THE BOTANICAL RESOURCES OF LA PURISIMA MISSION STATE HISTORIC PARK SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Wayne R. Ferren, Jr. Holly C. Forbes _ Dar A. Roberts Dale M. Smith THE HERBARIUM Department of Biological Sciences University of California, Santa Barbara Publication Number 3 1984 Cover: La Purisima Mission - View to west overlooking southern portion of Purisima Canyon near its junction with the Lompoc Valley. Visible Mission structures include from left to right the cemetery, church, and various shops and quarters. Livestock corrals and mission grounds occur in the center of the photo. The Burton Mesa (background) supports numerous plant communities, including Northern Coastal Dune Scrub (lower mesa top, upper left-center), Central Coastal Scrub (mesa top, upper center), Chaparral (east-facing slope, upper right-center), Cismontane Introduced Grasses (mesa slope, upper left-center), and Southern Oak Woodland (east-facing slope, upper center). The riparian zone along Los Berros Creek supports Palustrine Forested and Scrub/Shrub Wetlands (lower portion of photo adjacent to corral). Oaks shading a picnic area occur adjacent to the riparian vegetation, followed by Central Coastal Scrub (foreground) on the west-facing slope of foothills to the Purisima Hills. (Yq v2 rs PLE . f r eae [ager THE BOTANICAL RESOURCES OF LA PURISIMA MISSION STATE HISTORIC PARK SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Wayne R. Ferren, Jr. Holly C. Forbes Dar A. Roberts Dale M. Smith THE HERBARIUM Department of Biological Sciences University of California, Santa Barbara Publication Number 3 This publication series is issued at irregular intervals from the Herbarium, Departinent of Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106. EDITOR - Wayne R. Ferren, dr. Senior Museum Scientist The Herbarium EDITORIAL COMMITTEE - Dale M. Smith Professor of Botany Curator of the Herbarium - J. Robert Haller Associate Professor of Botany Associate Curator of the Herbarium = Ghifton Fa Smith Librarian and Curator of the Herbarium Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History © Copyright 1984 by the Regents of the University of California. i Dedicated to the memory of Peter Van Coops State Park Ranger 1972-1983 at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park 1981-1983 FOREWORD This Publication Series of tne Herbarium, Department of Biological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, serves as a publica- tion vehicle for UCSB students, faculty, staff, and other associated investigators. Manuscripts accepted for publication include primarily those with a floristic emphasis and those for which voucher specimens are deposited at UCSB. Papers published in this series might not be avail- able otherwise to the general eeientiric and lay communities. This endeavor is consistent with the goals of the UCSB Herbarium, summarized as follows: 1) to maintain a botanical collections repository; 2) to provide educational programs; 3) to provide botanical services; 4) to function as a research facility within the Department of Biological Sciences. UCSB Herbarium Publication Number 3, The Botanical Resources of La Purisima Mission State Historic Park, Santa Barbara County, California, is a product of floristic research conducted by faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Dale M. Smith served as principal investigator, Mr. Wayne R. Ferren, Jr. was the project manager, Ms. Holly C. Forbes compiled the plant catalogue, and Mr. Dar A. Roberts mapped the vegeta- tion and investigated the geology and soils of the area. The team in general conducted the inventory and analysis. Funding for this project was provided largely by the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, in the form of a grant to conduct an evaluation of the botanical resources at the Park. Funding for publication was provided by additional extramural sources. Wayne R. Ferren, dr. jvudngt gtd) gateel este TAA OTA “ay elite 4h ja'ee?) fad oa ’ ic v ia @ - 7 1 bat 4 eee a > @ at ‘i © 1 14 v j uw i : f ou p & " fi = * , oy 7 - :. " or ¥ - a pais 7. ae ay | | | 7 a - ‘ 10 ee eh ane dle toah TABLE OF CONTENTS RSMO IGUIZe Sim sersrccicrs cite slemcie ecient sccelees cc ceclcceeccedaceeeoases viii PANU UCB ONGmetcrsteretereia crc steisrohstcl score sie lele si cleieeie Scie/S.s cise as else essee esse saee 1 PUD OSCr rye toreeisis celeron e'e ciels coe clue cle Sieve elec se bbwieeeeew clea abe meee 1 HEENOGS 310.0510 5.06.5 GER CO HO06 COED LC IOC Iara Par ne Rea PS Par ik EAS OME NIVAMRONMEN PM aveterateaie cctasCcicics ood eos 6 sic Sasa teserdaeseceede sees 3 HOCAATOMeANG OPOGRADMY cokes se cco eicls cs osc siee pes ve cece bceseesens 3 CMR Cmeatentnterce eter clots cisicls oles tis clcle cis'ce siclb-ee's 0008 64.9 0 6.6: ese 4 GE ONIO Giyimreters everest vate cctoncl cic elo slersUsrel ole eee wsecele Hisie sels s.eeyeiesemwee cones 10 SOUS cov. cb oto GO OREO. GO ECO COD OCI rete is ana a earran 16 HSE OtVarANGMaNdUSE -cekitoc ccc ccs