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D327 Adenostoma fasciculatum - Artemisia californica - Nassella pulchra Scrub & Grassland Division
Type Concept Sentence: This division encompasses Californian scrub (chaparral), grassland and meadow vegetation within the warm-temperate Californian Floristic Province, from southwestern Oregon through California, west of the Sierra-Cascades divide and south into northwestern Baja California, Mexico.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chamise - Coastal Sagebrush - Purple Needlegrass Scrub & Grassland Division
Colloquial Name: Californian Scrub & Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Division
Type Concept: This division includes a variety of native scrub or chaparral and annual and perennial native and non-native grass and herb vegetation endemic to the Mediterranean climate zone of western North America, centered within California. This suite of scrub, grasslands and meadows occupies hills, coastal terraces, and valleys with appropriate soil and climatic conditions from as far north as southwestern Oregon to the western edges of the Mojave Desert and the foothills of the San Pedro Martir in northwestern Baja California, Mexico. Depending upon soil, climate, and site history, ecological relationships exist between the main macrogroups of the division. In the driest and warmest areas grasslands are generally composed of annual native forbs characterized by species of genera such as Lasthenia, Phacelia, Amsinckia, and Eschscholzia, with relatively low non-native composition. In these drier settings deciduous scrub species (including Artemisia, Eriogonum, and Salvia) tend to have seral relationships with the aforementioned grassland species. In the moister portions of California grasslands tend to be characterized by perennials (including species of Nassella, Melica, Leymus, and Bromus) and have seral relationships with evergreen sclerophyll or hemi-sclerophyll shrublands (including species of Adenostoma, Arctostaphylos, Ceanothus, Frangula californica, and Baccharis pilularis). In intermediate settings relationships between sclerophyllous scrub (chaparral), deciduous scrub (e.g., coastal sage scrub), annual and perennial grasslands, and non-native ruderal scrubs and grasslands tend to segregate based on soil texture, topography and exposure. In areas where disturbance levels are intense and frequent the grasslands and shrublands have been converted to ruderal shrub and herbaceous vegetation characterized by several Eurasian species (including members of the genera Avena, Bromus, Cynosurus, Centaurea, Brassica, and Hirschfeldia).
The California coastal scrub macrogroup is dominated by shallow-rooted, drought-deciduous shrubs which tend to be short-lived (<80 years) and have simple arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal associations. They include species from the genera Artemisia, Eriogonum, Diplacus, and Salvia, among others. Diagnostic species of the Californian chaparral have evergreen sclerophyll leaves and tend to be deep-rooted and long-lived (>100 years) and include species of Adenostoma, Arctostaphylos, and Ceanothus, as well as endemic shrubby Quercus, Rhamnus, and Frangula species. They may be obligate-seeding (killed by stand-replacing fires), obligate-sprouting (resprouting readily from burls or woody tubers following fires), or facultative sprouters (seeds polymorphous, some bank, and some germinate without fire; shrubs also resprout). Chaparral diagnostics tend to have complex ectomycorrhizal fungi associations with trees. The Californian grassland include both annual and perennial species of grasses and herbs from a variety of genera, including Nassella, Melica, Lasthenia, Phacelia, Amsinckia, and Eschscholzia.
Ruderal exotics include several members of the Brassicaceae (Brassica nigra, Brassica rapa var. rapa, Hirschfeldia incana, Raphanus sativus), Asteraceae (Carduus pycnocephalus, Centaurea solstitialis, Centaurea melitensis, Silybum marianum, Picris echioides, Hypochaeris spp., etc.), and Poaceae (Avena spp., Bromus spp., Cynosurus spp., Aegilops spp., Lolium perenne, and others). Species in non-native shrublands include Ulex europaeus, Cytisus scoparius, and species of Genista and Spartium, among others. These non-natives have established over many years and several waves of Eurasian species colonization since the 1700s. The non-native annual grasses and forbs tend to dominate the native grass species, especially where soil horizon removal or disruption, high annual stocking of livestock, soil compaction, and other major disturbances have occurred. Virtually all Californian grassland stands today have a significant non-native component. However, ruderal vegetation types are defined today by the absence or rarity of diagnostic native species.
Climatically, most stands in the division are characterized by long periods of drought during the summer months. Maximum or minimum temperatures range widely from well over 42°C in the interior valleys to around 0°C in higher parts of the foothills. North coastal stands may average over 100 cm/year while southern interior stands average as low as 15 cm of precipitation. Soil and substrate for most grassland stands tend to have some clay content to soils typically ranging from fine sandy loam to clay loam textures. Steeper, more exposed stands tend to be dominated by scrubs and have more coarse fragments and may be sandy loams. The pH ranges from moderately acidic to basic on some recent marine sediments in the South Coast Ranges.
