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A4089 Corylus cornuta var. californica Scrub Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This shrubland alliance is dominated by Corylus cornuta var. californica and occurs in the central and northern California coast.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: California Hazelnut Scrub Alliance

Colloquial Name: California Hazelnut Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: The vegetation is characterized by shrublands <5 m tall with continuous cover. Corylus cornuta var. californica is the dominant shrub with >50% of the relative shrub cover. Other shrub associates include Holodiscus discolor, Marah fabaceus, Ribes sanguineum, Rubus parviflorus, Rubus ursinus, Toxicodendron diversilobum, and Vaccinium ovatum. Herbaceous layers are sparse. This shrubland alliance occurs in the central and northern California coast. Habitats include moderate slopes with northern and eastern aspects. Elevations range from 0-300 m.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This shrubland occurs on moderate slopes with northern and eastern aspects where Corylus cornuta var. californica has >50% relative cover in the shrub canopy.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This shrubland alliance is not currently well-known and the description is based on Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf (1995).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is characterized by a continuous cover of cold-deciduous shrubs <5m tall with a sparse herbaceous layer.

Floristics: The vegetation is characterized by shrublands <5 m tall with continuous cover. Corylus cornuta var. californica is the dominant shrub with >50% of the relative shrub cover. Other shrub associates include Holodiscus discolor, Marah fabaceus, Ribes sanguineum, Rubus parviflorus, Rubus ursinus, Toxicodendron diversilobum, and Vaccinium ovatum. Herbaceous layers are sparse.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Habitats include moderate slopes with northern and eastern aspects. Elevations range from 0-300 m.
Geographic Range: This shrubland alliance is known from just south of San Francisco on Montara Mountain in central California and Point Reyes National Seashore along the northern California coast.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3

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.c Californian North Coastal & Mesic Scrub Group G662 2.B.1.Na.2.c
Alliance A4089 California Hazelnut Scrub Alliance A4089 2.B.1.Na.2.c
Association CEGL003302 Beaked Hazelnut / Western Swordfern Shrubland CEGL003302 2.B.1.Na.2.c
Concept Lineage: A.2596, in part

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Corylus cornuta var. californica (Hazelnut scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.950.00]
= Corylus cornuta var. californica Shrubland Alliance (CNPS 2017) [37.950.00]
>< Northern (Franciscan) Coastal Scrub (#32100) (Holland 1986b)
>< Northern Coastal Bluff Scrub (#31100) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): J.O. Sawyer et al. (2009)

Author of Description: M.E. Hall

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • Anderson, M. K. 2005. Tending the wild: Native American knowledge and the management of California''s natural resources. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
  • CNPS [California Native Plant Society]. 2015-2017. A manual of California vegetation [online]. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://vegetation.cnps.org/].
  • 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., M. Schindel, and S. San. 2004. Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco Water Department Watershed Lands, Mount Tamalpais, Tomales Bay, and Samuel P. Taylor State Parks. Appendix B. Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and surrounding wildlands plant community classification and mapping project. Final report. California State Department of Fish and Game, 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.
  • Schirokauer, D., T. Keeler-Wolf, J. Meinke, and P. van der Leeden. 2003. Plant community classification and mapping project. Point Reyes National Seashore, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco Water Department Watershed Lands, Mount Tamalpais, Tomales Bay, and Samuel P. Taylor State Parks. Final report. California State Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife and Habitat Data Analysis Branch, Sacramento, National Park Service, Point Reyes Station, and Aerial Information Systems, Redlands, CA. 82 pp. [http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/pore_goga/index.html]
  • Zimmerman, M. L. 1991. Corylus cornuta var. californica. In: Fire Effects Information System [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). [http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/]