So ceed cok eeeecoagsieecedeees ty HADUCERES coded GOW GE SUG BAR CIN COIS CONES Inte acm tate an arr anata aN ornare eran 20 OPT NNCH MNES OUR CE Sic cter cineca esiels’s cccrs'cle cls ble 4.0 6 6 cisin's s/16 sdie/siee eee nesaee 26 NecitsalnlOMiarretevetavete a sseleherevele’ siaiiaciele- creo eelels eigtevelcichertiares «ale elelouds wiaacds 26 F JOPPA Conde SbP Sete Bb OO GIUS BB SIH cekcils soma eit a pete siete gar gr aearaaniae arr taoa 15 NURI ROM MENON OLN SPUN tetarccelec cis ctee csic s'eles o/c secs es sceesesensesucs 84 RECOMMEND ATELONSHANDE COMMENDS: tc ces cones s cceve ccs ecceccscceccceessces 91 MGM IMOWEEDGEMENIES mem cet src. g etic katy Yio oles desuquere isl e'sig oie old Gisie wid:6 o/bie 95 MER AUREMCINEDES nie tacks tecce be sas ccd os eevee ce ceense¥ovesecbeoes 96 APPENDIX I - CLASSIFICATION OF UPLAND VEGETATION .........seeeeeeeeee 99 HEReNOWXe it =) CLASSIFICATION OF WETEANDS 2.55 cn cscs ec ecscensnese 105 APPENDIX III - ANNOTATED CATALOGUE OF THE VASCULAR PLANTS .......... Ti) APPENDIX IV - ADDITIONAL SPECIES REPORTED BY OTHER INVESTIGATORS ... 139 ARPENDIX: V= "SPECIES LISTS OF SELECTED LOCALITIES (with map) ....... 141 Vii oO © a ee 2 en 8 > W rN re e e ° . ° e . . . — i) NM MR PM PMP PM NM PLY KH KP KF FP FP FP PP Pr PF eB oN DH ON Ff Gen) —- © woOT@ae ns A OF FS HO MW -— . . e . . . °. . °. . e . °. ° ° . e e PO wo LIST OF FIGURES Index. Map: oie aleisievciecrola'a aletatetetatataveleicieis/ateintorelelcterstaleve sacierche ter aicieien atelier 5 La Purisima Mission Stabesnistaric Paik eerrsceitercltersisraisteicieretateieteias 7 Purts ima. Canyon’ .1c:. ciccrc cleleraistereveroeiclerscatel clot evaleretetstsrcvatatnisterebetercleietacieraneie 8 GEOTOGY ccic c.cteiacicje « siersierelnisisrnlalcictelefeveretelctetaleretatetctereteteietetoters/ alctsiotrenenaaae ibs} SODTS © sve cic cia sine) sicleiola alerletatatarcta avebalersiatatevaterelste(aretavarererataiater eta letetet teeta 19 Land Use and DistumbanGe siverar ai csleislclntelel|cle/al< S4dAIY > On speos jurqsodw) 40 s0fey early Apnis | y4eg D140ISIH AIeIS uOISSIW eWISJINdg e7 Aq) WA NOILVNV1dX43 DdJOdWO!l iN <= S STIIH 2 my med O MVING a / fe) , OOdWOT ‘ \ peoy ey ;ewsey-S0duI074 \ MINS, AA1TWA © Faw JAI), vild VINVS Dye Nom. vote Ys saliva 22 peoy sayony JOdwOl dvwW XJGNI 1 JNNDIS \aIuQ SOUU9g SOT = -—-— — yOnpanby Auepunog yueg —:-— Ppeoy ILLGNd Parked Speoy ddLAUagS = =——— — syuyed 004 U4d4SLI WUWd JIYOLSTH JLVLS NOISSIW WWISTUNd V1 “e JuNndgI4 Ve S 1534 OF IWAYALNI HNOLNOO - = = SYSLAW O00F OO€ 00¢ Oot 0 os oot 3 A a: {334 00rl 0021 000! 008 009 OOF 002 0 OSt OO€ aWwoOs eae TTT = Ly feery fl y \: ~~ raw ees Ee é / / Aiesieh : ae 2s ae / ry eat a é. BiusO}I ‘90d weg ‘oodwo7 yied DHO}SIH 9}81S UOISSI) BWISLINd &) Fig. 3. Purisima Canyon: View from "Cross" on eastern side of canyon, northwestward to the Purisima Hills (background). La Purisima Mission and Lompoc Valley occur out-of-sight and down canyon to the southwest. Burton Mesa occurs to the west (left), foothills of the Purisima Hills to the east (right) and tree-lined Los Berros Creek on the canyon floor (left-center). Also visible are the east and west (El Camino Real) canyon roads, the stone aqueduct that traverses the cultivated field, the wetlands associated with the lower reservoir (upper right-center), filterhouse (right-center), and smithy (lower left-center). A new channel, cut by overflow from Los Berros Creek in 1983, traverses the cultivated field. onshore flow combined with an atmospheric inversion that traps cool moist air at low elevations, characterizes this coastal region and is heaviest during late spring and early summer mornings. Temperature and precipitation data have been recorded for Santa Maria, approximately 20 miles north of the Park (Table 1). The region is characterized by relatively cool summers and mild winters. This is illustrated by the average temperature in the warmest month (September) that is only about 13° higher than the coolest month (January). The average minimum temperature in the coolest month is well above freezing and there is a considerable lag in the summer warming trend. These phenomena are due in part to the maritime nature of the region. TABLE 1. Temperature and Precipitation Data From Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County (Elford, C.R., 1972) Temperature Precipitation Month .Maximum | Average | Average | Average | Minimum Average max imum minimum (aE) (oF) (in.) January AO) 54 ot 2.84 February al =a} 4 2.90 March 0 33 9 2506 April 4 26 sf 1.19 May ok 6 sk eee June A) 6 Oy | 14 July 6 eZ Ale: ~03 August 9 4 39 303 September Ail .8 G5 a6 October 3 4 i) -60 November 4 ah 8 1.02 December .0 4 <8 2.50 Year 4 Ato) aif: 13337 Precipitation in northwestern Santa Barbara County has a mediter- ranean pattern: winter rain and summer drought. Over 90% of the average annual precipitation falls during a six-month period (November to April). The average total rainfall for May through September is under one inch. July and August are