The California coastal scrub macrogroup is dominated by shallow-rooted, drought-deciduous shrubs which tend to be short-lived (<80 years) and have simple arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal associations. They include species from the genera Artemisia, Eriogonum, Diplacus, and Salvia, among others. Diagnostic species of the Californian chaparral have evergreen sclerophyll leaves and tend to be deep-rooted and long-lived (>100 years) and include species of Adenostoma, Arctostaphylos, and Ceanothus, as well as endemic shrubby Quercus, Rhamnus, and Frangula species. They may be obligate-seeding (killed by stand-replacing fires), obligate-sprouting (resprouting readily from burls or woody tubers following fires), or facultative sprouters (seeds polymorphous, some bank, and some germinate without fire; shrubs also resprout). Chaparral diagnostics tend to have complex ectomycorrhizal fungi associations with trees. The Californian grassland include both annual and perennial species of grasses and herbs from a variety of genera, including Nassella, Melica, Lasthenia, Phacelia, Amsinckia, and Eschscholzia.
Ruderal exotics include several members of the Brassicaceae (Brassica nigra, Brassica rapa var. rapa, Hirschfeldia incana, Raphanus sativus), Asteraceae (Carduus pycnocephalus, Centaurea solstitialis, Centaurea melitensis, Silybum marianum, Picris echioides, Hypochaeris spp., etc.), and Poaceae (Avena spp., Bromus spp., Cynosurus spp., Aegilops spp., Lolium perenne, and others). Species in non-native shrublands include Ulex europaeus, Cytisus scoparius, and species of Genista and Spartium, among others. These non-natives have established over many years and several waves of Eurasian species colonization since the 1700s. The non-native annual grasses and forbs tend to dominate the native grass species, especially where soil horizon removal or disruption, high annual stocking of livestock, soil compaction, and other major disturbances have occurred. Virtually all Californian grassland stands today have a significant non-native component. However, ruderal vegetation types are defined today by the absence or rarity of diagnostic native species.
Climatically, most stands in the division are characterized by long periods of drought during the summer months. Maximum or minimum temperatures range widely from well over 42°C in the interior valleys to around 0°C in higher parts of the foothills. North coastal stands may average over 100 cm/year while southern interior stands average as low as 15 cm of precipitation. Soil and substrate for most grassland stands tend to have some clay content to soils typically ranging from fine sandy loam to clay loam textures. Steeper, more exposed stands tend to be dominated by scrubs and have more coarse fragments and may be sandy loams. The pH ranges from moderately acidic to basic on some recent marine sediments in the South Coast Ranges.
Diagnostic Characteristics: In general, key taxa are divided into two groups: native scrub and herbs, and non-native largely annual or biennial herbs and grasses. For the native scrub, diagnostic taxa are divided into two groups: long-lived evergreen sclerophylls and shorter-lived non-sclerophyll evergreen or deciduous (either drought- or winter-deciduous) shrubs. Several of the diagnostic species of ~Central & Southern California Coastal Sage Scrub Group (G264)$$, such as Artemisia californica, Encelia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, and Salvia spp., have close relatives in the adjacent Mojave or Sonoran deserts. Diagnostics of ~California North Coastal & Mesic Scrub Group (G662)$$ are adapted to more mesic conditions, including large areas of the central and northern California coast. For example, leaves of Baccharis pilularis and Ceanothus thyrsiflorus are evergreen but are not protected with a waxy cuticle (non-sclerophyllous). Other diagnostics of this group are winter-deciduous (e.g., Toxicodendron diversilobum).
Among the native grasslands, the cooler, moister stands have cool-season bunchgrasses such as Bromus carinatus, Elymus glaucus, and Festuca californica. The modal vegetation of the native grasslands tends to be composed of mesophytic perennial grasses such as Melica californica, Nassella lepida, Nassella pulchra, and a variety of perennial geophytes (genera Brodiaea, Triteleia, Dichelostemma, Calochortus, Chlorogalum, Zigadenus). These may be augmented by a variety of native annual spring-flowering herbs in the genera Eschscholzia, Lasthenia, Layia, Lotus, Lupinus, Madia, Micropus, Plagiobothrys, Stylocline, Trifolium, and many others. Summer-flowering herbs with deep taproots, including members of the genera Calycadenia, Deinandra, Hemizonia, Holocarpha, Madia, and others, visually dominate late-season stands. Southward and inland the mesophytic bunchgrasses are replaced by more drought-tolerant perennial grasses such as Nassella cernua and Poa secunda. Annuals that are diagnostic in droughty conditions include members of the genera Amsinckia, Coreopsis, Cryptantha, Eschscholzia, Gilia, Lasthenia, Layia, Mentzelia, Monolopia, Pectocarya, Phacelia, and others).
