Name:
Arctostaphylos tomentosa - Arctostaphylos nummularia - Ceanothus verrucosus Maritime Chaparral Group
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This shrubland group includes chaparral in patches restricted by edaphic conditions (sands, sandstones, other marine sediments, and stabilized sand dunes) within the summer coastal fog belt in scattered locations in the southern, central and northern California coast. This group is characterized by a combination of locally endemic species of <i>Arctostaphylos</i> and <i>Ceanothus</i>, species that primarily reproduce by seed rather than resprouting. Shrubs vary in height (up to 3 m tall) and occur in variable densities. More open patches support herbaceous vegetation, while occurrences of high shrub density have no understory. Characteristic species include <i>Arctostaphylos tomentosa, Arctostaphylos nummularia, Arctostaphylos tomentosa ssp. crustacea, Arctostaphylos hookeri, Arctostaphylos pajaroensis, Arctostaphylos montaraensis, Arctostaphylos bakeri, Arctostaphylos silvicola</i> (and others), <i>Ceanothus masonii, Ceanothus griseus</i>, and <i>Ceanothus verrucosus</i>. Southernmost stands (San Diego County) can include <i>Quercus dumosa, Cneoridium dumosum</i>, and <i>Comarostaphylis diversifolia</i>. Other common widespread woody taxa can include <i>Adenostoma fasciculatum, Eriogonum fasciculatum, Salvia mellifera, Frangula californica, Rhamnus crocea</i>, and <i>Quercus agrifolia</i>. Controlled burns sometimes have resulted in poor survivorship of the <i>Arctostaphylos</i> spp., and current theories are that they need long fire-free intervals to develop a viable seedbank that can reproduce following fire. This group often co-occurs with ~Californian Conifer Forest & Woodland Group (G198)$$ and may be replaced in part by <i>Quercus agrifolia</i> woodlands and other members of ~Californian Broadleaf Forest & Woodland Group (G195)$$.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40034-{694AAC8C-DA4C-45F5-BB09-2A565D6BC97D}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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