the driest months and December through February are the wettest. The summer drought is probably ameliorated by the cool temperatures and high humidity. The environmental conditions of La Purisima Mission are even more moderate from those sites for Santa Maria. There are fewer frost nights in winter and fewer hot days in summer. Geology - Though only one formation (Fig. 4) is mapped, two forma- tions are found within the Park. The older, late Pliocene/Pleistocene Paso Robles Formation was found exposed in only one location - at a roadcut above Rucker Road, near the intersection of Rucker and Lompoc- Casmalia Roads. According to Dibblee (1950), the Paso Robles Formation is made up of poorly consolidated conglomerates, sandstones and clays. At the roadcut, it is composed of lenses of pebble and cobble conglom- erate interbedded with finer, silty sandstones and siltstones. All of the sediments are poorly sorted and are crossbedded in places. The coarser conglomerates form channels in the finer sediments suggesting that tne rocks were deposited by streams, possibly on an alluvial flood- plain. The Orcutt Formation is younger, reaches its maximum thickness of 150 feet in the western Purisima Hills and, though undetermined, may have a comparable thickness in the Park. This formation has an unconformable lower contact, a shallow south dip, and is composed of unconsolidated, medium grained, massive, light tan sand. It was probably derived from beaches towards the west, from which it was carried and deposited by wind during the Quaternary Period. Quaternary alluvium fills all major stream channels and canyons. In the Park, the northern portion of Purisima Canyon has loamy silt with 10 small quantities of sand and gravel. To the south, this depth undoubt- edly increases and the alluvium reaches its maximum thickness where the Canyon opens up into Lompoc Valley. In this area, according to Upson and Thomasson (1951), the depth of the alluvium in northeastern Lompoc Valley is 170 feet, composed of 120 feet of sand and clay and 50 feet of underlying gravel. Regionally, the rocks that underlie the Orcutt Formation, in the area of Lompoc Valley, Burton Mesa, and the Purisima Hills, have been folded into a series of alternating major and minor folds that trend approximately N75°W. Generally, valleys correspond to synclines, and ridges or hills to anticlines. Both the Purisima and Santa Rita Hills are anticlines. Northeast of the Park, the Purisima Hills outline the Purisima Anticline. Northwest of the Park, in tne Lompoc 0i1 Fields, the Purisima Anticline grades into the Lompoc Anticline (Dibblee, 1950). West and southwest of the Park, the Burton Mesa and Lompoc Valley are made up of rocks that have undergone considerably less deformation than those in the Purisima Hills. According to Dibblee (1950), the lesser amount of deformation west of the Park may be due to a wedge of Franciscan Formation, approximately 3000 feet (915 m) below the surface and beneath the Lompoc Anticline, that broadens towards the ocean and pinches out in Santa Rita Valley. This wedge may. have been stabilized by earlier periods of deformation and thus may be less responsive to compression, making the overlying rocks also less susceptible to this compression. The Orcutt Formation made it impossible without drilling to determine positively the structure within the Park. However, from geomorphological evidence and previous work, a possible structure can be 1] "(0G6T) AALqqig wous paydepe sem Mo|aq dew ay, “4Sea JYy OF SaSLU yeyy apeub azeuapow eB YZLM adojS pazIaSsip-wesauys eB (2 pue suokue) euwLSLAng JO 4SaM 9Yyy 0} AL ydnuge sast4 yeyz eSoW 4eL 4 Sabue, e ([T ssulessay jeotBoloyduowoab yourqsip A[uLejy OMZ Bue BABY { >yueg 94yz UL suoAURD pue sjeuUeYd weaijs uofeuw [[e S{[Lf WNLAN|Le Aueusazenh S4sAeMoy "yURq DLUOFSLH 39L9S UOLSSLW PWLSLUNgG eT ULYZLM paddew UOLzeWUO;S oibojoab Ajuo ayy St uoLyewso4 44NIWQ SY] WNLAN{ Ly Aveusazenh [190 | UOLJeWUOY 74yNd4Q AuPusszenh [25 A901039 “pb JUuNdI4 12 1334 0b IWAYSLNI HNOLNOO [CERT RASS SeeeED EE RTE mm oe SYALAW OOP oo€ 00¢ ool 0 OS OO- SS ed 1344 00v! 002! 000! 008 009 OOF 002 O OSI ODE a1voSs 107 Buyyse ay O1y uOo!ESiWy, ra ie Sela BIWIOWNED ‘oodWO7 YL DUOYSIH B}Je}S UOISSIP] BWISHNd e] deduced. According to Woodring and Bramlett (1950) the Santa Rita Syncline extends as far west as southern Cebada Canyon, just east of the Park. Because Purisima Canyon bends from a nearly north-south trend north of the Park to a northwest-southeast trend in the northern half of the park, it becomes more or less parallel to the location in which the Santa Rita Syncline would be found if it extended westward. Thus, the geologic structure of the Orcutt Formation in the Park might be that of a syncline and the location of Purisima Canyon in the Park might be due to the alignment of Los Berros Creek with the trough of the Syncline. The geologic history of the Lompoc Region has been discussed in de- tail by Dibblee (1950). Although most of this history will