Among the ruderal vegetation, diagnostics tend to segregate based on relative moisture and temperature. Some mesophytic species, including Cynosurus sp., Briza sp., Conium maculatum, and Foeniculum vulgare, tend to occur in moister coastal California, while many of the most well-established ruderals (Avena, annual Bromus, Centaurea sp., Brassica sp., etc.) occur throughout much of California west of the mountains and deserts. A limited suite of ruderals (e.g., Bromus madritensis, Schismus sp.) are best adapted to drier inland conditions in the southern half of California.
Among the native grasslands, the cooler, moister stands have cool-season bunchgrasses such as Bromus carinatus, Elymus glaucus, and Festuca californica. The modal vegetation of the native grasslands tends to be composed of mesophytic perennial grasses such as Melica californica, Nassella lepida, Nassella pulchra, and a variety of perennial geophytes (genera Brodiaea, Triteleia, Dichelostemma, Calochortus, Chlorogalum, Zigadenus). These may be augmented by a variety of native annual spring-flowering herbs in the genera Eschscholzia, Lasthenia, Layia, Lotus, Lupinus, Madia, Micropus, Plagiobothrys, Stylocline, Trifolium, and many others. Summer-flowering herbs with deep taproots, including members of the genera Calycadenia, Deinandra, Hemizonia, Holocarpha, Madia, and others, visually dominate late-season stands. Southward and inland the mesophytic bunchgrasses are replaced by more drought-tolerant perennial grasses such as Nassella cernua and Poa secunda. Annuals that are diagnostic in droughty conditions include members of the genera Amsinckia, Coreopsis, Cryptantha, Eschscholzia, Gilia, Lasthenia, Layia, Mentzelia, Monolopia, Pectocarya, Phacelia, and others).
Among the ruderal vegetation, diagnostics tend to segregate based on relative moisture and temperature. Some mesophytic species, including Cynosurus sp., Briza sp., Conium maculatum, and Foeniculum vulgare, tend to occur in moister coastal California, while many of the most well-established ruderals (Avena, annual Bromus, Centaurea sp., Brassica sp., etc.) occur throughout much of California west of the mountains and deserts. A limited suite of ruderals (e.g., Bromus madritensis, Schismus sp.) are best adapted to drier inland conditions in the southern half of California.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Although many stands occur with high cover of Avena spp., Bromus diandrus, and other non-native Bromus spp., these tend to retain a native component and fluctuate in relative cover of exotic to native species depending upon particular climatic conditions of a given year or season (Buck-Diaz et al. 2012). Because non-natives tend to mix with characteristic natives in many settings, such stands have been considered part of the native ~Californian Annual & Perennial Grassland Macrogroup (M045)$$.
The principal floristic and ecological distinctions within Californian scrub are well-defined, yet contain some overlap. For example, post-disturbance stands of maritime chaparral in central California have members of coastal scrub, chaparral, and ruderal scrub macrogroups colonizing them. Further classification relationships between northern coastal and mesic scrub, and the central and southern California coastal sage scrub need investigation.
The term "scrub" is used here to indicate that the shrubs in this macrogroup are not typical broad-leaved or needle-leaved evergreen shrubs found in other temperate regions; rather, they range from sclerophylls, hemi-sclerophylls, to drought- or winter-deciduous shrubs.
The principal floristic and ecological distinctions within Californian scrub are well-defined, yet contain some overlap. For example, post-disturbance stands of maritime chaparral in central California have members of coastal scrub, chaparral, and ruderal scrub macrogroups colonizing them. Further classification relationships between northern coastal and mesic scrub, and the central and southern California coastal sage scrub need investigation.
The term "scrub" is used here to indicate that the shrubs in this macrogroup are not typical broad-leaved or needle-leaved evergreen shrubs found in other temperate regions; rather, they range from sclerophylls, hemi-sclerophylls, to drought- or winter-deciduous shrubs.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Californian scrub contains open to very dense shrublands dominated by sclerophylls, hemi-sclerophylls, or drought- or winter-deciduous shrubs, which form a canopy of from 0.5 to 5 m in height. Herbaceous species, including grasses and forbs, may be sparse or dense. Trees are widely scattered or absent in early- to mid-seral stands, but increase in cover in stands with long fire-return intervals. Within this division, ~Californian Coastal Scrub Macrogroup (M044)$$ is dominated by shallow-rooted, drought-deciduous shrubs which tend to be short-lived (<80 years) and have simple arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal associations. ~Californian Chaparral Macrogroup (M043)$$ diagnostic species have evergreen sclerophyll leaves and tend to be deep-rooted and long-lived (>100 years). They may be obligate-seeding (killed by stand-replacing fires), obligate-sprouting (resprouting readily from burls or woody tubers following fires), or facultative sprouters (seeds polymorphous, some bank, and some germinate without fire; shrubs also resprout). Chaparral diagnostics tend to have complex ectomycorrhizal fungi associations with trees. The Californian grasslands and meadows are dominated by perennial bunchgrasses, and/or annual grasses and forbs, less than 2 m in height. Shrubs and trees are widely scattered or absent.
