Common Shrubs of Chaparral and Associated Ecosystems of Southern California
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United States Department of Agriculture Common Shrubs of Chaparral Forest Service Pacific Southwest and Associated Ecosystems of Forest and Range Experiment Station Southern California General Technical Report PSW-99 C. Eugene Conrad The Author: C. Eugene Conrad was formerly in charge of the research unit in the Station's research and development program titled "Vegetation Management Alternatives for Chaparral and related Ecosystems," headquarterd at the Forest Fire Laboratory, Riverside, Calif. He presently heads the Forest Management Research Unit at Honolulu, Hawaii. He earned bachelor's (1956) and master's (1959) degrees from Oregon State University. He joined the Forest Service and Station's research staff in 1961. Acknowledgments: The list of people who contributed to this guide is longer than can be given here but I especially thank Timothy P. Kranz. With funding from the San Bernardino National Forest, Tim originally wrote basic descriptions of many of the species and identified key characteristics. In addition, dozens of professional and non professional workers tested the species key and made excellent suggestions. The final was based on these contributions and those of Dr. Robert Thorne and Dr. Ted L. Hanes who reviewed the entire manuscript and made many critical comments for which I am greatful. Regardless of all of the help, I accept full responsibility for the content. The Chaparral Research and Development Program, under joint sponsorship of the Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station and the Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region, expanded the project. The following authors and their publishers granted permission to reproduce illustrations: LeRoy Abrams, Illustrated Flora of t h e United States (Stanford University Press, 1960); Philip A. Munz, A Flora of Southern California (University of California Press, 1974); and Howard E. McMinn, Illustrated Manual of California Shrubs (University of California Press, 1939). Kaaren Spooner provided several new illustrations and Anthony P. Gomez prepared photographs of all of the illustrations. I thank the word processing typists at the Forest Fire Laboratory for the difficult job of formatting and typing the original manuscript. The editorial assistance provided by Betty J. Lusk is very much appreciated. Completion of the project was assisted by careful and diligent help from the Station editor and production staff. Publisher: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station PO. Box 245, Berkeley, California 94701 July 1987 Common Shrubs of Chaparral and Associated Ecosystems of Southern California C. Eugene Conrad CONTENTS Introduction ................................... 1 Plants Included in the Guide ..................... 2 How to Use the Vegetative Keys .................. 2 Glossary ........................................ 3 Vegetative Key to Common Southern California Shrubs ....................................... 6 Species Descriptions .......................... 15 References ..................................... 76 Appendix A: Southern California Shrub and Subshrub Vegetation Excluding Desert Genera ................................ 78 Appendix B: Index to Species ...............85 Vegetative and woody parts of plants have been used in building the keys to the species. Those familiar with plant INTRODUCTION keys know that many species are distinguished by their flow- ering and fruiting characteristics. Often, the only consistent difference between two species is floral. Users of this guide are alifornia is especially rich in plant species, subspecies, encouraged to treat any identification as tentative until a and varieties. Stebbins and Major (1965) reported more specimen is identified by a qualified botanist who will often Cthan 4000 species in California, one-third of these endemic. use standard taxonomic references such as McMinn (1939), Such richness is largely attributable to the extreme diversity Munz and Keck (1959), or Munz (1974). When necessary, the of habitats and conditions created by the climate and geology collected specimen should be verified against herbarium of California. It is not uncommon to find habitats that con- specimens. tain isolated or disjunct populations that are geographically The plant key is most reliably applied to that area of separated from the main population center for that species. southern California outlined on the map (fig. 1). The follow- Plant species and habitat diversity figures importantly in ing foothills and ranges are included: the southern part of the the implementation of sound land management practices. south coastal ranges and the Santa Ynez, Santa Monica, and The best decisions of the land manager are those which San Gabriel Mountains of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los account for the vegetation of an area; that is, species identifi- Angeles, and Orange Counties; the San Bernardino and San cation, habitat distribution, responses to fire, and value as Jacinto Mountains of San Bernardino Riverside Coun-ties; food for