not be sum- marized here, some events of the recent geologic past were important in the development of land forms within the Park. These current land forms provide the major habitats that support the present plant communities. The San Rafael Uplift, occurring in the Burton Mesa and Purisima Hills during the Oligocene, exposed various formations to extensive erosion. Uplift in northern Santa Barbara County came to an end in the late Miocene, not to resume until the Pleistocene. In the late Miocene, the San Rafael Uplift subsided beneath sea level and deposition began of the Monterey and younger Sisquoc Formations, the oi] and diatomite bearing formations in the northern Santa Barbara area. The subsidence was Of fairly long duration, continuing throughout the late Miocene, Pliocene and into the early Pleistocene. Submergence came to an end in the Pleistocene with the development of the San Rafael and Santa Ynez Mountains. The forces that formed these mountains influenced the area in several ways. They increased sedimenta- tion rates to fill valleys and drive back the sea, caused considerable 14 deformation that further tightened preexisting folds, and in the Purisima Hills formed the anticline that shapes them today. From the middle of the Pleistocene to recent times, the area has been exposed to at least two erosional cycles. The first cycle, in the late Pleistocene, reduced Burton Mesa to a flat plain and rounded off the Purisima Hills. Subsequently, much of the lowlands, including Burton Mesa and the southwestern flank of the Purisima Hills, were buried under the wind-blown Orcutt Formation. Following erosion, sediments from the neighboring hills and mountains filled Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valleys. Later, in the Pleistocene, four stages of uplift raised the hills and mountains to their present heights and triggered the second period of erosion. It was during this time that the land forms in the Park were initiated. Down-cutting of canyons by stream channels was resumed, Burton Mesa was partially cut by new channels, and lateral erosion formed and eventually filled the flood plains that comprise Santa Ynez and Lompoc Valleys. Water is one of the most valuable resources of the Park and is available as a result of the geologic structure of the area. Several springs and seeps are located at the base of the hills along the east side of Purisima Canyon, with at least one seep west of the Canyon on the southern portion of the Park. These springs are an important factor in determining the diversity of wetland vegetation. They also were invaluable to the Mission during the early to middle 1800's. Today, several of the original structures designed to make this water available to the Mission have been restored, including several cisterns, tne filterhouse, and a stone aqueduct (Fig. 2). 15 Soils - Within the Park there are three major subdivisions of soils that have been derived from the Orcutt Formation: the Arnold, Elder, and Marina Series. These are further subdivided into 8 members according to slope (Fig. 5). The Arnold sand is an excessively-drained soil that is light brown to very pale brown. It extends to a maximum depth of 55 inches (141 cm), becoming very pale brown, soft and porous beneath. In the Park it is found at elevations from 200 to 360 feet (61-109 m), and is subdivided into two members: ArD, (5 to 15% slopes), is an average of 40 inches thick; and ArF, (15 to 45% slopes), is more porous, and is 40 to 60 inches (103-154 cm) thick. According to Shipman (1972), the Arnold Soils support a wide range of vegetation. He states that north-facing Slopes support a dense growth of oaks with a sparse undercover composed of annual grasses, forbs, and Central Coastal Scrub. In comparison, south-facing slopes are much less densely vegetated and are covered with a greater number of grasses, herbs and shrubs, and fewer, widely- scattered oaks. Within tne Park, Arnold sand is not mapped on any north- facing slopes. The second series, the Elder sandy loam, is a well-drained soil with a surface layer 23 inches (59 cm) thick, made up of dark gray sandy loam that is underlain by a light brownish-gray stratified sandy loam which contains some finer components. In the Park it is found primarily within Purisima Canyon where it occurs on slopes of 0 to 15% from an elevation of 120 to 200 feet (39.6-61 m). It has been subdivided into three members: EdA2 (0 to 2% slopes); EdC2 (2 to 9% slopes); and EdD2 (9 to 15% slopes). Elder soils support a variety of annual grasses, forbs, and oaks (Shipman, 1972). Within the Park, most of the Elder soil has either been cultivated, or is wetland. 