Floristics: For Californian scrub, the key diagnostics species include a large number of woody species of the following genera Adenostoma, Arctostaphylos, Artemisia, Ceanothus, Dendromecon, Diplacus, Ericameria, Eriodictyon, Eriogonum, Hazardia, shrubby Lotus, Lupinus, Quercus, and Salvia. Additional diagnostics include Heteromeles arbutifolia, Isocoma menziesii, Malosma laurina, and Rhus integrifolia.
For Californian grasslands, key taxa are divided into two groups: native perennial or annual grasses and herbs, and non-native, largely annual or biennial herbs and grasses. In pre-European California, native grasslands and meadows were arranged broadly along a moisture gradient running longitudinally from the moist conditions in the northwestern parts of California southward and inland to drier semi-desert conditions in the southern San Joaquin Valley, inner South Coast Ranges, and the inland valleys of southern Coastal California. Cooler, moister stands have cool-season bunchgrasses such as Bromus carinatus, Elymus glaucus, and Festuca californica. The modal vegetation of the division tends to be composed of mesophytic perennial grasses such as Melica californica, Nassella lepida, Nassella pulchra, and a variety of perennial geophytes (genera Brodiaea, Calochortus, Chlorogalum, Dichelostemma, Triteleia, Zigadenus). These may be augmented by a variety of native annual spring-flowering herbs in the genera Eschscholzia, Lasthenia, Layia, Lotus (= Acmispon), Lupinus, Madia, Micropus, Plagiobothrys, Stylocline, Trifolium, and many others. Summer-flowering herbs with deep taproots, including members of the genera Calycadenia, Deinandra, Hemizonia, Holocarpha, Madia, and others, visually dominate late-season stands. As conditions become drier to the south of the state, perennial grasses and geophytes become scarce and ephemeral annual herbs become more important. Southward and inland the mesophytic bunchgrasses are replaced by more drought-tolerant perennial grasses such as Nassella cernua and Poa secunda (= Poa scabrella). Once the average annual precipitation is less than about 20 cm, perennial grasses make up little significant cover. Lower precipitation tends to support only annual herbs that fluctuate in abundance with the highly variable yearly rainfall patterns. Many of these annuals have bet-hedging seed storage strategies similar to desert annuals of southwestern North America (e.g., members of the genera Amsinckia, Coreopsis (= Leptosyne), Cryptantha, Eschscholzia, Gilia, Lasthenia, Layia, Mentzelia, Monolopia, Pectocarya, Phacelia, and others). These annuals were responsible for many of the historic wildflower displays in El Niño years on the drier slopes of southern and central California (Minnich 2008).
Non-natives such as Avena spp., Briza spp., Bromus diandrus, Bromus hordeaceus, and Cynosurus spp., tend to prefer higher rainfall than species such as Bromus madritensis, Hirschfeldia incana, Salsola spp., Schismus spp., and Sisymbrium spp. In contrast to mixed native and non-native stands, ruderal species such as Brassica nigra, Carduus pycnocephalus, Centaurea solstitialis, Centaurea melitensis, Conium maculatum, Foeniculum vulgare, Glebionis coronarium, Raphanus sativus, and Silybum marianum tend to strongly dominate stands to the exclusion of most native herbs and grasses. They also tend to persist once established due to thatch build-up and morphological traits such as deep tap roots and tall growth forms, conferring a competitive advantage over the smaller, less leafy native species (D''Antonio et al. 2007). Although far fewer California native species have ruderal characteristics, there are several genera, including Amsinckia (especially Amsinckia tessellata), Heterotheca (especially Heterotheca grandiflora), and Lupinus (especially Lupinus bicolor, Lupinus subvexus (= Lupinus microcarpus)), which do have species with ruderal characteristics (some of these species have become ruderals when introduced in other countries such as Australia). The non-native annual grasses and forbs tend to dominate the native species, especially where soil horizon disruption, high annual stocking of livestock, soil compaction, and other major disturbances have occurred. Virtually all stands today have a significant non-native component. Ruderal stand soils tend to vary depending upon original pre-disturbance vegetation and may be sandy, silty, or clay-rich loams. Species in non-native shrublands include Ulex europaeus, Cytisus scoparius, and species of Genista and Spartium, among others.