wildlife or livestock grazing. But not all land manag- and the Santa Rosa, Santa Ana, Palomar, Cuyamaca, and ers are botanists. This guide is therefore directed to the land Laguna Mountains of Riverside, San Diego, and Orange manager who has some biology training but not a strong Counties. background in technical plant identification. Moreover, it is Appendix A contains a list of plant families and genera, designed as a field identification manual of 132 of the most including woody or semi-woody plant species recognized by important and / or most common shrubs in the southern Cali- Munz (1974). Appendix A also includes a synopsis of features fornia chaparral area. However, this guide is not intended to that partially characterize the environment of the species in replace standard taxonomy manuals such as McMinn (1939) each genus. or Munz (1974), nor is it a source document for all southern California shrubs. Figure 1—Topographic map of Southern California. 1 PLANTS INCLUDED IN THE GUIDE This guide emphasizes shrub species on the coastal drain- age side of the mountains (cismontane) as opposed to the desert side (transmontane). The transition between coastal drainage species and desert species is gradual. Shrubs or subshrubs fitting the following conditions are included: • Plants with main stems that are woody at least at the base, usually living several years or more; SCALE-LIKE LEAVES ALTERNATE LEAVES • Plants with several main branches from or near the ground. If these conditions do not apply, then the plant is probably not in the guide, with the following exceptions: • Yucca species which commonly have short woody stems but are prominent members of the chaparral community; • Several species of vines that climb over and through other shrubs but have mostly woody stems; • A few species normally considered trees but often exist- ing in multiple-stem shrub form. HOW TO USE THE VEGETATIVE KEYS OPPOSITE LEAVES WHORLED LEAVES The vegetative keys identify shrubs based solely on vegeta- tive characters. Thus, it is important to study the leaves and stems carefully. Choose a leaf whose size and shape looks like at least two-thirds of the leaves on the shrub. In other words, look at several leaves. Avoid young or immature leaves which often differ from mature leaves. Major leaf features are illus- trated (fig. 2). Determine whether the leaves on your speci- men are scale-like or not scale-like. Are the leaves alternate or PINNATE VEINS PALMATE VEINS opposite" Are the leaf veins in a pinnate or palmate pattern? Are the leaves simple or compound? If they are compound are they palmate or pinnate? Begin with the first page of the vegetative key and find the correct group, subgroup, and leaf type; then in the section directed to compare statement a with statement b at the same level of indentation. The number sequence is only important relative to statements a and b, the comparison statements must have the same number. Also the further along in the key, the higher the number. If your specimen best fits statement b, go directly down one line under b and one indentation to the SIMPLE PALMATE PINNATE right to the next statement a, and compare this statement a COMPOUND and statement b with your specimen. Continue making these dichotomous comparisons until the comparison ends with the Figure 2-Illustrated use of the southern California shrub key. 2 name of a shrub species or genus. Go to the page indicated and you will find either a genus or species description. If you GLOSSARY OF TERMS are at the genus level, you will either go through another dichotomous key to get to the species or you will need to select the description which most closely fits your specimen. If you Abrupt: Terminates suddenly without taper. are directed to a species compare your specimen with the Acuminate: leaf tapers to a point which may be sharp (fig. 3B). description and illustration. Acute: Less taper than acuminate but with a sharp point (fig. 3B). A common error in judging a simple versus compound leaf Akene: A small fruit which does not break open when it matures but does become dry and hard. is to mistake a leaflet for a leaf. Simple leaves usually have Alternate: Generally indicates one leaf per node, can also be applied to buds or growing points at their base; leaflets of compound other parts (fig. 2). leaves do not (fig. 2). Compound leaves usually end in a Appressed: Pressed against another part or organ. leaflet, never with a growing tip; whereas, on plants with Aromatic: Fragrant with spicy, pungent, pleasant, or ill-smelling odor. Auricle: An appendage like an ear (lobe) especially at the base of an organ simple leaves, the twigs end in a bud or growing point, almost (fig. 3). never with a leaf. Always check several leaves. Auriculate: Having an auricle (fig. 3). Another critical decision in keying a plant involves leaf Awl-shaped: Narrow, may be nearly round and tapering to a point (fig. 4). margin and leaf shape. These features are especially critical in Bark: External covering or rind of a woody stem or root usually fibrous or cork-like and often with outer scales. this key. Common leaf margins and shapes of leaf tips and Basal: Relative to or at the base.