Deciduous woodlands in mediterranean california

Abstract

Despite the widespread perception of dominance of evergreen sclerophylls, some Mediterranean climate regions have significant representation of winter-deciduous species. In California, deciduous oaks dominate extensive regions. In central California, the blue oak, Quercus douglasii, dominates interior foothills that have wet winters and long dry summers; valley oak, Q. lobata, and garry oak, Q. garryana also are found in interior, hot summer locations. In southern California, the Englemann oak, Q. englemannii is found in interior, hot summer regions while the evergreen Q. agrifolia dominates nearer the coast where summers are less severe. Deciduous species can occur alone, or mixed with broadleaved evergreen trees or shrubs, and/or conifers. As severity of summer drought increases, whether due to climate or soil conditions, deciduousness becomes increasingly favored.