For Californian grasslands, key taxa are divided into two groups: native perennial or annual grasses and herbs, and non-native, largely annual or biennial herbs and grasses. In pre-European California, native grasslands and meadows were arranged broadly along a moisture gradient running longitudinally from the moist conditions in the northwestern parts of California southward and inland to drier semi-desert conditions in the southern San Joaquin Valley, inner South Coast Ranges, and the inland valleys of southern Coastal California. Cooler, moister stands have cool-season bunchgrasses such as Bromus carinatus, Elymus glaucus, and Festuca californica. The modal vegetation of the division tends to be composed of mesophytic perennial grasses such as Melica californica, Nassella lepida, Nassella pulchra, and a variety of perennial geophytes (genera Brodiaea, Calochortus, Chlorogalum, Dichelostemma, Triteleia, Zigadenus). These may be augmented by a variety of native annual spring-flowering herbs in the genera Eschscholzia, Lasthenia, Layia, Lotus (= Acmispon), Lupinus, Madia, Micropus, Plagiobothrys, Stylocline, Trifolium, and many others. Summer-flowering herbs with deep taproots, including members of the genera Calycadenia, Deinandra, Hemizonia, Holocarpha, Madia, and others, visually dominate late-season stands. As conditions become drier to the south of the state, perennial grasses and geophytes become scarce and ephemeral annual herbs become more important. Southward and inland the mesophytic bunchgrasses are replaced by more drought-tolerant perennial grasses such as Nassella cernua and Poa secunda (= Poa scabrella). Once the average annual precipitation is less than about 20 cm, perennial grasses make up little significant cover. Lower precipitation tends to support only annual herbs that fluctuate in abundance with the highly variable yearly rainfall patterns. Many of these annuals have bet-hedging seed storage strategies similar to desert annuals of southwestern North America (e.g., members of the genera Amsinckia, Coreopsis (= Leptosyne), Cryptantha, Eschscholzia, Gilia, Lasthenia, Layia, Mentzelia, Monolopia, Pectocarya, Phacelia, and others). These annuals were responsible for many of the historic wildflower displays in El Niño years on the drier slopes of southern and central California (Minnich 2008).
Non-natives such as Avena spp., Briza spp., Bromus diandrus, Bromus hordeaceus, and Cynosurus spp., tend to prefer higher rainfall than species such as Bromus madritensis, Hirschfeldia incana, Salsola spp., Schismus spp., and Sisymbrium spp. In contrast to mixed native and non-native stands, ruderal species such as Brassica nigra, Carduus pycnocephalus, Centaurea solstitialis, Centaurea melitensis, Conium maculatum, Foeniculum vulgare, Glebionis coronarium, Raphanus sativus, and Silybum marianum tend to strongly dominate stands to the exclusion of most native herbs and grasses. They also tend to persist once established due to thatch build-up and morphological traits such as deep tap roots and tall growth forms, conferring a competitive advantage over the smaller, less leafy native species (D''Antonio et al. 2007). Although far fewer California native species have ruderal characteristics, there are several genera, including Amsinckia (especially Amsinckia tessellata), Heterotheca (especially Heterotheca grandiflora), and Lupinus (especially Lupinus bicolor, Lupinus subvexus (= Lupinus microcarpus)), which do have species with ruderal characteristics (some of these species have become ruderals when introduced in other countries such as Australia). The non-native annual grasses and forbs tend to dominate the native species, especially where soil horizon disruption, high annual stocking of livestock, soil compaction, and other major disturbances have occurred. Virtually all stands today have a significant non-native component. Ruderal stand soils tend to vary depending upon original pre-disturbance vegetation and may be sandy, silty, or clay-rich loams. Species in non-native shrublands include Ulex europaeus, Cytisus scoparius, and species of Genista and Spartium, among others.
Dynamics: Natural fire frequencies in Californian scrub are not particularly high, since lightning is limited to the occasional Mexican summer monsoonal thunderstorm. Natural fire frequencies for many sage scrub and chaparral landscapes have been projected to be between 20-50+ years and fire occurred primarily in the late summer and fall. Most sage scrub species decrease in cover and abundance with increased fire frequency, presence of non-native grasses, and air pollution (Westman 1979, 1983, Minnich and Dezzani 1998). Successful regeneration requires conditions where shrubs can establish, mature, and develop seed banks (Montalvo 2002a, 2002b). Recurring high-frequency fires can deplete the seed banks of many chaparral and sage scrub species, especially those that regenerate largely from seed. The species are vulnerable to local extinction under high-intensity or high-frequency fires because most regeneration is typically from seed (Keeley 1998, Montalvo 2002a, 2002b). Compared to coastal scrub species, chaparral restoration efforts have more difficulty with establishment due to more specific relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, including longer establishing ectomycorrhizal fungi, larger, fewer, seeds with more specific dispersal strategies, lower recruitment, and longer establishment times due to palatable higher nutrition foliage to herbivory and effects of drought.
