Name:
Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. tomentosa Shrubland
Reference:
Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description:
This shrubland is known to occur along the central coastal region of California, from Sonoma County south along the coast to northern Santa Barbara County. This chaparral vegetation type is found from sea level to 1500 m elevation in scattered localities along the central coast of California. This region is climatically characterized by year-round mild temperatures, due to the strong maritime influence. Precipitation is relatively low, ranging from 30-60 cm, and occurs during the winter months, typically in a few intense storms. Summers are dry, with prolonged periods of drought not uncommon. This vegetation type apparently occurs within the zone of summer coastal fog incursion. Sites are variable and include bluffs, dunes, mesas, outcrops, slopes and terraces. Soils are coarse-textured (sand or loams), occasionally rocky, well-drained, and can be derived from sand, sandstone, shales or volcanic substrates. This diverse chaparral shrubland is dominated by broad-leaved evergreen sclerophyllous shrubs, typically less than 3 m in height. Subspecies of <i>Arctostaphylos tomentosa</i> are dominant or important in the shrub canopy, such as <i>Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. bracteosa, Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. crustacea, Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. daciticola, Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. eastwoodiana</i>, and <i>Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. tomentosa</i>. Other species of <i>Arctostaphylos</i> are often present, as well as various species of <i>Ceanothus</i>, such as <i>Ceanothus cuneatus var. fascicularis, Ceanothus dentatus, Ceanothus hearstiorum</i>, and <i>Ceanothus impressus</i>. Other shrubs commonly present include <i>Salvia mellifera, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Frangula californica, Artemisia californica, Baccharis pilularis, Toxicodendron diversilobum</i>, and <i>Heteromeles arbutifolia</i>. Total canopy cover of the shrubs ranges from 50-100%. The small (from 8-20 m tall) broad-leaved evergreen trees <i>Quercus agrifolia</i> and <i>Cercocarpus montanus var. glaber</i> may be present as emergents from the shrub canopy. The herbaceous layer is sparse.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.31761.CEGL003010
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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