Name:
Opuntia littoralis - Opuntia oricola - Cylindropuntia prolifera Succulent Scrub Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This coastal scrub alliance consists of stands where <i>Opuntia</i> and <i>Cylindropuntia</i> species, particularly <i>Cylindropuntia californica var. parkeri, Opuntia littoralis, Opuntia oricola</i>, and <i>Cylindropuntia prolifera</i>, are conspicuous and often dominant. <i>Artemisia californica, Cleome isomeris, Cneoridium dumosum, Encelia californica, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Euphorbia misera, Lycium</i> spp., <i>Mirabilis laevis, Cylindropuntia californica, Opuntia oricola, Opuntia phaeacantha, Cylindropuntia prolifera, Opuntia</i> hybrids, <i>Salvia mellifera</i>, and <i>Hesperoyucca whipplei</i> may be present with sparse cover. The shrub canopy is <2 m, and cover is intermittent or continuous in two tiers. The herbaceous layer is open to continuous and diverse. This alliance occurs along California's outer, southern coastal ranges, the Channel Islands, and coastal Baja California, Mexico. Elevation is less than 1200 m. It is often found on south-facing slopes and headlands and grows on steep slopes with shallow soils with low water-holding capacity. Long dry summers expose this alliance to severe drought stress. Yearly precipitation is typically less than 30 cm and falls predominantly between November and April.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39095-{2B873454-8E05-41BE-AC67-E031470BB427}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
1
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