Print Report

A3885 Opuntia littoralis - Opuntia oricola - Cylindropuntia prolifera Succulent Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This coastal scrub alliance consists of stands where Opuntia and Cylindropuntia species, particularly Cylindropuntia californica var. parkeri, Opuntia littoralis, Opuntia oricola, and Cylindropuntia prolifera, are conspicuous and often dominant. It occurs along California''s outer, southern coastal ranges, the Channel Islands, and coastal Baja California, Mexico, and grows on steep slopes with shallow soils.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Coastal Prickly-pear - Chaparral Prickly-pear - Coastal Cholla Succulent Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: Coastal Prickly-pear Succulent Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This coastal scrub alliance consists of stands where Opuntia and Cylindropuntia species, particularly Cylindropuntia californica var. parkeri, Opuntia littoralis, Opuntia oricola, and Cylindropuntia prolifera, are conspicuous and often dominant. Artemisia californica, Cleome isomeris, Cneoridium dumosum, Encelia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Euphorbia misera, Lycium spp., Mirabilis laevis, Cylindropuntia californica, Opuntia oricola, Opuntia phaeacantha, Cylindropuntia prolifera, Opuntia hybrids, Salvia mellifera, and Hesperoyucca whipplei may be present with sparse cover. The shrub canopy is <2 m, and cover is intermittent or continuous in two tiers. The herbaceous layer is open to continuous and diverse. This alliance occurs along California''s outer, southern coastal ranges, the Channel Islands, and coastal Baja California, Mexico. Elevation is less than 1200 m. It is often found on south-facing slopes and headlands and grows on steep slopes with shallow soils with low water-holding capacity. Long dry summers expose this alliance to severe drought stress. Yearly precipitation is typically less than 30 cm and falls predominantly between November and April.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Cylindropuntia californica var. parkeri, Opuntia littoralis, Opuntia oricola, and Cylindropuntia prolifera are conspicuous malacophyllous shrubs in the canopy.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Stands with Lycium californicum dominant or codominant should be placed in an Opuntia spp. alliance or the Encelia californica alliance as described in the group master description (J. Evens pers. comm. 2013).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This succulent, extremely xeromorphic, evergreen shrubland of bluffs and slopes forms an intermittent to continuous shrub canopy less than 2 m in height. Emergent shrubs to 5 m may be present. The herbaceous layer is variable.

Floristics: This California coastal scrub alliance is characterized by the conspicuousness, and occasional dominance, of stem-succulent cacti species. Opuntia spp. are the most common, particularly Cylindropuntia californica var. parkeri (= Opuntia parryi), Opuntia littoralis, Opuntia oricola, and Cylindropuntia prolifera. Several other shrub species are usually present, most of them summer-dormant, leaf succulents. These species may include Artemisia californica, Cleome isomeris (= Isomeris arborea), Cneoridium dumosum, Encelia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Euphorbia misera, Lycium spp., Mirabilis laevis (= Mirabilis californica), Cylindropuntia californica, Opuntia oricola, Opuntia phaeacantha, Cylindropuntia prolifera, Opuntia hybrids, Salvia mellifera, and Hesperoyucca whipplei. Emergent tall shrubs of Malosma laurina, Rhus integrifolia, Sambucus nigra, and Schinus molle may be present with sparse cover. The herbaceous layer is highly variable, but perennial succulents of the genus Dudleya are usually present.

Dynamics:  This alliance is adapted to extensive periods of drought.
Environmental Description:  It grows on steep slopes, often south-facing, with shallow soils at elevations less than 1200 m. The water-holding capacity of the soils is very low, and the long summer dry season exposes this alliance to severe drought stress. Yearly precipitation is typically less than 30 cm and falls predominantly between November and April.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found in California''s outer, southern coastal ranges, the Channel Islands, and coastal Baja California, Mexico.

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 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class C03 3
Subclass 3.A Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Woodland, Scrub & Grassland Subclass S06 3.A
Formation 3.A.2 Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation F015 3.A.2
Division 3.A.2.Na North American Warm Desert Scrub & Grassland Division D039 3.A.2.Na
Macrogroup 3.A.2.Na.4 Saguaro - Organ Pipe Cactus - Burrobush Mojave-Sonoran Semi-Desert Scrub Macrogroup M088 3.A.2.Na.4
Group 3.A.2.Na.4.a Coastal Agave - Boojum Tree - Tree Yucca / Live-forever species Coastal Succulent Scrub Group G298 3.A.2.Na.4.a
Alliance A3885 Coastal Prickly-pear - Chaparral Prickly-pear - Coastal Cholla Succulent Scrub Alliance A3885 3.A.2.Na.4.a
Association CEGL003066 Coastal Prickly-pear Shrubland CEGL003066 3.A.2.Na.4.a
Association CEGL003710 (Coastal Prickly-pear, Chaparral Prickly-pear, & Prickly-pear hybrids) - (Coastal Cholla) Mixed Coastal Sage Scrub Shrubland CEGL003710 3.A.2.Na.4.a
Concept Lineage: includes A.879

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Opuntia littoralis - Opuntia oricola - Cylindropuntia prolifera Shrubland Alliance (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
> Opuntia littoralis (Coast prickly pear scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.150.00]
>< Coastal Bluff Scrub (#31000) (Holland 1986b)
>< Maritime Succulent Scrub (#32400) (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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