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G782 Lotus scoparius - Eriodictyon spp. - Lupinus albifrons Coastal-Foothill Seral Scrub Group

Type Concept Sentence: This Californian coastal shrubland group proliferates after natural disturbance, where characteristic species include Cleome isomeris, Diplacus aurantiacus, Dendromecon rigida, Eastwoodia elegans, Ericameria linearifolia, Ericameria palmeri, Eriodictyon californicum, Eriodictyon crassifolium, Eriodictyon trichocalyx, Gutierrezia californica, Hazardia squarrosa, Isocoma menziesii, Lotus scoparius, Lupinus albifrons, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, and other Malacothamnus spp. These tend to occur in coastal and foothill settings from southern Oregon, through California, and south into Baja Norte, Mexico.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Common Deerweed - Yerba Santa species - Silver Lupine Coastal-Foothill Seral Scrub Group

Colloquial Name: Californian Coastal-Foothill Seral Scrub

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group includes a mixture of coastal and foothill shrublands from southern Oregon and California, south into Baja Norte, Mexico. It is dominated by drought-deciduous and evergreen shrubs that respond favorably and proliferate with natural disturbance including alluvial, colluvial, clearing, grazing, and fire. It occurs below 1500 m (4900 feet) elevation and occurs from coastal to inland sites (e.g., areas with 10-60 cm of annual precipitation). Soils vary from coarse gravels to mineral clays, that usually support plant-available moisture with winter and spring rains. Most predominant shrubs include Cleome isomeris, Diplacus aurantiacus, Dendromecon rigida, Eastwoodia elegans, Ericameria linearifolia, Ericameria palmeri, Eriodictyon californicum, Eriodictyon crassifolium, Eriodictyon trichocalyx, Gutierrezia californica, Hazardia squarrosa, Isocoma menziesii, Lotus scoparius, Lupinus albifrons, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, and other Malacothamnus spp. are dominant. Stands of these shrubs are initiated by natural disturbance conditions, including dry alluvial terraces, steep colluvial slopes, recently burned areas, etc., and occur in a mosaic with other shrubland and grassland types. While the shrubs forming stands may not live longer than 10 to 25 years, their seeds collect in soil and duff as a seed bank, and they are obligate seeders and readily germinate and dominate areas following disturbance. Seeds also can be scarified with disturbance, e.g., heat from fire stimulating germination. Other coastal and chaparral shrubs and trees that are relatively longer lived become dominant over time, including Adenostoma fasciculatum, Artemisia spp., Eriogonum spp., and Quercus spp. However, with increasing fire frequency in recent years, especially in southern California and northern Baja California, due to adjacency to urban and suburban dwellings (e.g., as a result of arson or cigarette ignition), some larger acreages have become dominated by these seral scrub stands or other more ruderal types. Also, as seed-banking species in this group, abnormally high fire frequencies will eliminate seed banks of this and later seral shrub species. Shrubs of this group can be useful for post-fire recovery, erosion control, and habitat restoration in California because they readily germinate and quickly establish in disturbance conditions.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Most predominant shrubs include Cleome isomeris, Dendromecon rigida, Diplacus aurantiacus, Eastwoodia elegans, Ericameria linearifolia, Ericameria palmeri, Eriodictyon californicum, Eriodictyon crassifolium, Eriodictyon trichocalyx, Gutierrezia californica, Hazardia squarrosa, Isocoma menziesii, Lotus scoparius, Lupinus albifrons, Malacothamnus fasciculatus, and other Malacothamnus spp.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This group has been split from ~Central & Southern Californian Coastal Sage Scrub Group (G264)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: It is dominated by drought-deciduous and evergreen shrubs 0.5-2 m in height that are adapted to Mediterranean climate. While the shrubs vary from open stands to dense thickets, it is possible to navigate through them as the branches are forgiving.

Floristics: Most predominant shrubs include Lotus scoparius, Lupinus albifrons, Eriodictyon californicum, Eriodictyon crassifolium, Eriodictyon trichocalyx, Lupinus albifrons, Diplacus aurantiacus (= Mimulus aurantiacus), Dendromecon rigida, Eastwoodia elegans, Ericameria linearifolia, Ericameria palmeri, Gutierrezia californica, Hazardia squarrosa, Isocoma menziesii, Cleome isomeris (= Isomeris arborea), Malacothamnus fasciculatus, and other Malacothamnus spp.

Dynamics:  Fire, alluvial flooding and substrate movement, grazing, and other disturbance conditions are important in maintaining stands of this group, but too frequent disturbance can also deplete seed banks. Fire frequency in recent years, with adjacency to urban and suburban areas, has increased (e.g., as a result of arson or cigarette ignition) resulting in type conversion to non-native and ruderal annual grasslands. Shrubs of this group can be useful for post-fire recovery, erosion control, and habitat restoration in California because they readily germinate and quickly establish in disturbance conditions.
Environmental Description:  This group occurs below 1500 m (4900 feet) elevation from the coast to inland (e.g., areas with 10-60 cm of annual precipitation). Soils vary from coarse gravels to mineral clays that usually support plant-available moisture with winter and spring rains.
Geographic Range: This group is found from southern Oregon and California, south into Baja Norte, Mexico. It occurs below 1500 m (4925 feet) elevation and occurs both in both inland and coastal settings in areas of recent disturbance, including alluvial, colluvial, clearing, grazing, and fire.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  CA, MXBCN, OR


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.a Common Deerweed - Yerba Santa species - Silver Lupine Coastal-Foothill Seral Scrub Group G782 2.B.1.Na.2.a
Alliance A2671 Mendocino Bushmallow - Bushmallow species Scrub Alliance A2671 2.B.1.Na.2.a
Alliance A2672 Tree Poppy - Orange Bush-monkeyflower - California Yerba Santa Scrub Alliance A2672 2.B.1.Na.2.a
Alliance A3886 Common Deerweed - Silver Lupine Scrub Alliance A3886 2.B.1.Na.2.a
Alliance A3887 Sawtooth Goldenbush - Palmer''s Goldenbush Scrub Alliance A3887 2.B.1.Na.2.a
Alliance A4101 Narrowleaf Goldenbush - Bladderpod Spiderflower Scrub Alliance A4101 2.B.1.Na.2.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Eriodictyon californicum (California yerba santa scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.080.00]
> Eriodictyon crassifolium (Thick leaf yerba santa scrub) Provisional Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [37.090.00]
> Lotus scoparius (Deer weed scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [52.240.00]
> Lupinus albifrons (Silver bush lupine scrub) Alliance (Sawyer et al. 2009) [32.081.00]
= Coastal Sage Shrub (205) (Shiflet 1994)
Concept Author(s): J.O. Sawyer, T. Keeler-Wolf and J.M. Evens (2009)

Author of Description: J. Evens

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 04-11-14
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