Print Report

A3884 Eriogonum fasciculatum - Salvia apiana Xeric Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance covers shrublands dominated by Artemisia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Salvia apiana, and/or Salvia mellifera. Other species present include Encelia farinosa, Ericameria spp., Isocoma menziesii, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Malosma laurina, Rhus spp., and/or Hesperoyucca whipplei. This alliance is found on California''s inner southern coast and inland along the base of the Transverse and Peninsular ranges, extending south into Baja California, Mexico. Habitats are slopes that are steep and south-facing and intermittently flooded arroyos, channels and washes.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - White Sage Xeric Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: Xeric Coastal Sage Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance consists for shrublands dominated by Artemisia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Salvia apiana, and/or Salvia mellifera. Other species present include Encelia farinosa, Ericameria spp., Isocoma menziesii, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Malosma laurina, Rhus spp., and/or Hesperoyucca whipplei. In more mesic settings, on rockier soil, often closer to the coast, black sage increases in importance and this alliance shifts to ~Artemisia californica - Salvia leucophylla Mesic Scrub Alliance (A3883)$$. This alliance is found on California''s inner southern coast and inland along the base of the Transverse and Peninsular ranges extending south into Baja California, Mexico, and reflects the relatively hot, drought conditions found there. Habitats are slopes that are steep and south-facing, sometimes bouldery, as well as intermittently flooded arroyos, channels and washes, and rarely flooded low-gradient deposits. Elevation ranges from 250-1600 m. Soils are coarse or fine-textured, well-drained, moderately acidic to slightly saline, and colluvial-derived, or in some cases alluvial. It is characteristic of hot dry summer conditions and is most abundant away from the immediate coast where fog is not usually present. It occurs well inland in the Transverse and Peninsular ranges.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance is defined for the most xeric settings of this group. Rundel (2007) uses the term "interior sage scrub."

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This hemi-sclerophyllous, temperate, broad-leaved evergreen shrubland forms an intermittent to continuous canopy less than 1-2 m in height.

Floristics: This alliance covers shrublands dominated by Artemisia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Salvia apiana, and/or Salvia mellifera. Other species present include Encelia farinosa, Ericameria spp., Isocoma menziesii, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, Malosma laurina, Rhus spp., and/or Hesperoyucca whipplei. The herbaceous layer is variable, including seasonal species such as Amsinckia menziesii, Avena spp., Bromus hordeaceus, Bromus madritensis, Claytonia spp., Erodium spp., Eschscholzia californica, Hirschfeldia incana, and Nassella lepida.

Dynamics:  Occasional flooding events help maintain this alliance by removing large amounts of plant material. Periodic fires also play a role in maintaining stands of this alliance. Drought shapes this alliance as many taxa are facultatively drought-deciduous and crown-sprout after fire. With their rapid regrowth and small, wind-blown seed, these species are often successional to chaparral species after fires.
Environmental Description:  This alliance reflects the relatively hot, drought conditions of the Coast, Peninsular, and Transverse ranges. Habitats are slopes that are steep and south-facing, sometimes bouldery, as well as intermittently flooded arroyos, channels and washes, and rarely flooded low-gradient deposits. Elevation ranges from 250 to 1600 m. Soils are shallow, very well-drained, coarse or fine-textured, moderately acidic to slightly saline, and colluvial-derived, or in some cases alluvial. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are mild and moist. Yearly precipitation totals average about 50 cm, and most precipitation occurs between November and May.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found on California''s inner southern coast and inland along the base of the Transverse and Peninsular ranges extending south into Baja California, Mexico.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN, NV


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 A3884 Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - White Sage Xeric Scrub Alliance A3884 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL001258 Eastern Mojave Buckwheat Shrubland CEGL001258 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003546 Coastal Sagebrush - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - Black Sage Shrubland CEGL003546 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL003685 Eastern Mojave Buckwheat - Black Sage - Laurel Sumac Shrubland CEGL003685 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Association CEGL005317 Black Sage - Eastern Mojave Buckwheat / Red Brome Shrubland CEGL005317 2.B.1.Na.2.b
Concept Lineage: includes A.773, A.813, A.868

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Eriogonum fasciculatum - Salvia apiana (California buckwheat - white sage scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.100.00]
= Eriogonum fasciculatum-Salvia apiana Shrubland Alliance (Keeler-Wolf and Evens 2006)
> Eriogonum fasciculatum Alliance (California buckwheat scrub) (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012)
>< Alluvial Fan Chaparral (#37H00) (Holland 1986b)
? Coastal Sage Scrub (Cheatham and Haller 1975)
>< Coastal Scrub (#32000) (Holland 1986b)
>< Diegan Coastal Sage Scrub (#32500) (Holland 1986b)
>< Riversidian Upland Sage Scrub (#32710) (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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