By contrast, prior to European colonization, California grasslands and meadows were regularly burned by Native Americans, grazed by large ungulates such as elk, deer, and pronghorn, experienced bioturbation by fossorial mammals, and larger excavations from mammals such as grizzly bear, badger, coyote, fox, etc. Following European colonization, mechanical cultivation, tilling, clearing, and other forms of disturbance became widespread. Depending upon the geographic location, natural fluctuations in climate brought forth periods of colonization by shrubs from adjacent stands representing 2.B.1.Na ~Californian Scrub Division (D020)$$, or trees from 1.B.1.Nc ~Californian Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Division (D007)$$. In more mesic areas, such as the North Coast of California, anthropogenic fire was the primary process that maintained open grasslands on soils that were hospitable to woody plant growth. However, in drier areas of the state, the climate in combination with clay-rich soils naturally inhibit woody plant colonization. The sparse cover of these drier sites rarely produced enough fuel to burn. Current conditions in ruderal stands within this division, such as infrequent grazing, fire, or loss of natural native seed banks, tend to restrict colonization by natives. Many areas occupied by ruderal vegetation were previously not grassland, but shrubland (2.B.1.Na) or woodland (1.B.1.Nc) and when left undisturbed for several years tend to revert to woody vegetation through phases often starting with early-seral shrub members within ~Californian Coastal Scrub Macrogroup (M889)$$.
By contrast, prior to European colonization, California grasslands and meadows were regularly burned by Native Americans, grazed by large ungulates such as elk, deer, and pronghorn, experienced bioturbation by fossorial mammals, and larger excavations from mammals such as grizzly bear, badger, coyote, fox, etc. Following European colonization, mechanical cultivation, tilling, clearing, and other forms of disturbance became widespread. Depending upon the geographic location, natural fluctuations in climate brought forth periods of colonization by shrubs from adjacent stands representing 2.B.1.Na ~Californian Scrub Division (D020)$$, or trees from 1.B.1.Nc ~Californian Warm Temperate Forest & Woodland Division (D007)$$. In more mesic areas, such as the North Coast of California, anthropogenic fire was the primary process that maintained open grasslands on soils that were hospitable to woody plant growth. However, in drier areas of the state, the climate in combination with clay-rich soils naturally inhibit woody plant colonization. The sparse cover of these drier sites rarely produced enough fuel to burn. Current conditions in ruderal stands within this division, such as infrequent grazing, fire, or loss of natural native seed banks, tend to restrict colonization by natives. Many areas occupied by ruderal vegetation were previously not grassland, but shrubland (2.B.1.Na) or woodland (1.B.1.Nc) and when left undisturbed for several years tend to revert to woody vegetation through phases often starting with early-seral shrub members within ~Californian Coastal Scrub Macrogroup (M889)$$.
Environmental Description: Climate: Most stands are characterized by long periods of drought during the summer months. Maximum or minimum temperatures range widely from well over 42°C in the interior valleys to around 0°C in higher parts of the foothills. North coastal stands may average over 100 cm/year while southern interior stands average as low as 15 cm of precipitation.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Californian chaparral almost always avoid low-lying landscapes which are regularly inundated during the wet season. Most chaparral stands occur on relatively coarse-textured, well-drained soils, including massive sandstones, crystalline basement rocks, and coarse igneous rocks. Exceptions occur particularly within the maritime chaparral group where nutrient-poor soils may be derived from fine-textured sedimentary rocks. Coastal scrub vegetation is commonly found on fine-textured soils, but is widely tolerant of many upland soils. Where coastal scrub and chaparral coexist, the chaparral is almost always on the coarser-textured substrate. Ruderal stand soils tend to vary depending upon original pre-disturbance vegetation and may be sandy, silty, or clay-rich loams.
Most grassland stands tend to have some clay content to soils typically ranging from fine sandy loam to clay loam textures. Steeper, more exposed stands tend to have more coarse fragments and may be sandy loams. The pH ranges from moderately acidic to basic on some recent marine sediments in the South Coast Ranges. Ruderal stand soils tend to vary depending upon original pre-disturbance vegetation and may be sandy, silty, or clay-rich loams.
Biogeography: The isolated and unique characteristics of the California scrub and grasslands are reflected in their species composition. Virtually all native diagnostic species are endemic to the California Floristic Province. According to the Biota of North America Program (BONAP 2010), the species are particularly localized and distinctive. Virtually all of the world''s species of Arctostaphylos (67/71 species) and Ceanothus (47/60), two of the most common and diverse genera of the California chaparral, are endemic to the division. Several important small and genetically distinct chaparral genera, such as Adenostoma, Malosma, and Pickeringia, are also entirely endemic to this division. ~Californian Coastal & Foothill Seral Scrub Group (G782)$$ has two of its three main genera, including Malacothamnus (14/14 species) and Eriodictyon (9/10 species), entirely or largely endemic. The non-native component is largely from Eurasian Mediterranean climates.