16 The last series, the Marina sand, is an excessively-drained sandy soil composed of approximately 23 inches (60 cm) of light brown loamy Sand, containing thin clay bands overlying light brown pink sand that extends to a depth of 60 or more inches (154 cm). The three members in the Park are as follow: MaA (0 to 2% slopes); MaC (2 to 9% slopes); and MaE (9 to 30% slopes). Shipman (1972) states that Marina soils support a sparse population of annual grasses, forbs, brush, and scrubby live oaks. However, within the Park Marina sand tends to support a dense mixture of Central Coastal Scrub, Chamise Chaparral, and scattered oaks on north- facing slopes, and Mixed Central Coastal Scrub and annual grasses on south-facing slopes. History and Land Use - The history of La Purisima Mission (Mission La Purisima Concepcion de Maria Santisima) has been documented in a booklet, published by the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation (Engbeck, undated), from which this summary was made. La Purisima Mission was the eleventh mission to be established in California. The original site was at Lompoc where construction began in 1788. That mission was destroyed by an earthquake in 1812. Purisima Canyon (La Canada de Los Berros or the Canyon of Watercress) was chosen as the new site because of the adequate supply of water, good soil and location on E] Camino Real. The first building was completed in 1815. The total Native American population in the vicinity of the Mission was about 1000 during the first year but declined to 662 by 1824 and to 160 by 1846. La Purisima Mission was abandoned in 1834, following secular- ization of the missions, and began to fall into ruin after 13836. During the early 20th century the remaining ruins were slowly covered by drifting silt and sand. *sadols $0 AJaLUeA APLM B UO UNDO puke PaULeUp-A[BALSSBDX9 4O PaULeup-| [aM gue yeyz weo, Apues uo spues aue S[Los asayy [euaueh ut *(Z/6T Suawdiys) MOLeq pezeuysn{{t Se paplLALpqns wayyuNns aue asayt "SalLuas PeuULUeW pue Suap,z ‘SpLOuUuy ayy “S{LOS JO SUOLSLALPGns swofew aauyzy Aq paZLUaJIeUPYD SL YUP ILUOFSLH 99LIS UOLSSLW PULSLANG 7] (ado|s %6-2) (ado[s %OE€-6) pues euLueW - weo] Apues 4aplz - 29P3 HT] (adols %2-0) (ado[s %6-Z) pues suLueW - weo | Apues sapl,y - ZvP3 = (ado,s %2-0) pues eulueW - YEW |, *, (ado|[S %Gp-ST) pues plousy - 44y al ado,{s %GT-6) weo ] Apues yvaplyz - ZaPI Z ado[s %GT-G) pues plLousy - Quy = ) Cae = S1IOS °S JYNIS 18 1444 0b IWAYALNI YNOLNOO SS SS ST ws in| SYALAW OOF 00€ 00¢ ool QO Os OOL Se Se Es a DES Feeney eee en — | 1534 00r1 002t 000! 008 009 OOF O02 O OSI O0E AOS AEE) Se TF) YR DUOJSIH B}eIS UOISSIF BwiIsUNg eT Restoration of the site by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began in 1934 and continued through 1941. Various parcels of land were donated by the Catholic Church and Union Oil Company. Santa Barbara County and the State joined to purchase additional land, bringing the total holdings to 507 acres (205.2 hectares) before construction began. It was originally named La Purisima Mission State Historical Monument. A nursery was established by the CCC to landscape the area once restoration was completed. Land use during the mission period included cultivation of the bottomlands of Purisima Canyon and grazing by cattle and _ sheep. Additionally, an extensive water system, including dams, reservoirs, aqueducts, filterhouse, and cisterns was constructed. Native American use of the area included the gathering of seeds and use of local plants in making baskets. They also may have burned vegetation to promote annual species of plants they harvested for food (J. Timbrook, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, personal communication). Subsequent land use and significant disturbances within the Park have been mapped and interpreted using a series of aerial photographs (Fig. 6). These include cultivation of areas, removal of vegetation and construction of firebreaks. A chronological sequence for these distur- bances is described in the caption for Fig. 6 and the effects of these disturbances are described in the section BOTANICAL RESOURCES. Habitats - Habitats of the Park are defined largely by the geology, soils, climate, and land use practices. Geological deformation of sand deposits and erosion are responsible for the general geomorphology of the area. The sediments and soils produced by these processes and the availability of water contribute to the nature of the substrates. The 20 Mediterranean climate of the region, including strong coastal influences, is an important environmental factor with characteristic wind, tempera- ture and precipitation regimes affecting the nature of the habitats. Furthermore, the history of land use and habitat disturbance, including agriculture, access, vegetation removal, arson fires, and development of water resources, have contributed significantly to the status of habitats for the botanical resources. Habitats of the Park include two major types - upland areas and wetlands. Wetland habitats are characterized by substrates that are either seasonally or permanently flooded or that have water tables at or near the surface. Vegetated wetlands are dominated by hydrophytes that are adapted to growing in undrained hydric soils. All other habitats belong to the upland type and are characterized by well-drained soils. Upland