, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M.S. Reid

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by J. Evens.

Version Date: 12-18-14
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