A chaparral of low heath-like shrubs and scattered herbs dominated (sometimes exclusively) by Ione manzanita. Shrub cover in mature stands usually exceeds 50%, with very little understory.
SITE FACTORS:
Edaphically restricted to very acidic, nutrient-poor, coarse soils, mostly derived from Eocene Ione formation. Warm, dry summers; cool, moist winters. This community occurs directly across the Central Valley from the Golden Gate, so summer high temperatures are less intense than elsewhere in the Sierran foothills. Relative humidities appear to be enough higher to support several epiphytic lichens.
DISTRIBUTION:
Western Amador and northern Calaveras counties.
UPDATE: 10/86
Source: Holland, 1986
Digital Text: NatureBase