habitats of the Park include major geomorphological features such as mesas, ridges, and slopes. Variations within these features include disturbed areas such as roads, scraped areas, wind-blown expo- Sures, Cultivated areas, mission grounds, and burns. The prominent mesa west of Purisima Canyon (Fig. 2) is characterized by a nearly flat-topped portion as well as a west and southwest sloping area and a small ridge along the northeastern margin. Excessively-drained soils characterize much of the area, although those on the uppermost plateau are more compacted than those on the gently-sloping lower plateau of the south- western portion of the mesa. Some areas with exposed substrates contain open, wind-blown, sand habitats; others include sandstone outcrops or exposed sand and gravel in beds of roads and trails. Moderate to steep slopes are major features of the Park and are important habitats for plants because the grade and direction of slope 2] *“T96T 4974e Pauopuege auaMm syeauqaul 4 sow *pourejuLew aue saduaplseu jjeqs yued pue UOLSSLW 924z 4O Spunoub puR speou BILAUBS PUR PayeALZ[ND sue uUoAUeD ewWLSLUNg JO Spuel,WOZII0q |9Yyy Al quauunj *ydeubo oud [eLuae p/6T BY} UO paueadde 4L JO adUapLAa OU se ‘Sauty ABuaua mo, e Al qeqoud sem J] “SadUaPLSau 4jeysS yYued Jy 0} PuRMysea *peOuU BdLAUBS eSAaW 3Yy UL Puaqg UuaySaMYyNOS BY} ABAO YULOg YNOYOO] JO AZLULILA BY WOU PauuNnd90 UNG e& Jey MOYS SP4OdIU YUeg “H/T 0} 4Olud uo Bulunp yeauqauts e AG pauLeqzUOD SeM SAW |9YZ SSOUDe 4SaM/4Sea papuauy yeu JUL} UOSUR YBYJOUY *9ULJ UOSUR UR ULEYUOD OF eSaW) BYy UO pazINUysSUOD uUsaq pey yYeauqauLJ Jofew e& y4eq BYR ULYILM “Y4Rg BY JO YJUOU YL LNG Useq peYy yUaWdoO|arAap Bulsnoy s{[ LH UOLSSLW 944 T96T AG “yYReUG YA ULYJLM pueg ULYY e 4daoxad yeauq |Yyy WOU PaAOWaU Sem uoLzeqyaban [Le ALLenquLA YyoLyM Bulunp *y4eg Bayz JO uwayaWiuad ayy Jo YOnW puNOuR yRauqaul 4 e JO UOLJINUZSUOD BYY SEM FHGET YILM SNoOaueuodwajU07 *adAy AyLunwwod Hutyseuyuod e Aq 3ng SHG6T Aq paqzeqabareu ALayaldwod sem a4yLS SLU, “*Y4eg BUA JO YQUOU RaUuR BALSUayXa ue WwOujJ SB [ [aM Se eSawW 9Yyy JO UOLJUOd UsaYyJUOU |Uy WOUJ PaAOWaU Sem UOLAe\aHaA au0W vS61T Pue SGT UsaMJaq BWLJOWOS ‘eSawW ayy JO RauR [euqzuad pue uLbuew uuaysam ayy Buole UOL}eIaHIA JO [RAOWAA papn,_ UL pOLuad SLY UOJ DOUeqUNASLP 4waYyyQ ‘dew ayz UL papnyiduUL gue UALOAYIS94 puRe Wep 9Yyy *SaqLsS yUuadefpe pue uoAuRD eWLSLUNg UL SPaue paqzeAL ANI 0} UOLJLppe Ul “PEST ult uebaq saouapisau jjeqys yued JO uolLyoNuysuod pue spunoub pure SHULPLLNG UOLSSLW BY JO UOLZEUOYSaU S9uOWUaYJUNY “QEGT UL payeALaynd Aj qeqoud sem eaur owes SLY} JO YOnW S4YBABMOH “*(GT8T °e29) uoAUeD) eULSLUNg UL UOLSSLW BYR JO YUSsWYSL{qeysa ay} OF yORG saqyep Alqeqoud ydeuboyoud gEeET 9Yyy ULM SNOaUReYOdWayUO0D aq 03 Suradde yeyuy aouequnysitp jo Aytuofew aul *yuasaud sem |euuedeyy pue|poomM usado auaym yuLod 2 0} pausvAOdeu peYy UOL}ZeYaHaA pue |ayzep saL[ Yea aWOS 4e paqunysip useq pey eSaW U4aysaM 94} JO UOLJUOd e 4eYZ payeuqsni [lt (SE6T) PLge_LeAe ydeuboyoud ysaplo au, ‘adeodspue| Y4eqd F9YZ JO BIUeGUNYSLP BALSUaYXd PaleaAdu sydeuboyoud |eluse jo uOoLyeyauduaquyT aoueqUNASLG JO POLUag payzewLysy Y sudeuboyoug [eLuay 4o ajzeg AMOLSTH JONVEUNLSTIC GNV 3SN GNWT °9 JyNdI4 22 Lompoc, California ion State Historic Park ISS M isima La Pur ey ooo ee SCALE 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 FEET 300 150 0 400 METERS 200 300 100 100 50 O [a CONTOUR INTERVAL 40 FEET affect the vegetation profoundly. The most prominent feature of this type in the Park is the well-dissected slope along the east side of Purisima Canyon. It is characterized by a moderate grade rising to the east. This slope is dissected by canyons that drain into Purisima Canyon and are separated by well-rounded, west-sloping ridges or divides. These divides are composed of predominantly north- and south-facing slopes that provide strongly contrasting environmental conditions influenced most by differential exposure to sunlight. The lower slopes and margins of bottomlands of canyons serve as sinks for sand eroded from the divides. These sands are usually deep and loose, resembling habitats of coastal dunes. Such habitats also are found locally on mesas, where they may occur either in basins, at wind-blown exposures, or on disturbed Surfaces. In general, the Park is characterized by many slopes which are oriented in various directions and have various substrates, thus provid- ing a series of habitats with different growing conditions. Additional upland plant habitats are influenced strongly by the activities of man. Cultivated areas, such as the floor of Purisima Canyon, mission grounds, and the various plantations, provide habitats not only for cultivated plants, but also for numerous naturalized and weedy native species. Furthermore, disturbed surfaces along roads, trails, and scraped areas are habitats for many species. Most wetland habitats of the Park have been altered significantly, and although many natural areas exist, most have been affected by historical or