Similarly, for grasslands, common representative genera such as Clarkia, Eschscholzia, Layia, Lupinus, Melica, Mentzelia, Nassella, Phacelia, and Plagiobothrys are entirely or largely endemic to western North America. Several distinctive genera of Asteraceae, including Deinandra, Holocarpha, Monolopia, and Pseudobahia, appear to be entirely endemic to this division. The non-native component is largely from Eurasian Mediterranean climates.
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Californian chaparral almost always avoid low-lying landscapes which are regularly inundated during the wet season. Most chaparral stands occur on relatively coarse-textured, well-drained soils, including massive sandstones, crystalline basement rocks, and coarse igneous rocks. Exceptions occur particularly within the maritime chaparral group where nutrient-poor soils may be derived from fine-textured sedimentary rocks. Coastal scrub vegetation is commonly found on fine-textured soils, but is widely tolerant of many upland soils. Where coastal scrub and chaparral coexist, the chaparral is almost always on the coarser-textured substrate. Ruderal stand soils tend to vary depending upon original pre-disturbance vegetation and may be sandy, silty, or clay-rich loams.
Most grassland stands tend to have some clay content to soils typically ranging from fine sandy loam to clay loam textures. Steeper, more exposed stands tend to have more coarse fragments and may be sandy loams. The pH ranges from moderately acidic to basic on some recent marine sediments in the South Coast Ranges. Ruderal stand soils tend to vary depending upon original pre-disturbance vegetation and may be sandy, silty, or clay-rich loams.
Biogeography: The isolated and unique characteristics of the California scrub and grasslands are reflected in their species composition. Virtually all native diagnostic species are endemic to the California Floristic Province. According to the Biota of North America Program (BONAP 2010), the species are particularly localized and distinctive. Virtually all of the world''s species of Arctostaphylos (67/71 species) and Ceanothus (47/60), two of the most common and diverse genera of the California chaparral, are endemic to the division. Several important small and genetically distinct chaparral genera, such as Adenostoma, Malosma, and Pickeringia, are also entirely endemic to this division. ~Californian Coastal & Foothill Seral Scrub Group (G782)$$ has two of its three main genera, including Malacothamnus (14/14 species) and Eriodictyon (9/10 species), entirely or largely endemic. The non-native component is largely from Eurasian Mediterranean climates.
Similarly, for grasslands, common representative genera such as Clarkia, Eschscholzia, Layia, Lupinus, Melica, Mentzelia, Nassella, Phacelia, and Plagiobothrys are entirely or largely endemic to western North America. Several distinctive genera of Asteraceae, including Deinandra, Holocarpha, Monolopia, and Pseudobahia, appear to be entirely endemic to this division. The non-native component is largely from Eurasian Mediterranean climates.
Geographic Range: This division occurs from southwestern Oregon south throughout Mediterranean California, west of the Sierra-Cascades divide and south into northwestern Baja California, Mexico from sea level to about 1500 m (0-5000 feet) elevation.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: CA, MXBCN, OR
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.957919
Confidence Level: High
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.1 Chamise - Whiteleaf Manzanita - Scrub Oak Chaparral Macrogroup | M043 | 2.B.1.Na.1 |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.1.Na.2 Coastal Sagebrush - Black Sage - Coyotebrush Coastal Scrub Macrogroup | M044 | 2.B.1.Na.2 |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.1.Na.3 Purple Needlegrass - Harvest Brodiaea - Rusty Popcorn-flower Native Grassland Macrogroup | M045 | 2.B.1.Na.3 |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.1.Na.90 Wild Oat - Black Mustard - Ripgut Brome Ruderal Grassland, Meadow & Scrub Macrogroup | M046 | 2.B.1.Na.90 |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = California Prairie (Heady et al. 1992) [but concept does not incorporate native annual component.]
> California annual grassland series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
> California chaparral (Hanes 1981)
> Californian (coastal) chaparral (Pase 1982)
> Californian Valley Grassland (Brown 1982e) [includes mainly native perennial and non-native ruderal component.]
> Californian coastalscrub (Pase and Brown 1982)
> Central and south coastal California seral scrub (Sawyer et al. 2009) [appendix 3]
> Chaparral (Munz and Keck 1950)
> Chaparral (Munz and Keck 1949)
> Coastal sage scrub (Munz and Keck 1949)
> Coastal sage scrub (Munz and Keck 1950)
> Coastal scrub (Mayer and Laudenslayer 1988)
> Purple needlegrass grassland series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
> Sage Scrub (Rundel 2007)
> Southern coastal scrub (Mooney 1988)
> Valley Grassland (Bartolome et al. 2007) [only includes native perennial and ruderal components.]
