A stiff, gray-green chaparral to 2-3m tall, dominated by Ceanothus crassifolius and Adenostoma fasciculatum, with virtually no Arctostaphylos. The Ceanothus tends to die out after about 40 years, leading to a gradual thinning of old stands. There is considerably more leaf litter than in Chamise Chaparral (37200).
SITE FACTORS:
Rather xeric sites with shallow, stony soils, usually below about 4,000 feet. This too may be a fire-dependent seral type. Intergrades on more xeric sites with Chamise Chaparral (37200); on more mesic sites with Coast Live Oak (71160) or Engelmann Oak Woodland (71180) or with Whitethorn Chaparral (37532).
DISTRIBUTION:
Very common along the coastal side of the Transverse and Peninsular ranges from Santa Barbara County south to Baja, usually below 4,000 feet.
UPDATE: 10/86
Source: Holland, 1986
Digital Text: NatureBase