current operations connected with La Purisima Mission. For example, the bottomlands of canyons that dissect the eastern slope are apparently natural wetlands, but dams erected during the 19th century created reservoirs that flooded the bottomlands. These reservoirs have 24 filled largely with silt and support extensive vegetated wetlands. They are undoubtedly different from the original wetlands even though they are dominated by many native hydrophytes. A pond still existing behind the upper dam in the Park contains habitats that did not exist before impoundment of the canyon. Likewise, the stone aqueduct and various cisterns are man-made wetland areas that support hydrophytes. Several natural seeps along the eastern side of Purisima Canyon are the source of water for the largely perennial wetlands (i.e., reservoirs, aqueduct). Other habitats, for example Los Berros Creek and upstream bottomlands of canyons, are flooded or contain saturated soils only seasonally. 25 B Ont, (AGN ECT ACE = REE, SmORUERE CHESS Vegetation Although there have been some investigations of the vegetation of Burton Mesa and the Purisima Hills (e.g., Barbour & Johnson, 1977; Cole, 1980), no comprehensive work has been conducted at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park previous to our investigation. The oldest vegetation map for the site (Burk, 1941) has poor resolution and was made when the Lompoc Quadrangle was mapped during the determination of vegetation types in California for the Forest Service and California Range and Experiment Station. Plant communities listed in that work for the vicinity of the Mission include sagebrush, Chamise Chaparral, grasslands, and sagebrush with a mosaic of woodland species, in addition to cultivated areas. Current vegetation of the Park (Fig. 7) consists of two basic types, upland and wetland. They are dependent largely upon the type of water regime influencing substrate conditions (see: Physical Environment). Furthermore, the distribution of various plant communities (Figs. 8 & 9) is related closely to habitat, particularly geomorphologic features, substrate, and the history of disturbance for each site. The following are descriptions of the various categories of vegetation interpreted during this study. They are grouped according to the two basic types, and subsequently according to standard classification schemes. Upland Vegetation - Vegetation of uplands (Fig. 7) was classified (Appendix I) according to Cheatham and Haller (1975), and consists of 5 major categories (Dune, Scrub and Chaparral, Grasslands, Woodlands, and Forests), containing a total of 11 subdivisions or "communities." These 26 communities are described below in the order in which they appear in this classification. NORTHERN COASTAL DUNE SCRUB - Usually restricted to dune systems closer to the coast, this community at the Park occurs largely on the excessively-drained Marina sand, particularly where the sand is deep and loose. As a mapped unit, it is restricted to only a few localities, but occurs on several physiographic features, including mesa flats and ridge slopes. It appears as an open scrub community, having numerous herbaceous species and smaller Shrubs occurring in a grassland associa- tion. Characteristic species of this community are listed in the Classification of Upland Vegetation (Appendix I). The distributions of several dominant species are illustrated in Fig. 10, as are those of Central Coastal Scrub, a community with which Northern Coastal Dune Scrub often intergrades (Cheatham & Haller, 1975). Lupinus chamissonis and Ericameria ericoides are perhaps the most characteristic species that occur in examples of this community from the immediate coast as well as the study area (Fig. 11). The presence of Lupinus albifrons, and other dominant shrubs more characteristic of non-coastal communities, indicates the inland nature of this variation of Northern Coastal Dune Scrub. Perhaps the most well-developed example of dune scrub at the Park is located on the western mesa along a service road just west of park staff residences (Fig. 12). A check list for the species occurring here (Locality 1) has been compiled (Appendix V). Of particular interest at this site is the westward transition of Northern Coastal Dune Scrub upslope to Central Coastal Scrub and California Mixed Chaparral. Chaparral species occurring in this transition zone include Adenostoma 2/7 "440M Plalj Hulunp satuepunog Aueutwttaud ayy jo Buryx.ayO yuanbasqns Aq pue ydeuboyoud [PLuee ue woujs Burddew jLerqiut Aq payeaul{ap auam SaLyLunwWwOD ayy JO Saluepunog ‘saLoads queuLwop ayy JO AYLSUBALP yO s|doUepUNge ‘ADUaNbav} Jy} dazeuysn{|{t you saop dew ayy *“UdAIMOH = “SaZeLIOSSe 4JO UOLYNGLuySLp |Yyy pue SaLdads yueULWOP JO UOLJeULWUa ap [eNSLA yBnouyy payeuduaquL sem uoLyzyeyaban ayy ‘*syoquds Bbultdde;uaao Aq paquasaudau aue seaue [PuOLzLSueuy assay, *AYLUNWWOD BUD UeYY BuOW JO SyUaUia,a yuoddns yueg JY ULYILM Sze qLqeY Auew *“MOLOG paqyeuySnN[{ [lL SL SaLZLUNWWOD asSayy JO