Name:
Opuntia littoralis Shrubland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This vegetation type occurs along the southern coastal region of California and on the Channel Islands off the southern coast. Climate and soil-moisture availability are the determining factors in the distribution of <i>Opuntia littoralis</i> shrublands. Overall, the southern coastal regions have low average annual precipitation, typically less than 30 cm annually. A very high percentage of this precipitation falls during the fall and winter months as rain, while summers are typically hot and dry. Winter temperatures are mild. This vegetation type is found on xeric, somewhat steep foothill slopes, usually on southerly aspects, from sea level to over 1000 m elevation. Soils are derived from colluvium, poorly developed, thin and rocky, with low moisture-holding capacity and loamy textures. This coastal scrub vegetation type is distinguished by the conspicuous presence, and occasional dominance, of stem-succulent cacti species, particularly <i>Opuntia littoralis, Opuntia oricola, Cylindropuntia prolifera</i>, and <i>Cylindropuntia californica var. parkeri</i>. Several other shrub species are commonly present, most of them summer-dormant leaf succulents. Species can include <i>Artemisia californica, Encelia californica, Cneoridium dumosum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Euphorbia misera, Cleome isomeris, Lycium</i> spp., <i>Mirabilis laevis</i>, and <i>Salvia mellifera</i>. The shrub layer is typically less than 2 m in height and has a continuous to intermittent canopy cover. Emergent individuals of the taller, broad-leaved shrubs <i>Rhus integrifolia</i> and/or <i>Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea</i> can be present. The herbaceous layer is variable in species composition and abundance, but perennial succulents of the genus <i>Dudleya</i> are usually present.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:31959-{9DD4FE01-4A42-402D-AA00-7BD5A7C53F45}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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