= Valley Needlegrass grassland, Serpentine Bunchgrass, Pine bluegrass grassland, Non-native grassland, Wildflower field (Holland 1986b) [although some concepts are poorly defined, taken collectively, the 5 types encompass the division.]
> Valley and south coastal grassland (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2007) [only includes native perennial concept.]
> California annual grassland series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
> California chaparral (Hanes 1981)
> Californian (coastal) chaparral (Pase 1982)
> Californian Valley Grassland (Brown 1982e) [includes mainly native perennial and non-native ruderal component.]
> Californian coastalscrub (Pase and Brown 1982)
> Central and south coastal California seral scrub (Sawyer et al. 2009) [appendix 3]
> Chaparral (Munz and Keck 1950)
> Chaparral (Munz and Keck 1949)
> Coastal sage scrub (Munz and Keck 1949)
> Coastal sage scrub (Munz and Keck 1950)
> Coastal scrub (Mayer and Laudenslayer 1988)
> Purple needlegrass grassland series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
> Sage Scrub (Rundel 2007)
> Southern coastal scrub (Mooney 1988)
> Valley Grassland (Bartolome et al. 2007) [only includes native perennial and ruderal components.]
= Valley Needlegrass grassland, Serpentine Bunchgrass, Pine bluegrass grassland, Non-native grassland, Wildflower field (Holland 1986b) [although some concepts are poorly defined, taken collectively, the 5 types encompass the division.]
> Valley and south coastal grassland (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2007) [only includes native perennial concept.]
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- Brown, D. E. 1982e. Californian valley grassland. Desert Plants 4:132-135.
- Brown, D. E., editor. 1982a. Biotic communities of the American Southwest-United States and Mexico. Desert Plants Special Issue 4(1-4):1-342.
- Buck-Diaz, J., J. Ratchford, and J. M. Evens. 2013. California rangeland monitoring and mapping: Focusing upon Great Valley and Carrizo Plain grassland habitats, California. Unpublished report submitted to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. California Native Society, Sacramento, CA. [http://cnps.org/cnps/vegetation/pdf/grassland_nrcs_report-2013c.pdf]
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- Hanes, T. L. 1981. California chaparral. Pages 139-174 in: F. di Castri, D. W. Goodall, and R. L. Specht, editors. Ecosystems of the world 11: Mediterranean-type shrublands. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, New York, NY.
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- Keeley, J. E. 1998. Postfire ecosystem recovery and management: The October 1993 large fire episode in California. Pages 69-90 in: J. M. Moreno, editor. Large forest fires. Backbuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands.
- Klein, A., J. Crawford, J. Evens, T. Keeler-Wolf, and D. Hickson. 2007. Classification of the vegetation alliances and associations of the northern Sierra Nevada foothills, California. Volumes 1 and 2. Report prepared for California Department of Fish and Game, Habitat Conservation Division. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. [https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=18232&inline=1]
- Mayer, K., and W. Laudenslayer. 1988. A guide to wild-life habitats of California. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento.
- Minnich, R. A. 2008. California''s fading wildflowers: Lost legacy and biological invasions. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
- Minnich, R. A., and R. J. Dezzani. 1998. Historical decline of coastal sage scrub in the Riverside-Perris Plain, California. Western Birds 29:366-391.
- Montalvo, A. M. 2002a. Artemisia californica. In: J. K. Francis, editor. Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories: Thamnic descriptions. USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry and Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, UT.
- Montalvo, A. M. 2002b. Eriogonum fasciculatum. In: J. K. Francis, editor. Wildland shrubs of the United States and its territories: Thamnic descriptions. USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry and Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, UT.
- Mooney, H. A. 1988. Southern coastal scrub. Pages 471-489 in: M. G. Barbour and J. Major, editors. 1988. Terrestrial vegetation of California: New expanded edition. California Native Plant Society, Special Publication 9, Sacramento. 1030 pp.
- Munz, P. A., and D. D. Keck. 1949. California plant communities. El Aliso 2:87-105.
- Munz, P. A., and D. D. Keck. 1950. California plant communities: Part 2. El Aliso 2:199-202.
- Pase, C. B. 1982. Californian (coastal) chaparral. Desert Plants 4:91-94.
- Pase, C. B., and D. E. Brown. 1982. Californian coastalscrub. Desert Plants 4:86-90.
- Rundel, P. W. 2007. Sage scrub. Pages 208-228 in: M. Barbour, A. Schoenherr, and T. Keeler-Wolf, editors. Terrestrial vegetation of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, 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.
- Westman, W. E. 1979. A potential role of coastal sage scrub understories in the recovery of chaparral after fire. Madroño 26:64-68.
- Westman, W. E. 1983. Xeric Mediterranean-type shrubland associations of Alta and Baja California and the community/continuum debate. Vegetatio 52:3-19.