UOLINGLuystp [euauab asauy *SUOL4 -eLd0Sse asayy BHuowe sdiysuoLyepau jerzeds xajduiod Aq paztuayoeueyd SL pue saLzLUNWWOod que{d Auew JO SYSLSUOD YAURg ILUOFSLH 39L9S UOLSSLW eWLSLUNg e7 JO UOLWeYaBaA au, spue | 19M paysauo4 pue qnays/qnuss auluysnied «% i @ og S9404 HPQ SAL] 4Se07 pue 3am qnays/qn4ds aulaqsn[ed paqeary[ng jeuuedeuy paxty pue,yomM yYUsbuawyz auluysn[eg es] PeZL[ PIO, YFLM Leuuedeuy asiweyy) Sspue| 3m qnuos aung [eyseo) UsauqUOoN payue;d ‘sauld poonpouqut wo sALyeu *syeg uapuey snydAjeony Jadddg uel{Lzeug Spue,|pOOM paonpouquT Pp > Sasseug padnpOujuy asuequowsiy fir qnuos [eyseo) [eujquay SN HU ssauda9 ynulem i] oO i awoona ul = pue|sseuy aALqJeN auequowsiy Ff, spue | dp pue{poom yeg [Le yseo) usayyNOS NOILWLS9SA “2 JundIs 28 Lompoc, California La Purisima Mission State Historic Park +4 —) vt Bs z ro) wo > 4 || olf & Se | Ba Pan te { Feo Hen M4 Woneaase, rd ify 1/87 Pay, Hp tots Wo th Ht) en wh ry 4 i ty 23 Hat ty 5 edgy taste if H +) # Vell dadelet did tH] Ht ee) MPN AP LOT 4 LLM «DEAD, it i | : FS eH SEINE Oo muOT WY OUOISIH 9}B}IS UOISSI| BWISLNG ey Fig. 11. Northern Coastal Dune Scrub: View from vicinity of Upper Reservoir, southeastward over the western portion of canyon divide. The Site is a west-facing slope characterized by loose, loamy sand. Dominant shrubs include Artemisia californica, Ericameria ericoides, Lupinus albifrons, L. chamissonis, and Rhamnus californica. Dominant herbaceous perennials or subshrubs include Croton californicus and Horkelia cuneata. Numerous annuals occur among the shrubs, such as Bromus spp., cryptantha clevelandii, Lasthenia_ californica, Layia glandulosa, Orthocarpus purpurascens, Senecio californicus, and Vulpia myuros. Fig. 12. Northern Coastal Dune Scrub: View from service road west of park staff residences, northward across the southern portion of the western mesa. This broad shallow depression on the mesa has a substrate of loose sand, in contrast to the more compacted substrates of much of the higher plateau in the background. Dominant shrubs include Artemisia californica, Corethrogyne filaginifolia, Ericameria ericoides, Eriophyllum confertitlorum, Lupinus albifrons, lL. chamissonis, and Rhamnus californica. An extremely diverse herbaceous flora is characteristic of this site. This community is transitional to both Central Coastal Scrub and Mixed Chaparral on the slope in the background. Coast Live Oaks appear on the horizon, scattered through the scrub and chaparral vegetation. 34 Fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos rudis, Ceanothus ramulosus, C. impressus, Leptodactylon californicum, Mimulus aurantiacus, and Salvia mellifera. Scattered oaks (Quercus agrifolia) and many widespread shrubs (e.g., Artemisia californica, Rhamnus californica, R. crocea) also occur here. This association is quite similar to scrub vegetation occurring nearby on the inland coastal dunes at Vandenberg Airforce Base, where dune scrub has been suggested as successional to chaparral (Barbour & Johnson, 1977). CENTRAL COASTAL SCRUB - This community is developed best on south- facing slopes with well-drained or excessively-drained soils, such as the Marina sand with a 9-30% slope (Fig. 5). Examples occur on divides of the dissected eastern slope of Purisima Canyon (Fig. 13). Central Coastal Scrub can appear in several forms: 1) as dense scrub vegetation with dominants including from one to many shrub species; 2) as scattered shrubs in a grassland setting; and 3) in mixed associations with plants from adjacent communities. It is transitional between Northern Coastal Scrub and Coastal Sage Scrub and contains occasional individuals of at least one southern species (Encelia californica), a plant that reaches its northern limit near the Park and is characteristic of Coastal Sage Scrub of southern California. Species characteristic of Central Coastal Scrub are listed in the Classification of Upland Vegetation (Appendix I), and the occurrence of several dominant species is illustrated in Fig. 10. Dominants vary depending on the geographic location within the Park, the nature of the habitat, and the degree of disturbance. For example, Prunus fasciculata var. punctata is codominant with a number of species (¢.g., Artemisia californica, Ericameria ericoides, Eriophyllum confertiflorum, Phacelia 36 ramosissima, Rhamnus spp., and others) in open scrub and grassland on the eastern slope of the Park, but does not occur anywhere on the western mesa. Other associations include dense scrub dominated primarily by Salvia mellifera on south-facing upper slopes of divides to the east of Purisima Canyon, and dense scrub dominated by many shrub species (e.g., pGgvemiSiia Californica, Baccharis. pilularis, Encelia californica, Ericameria ericoides, Mimulus aurantiacus, Rhamnus spp., Salvia mellifera, and Senecio douglasii) on upper slopes and crests of south- facing slopes of the western mesa. Species lists for several areas (e.g. Localities 3 & 20) have been prepared (Appendix V). Dominants of Central Coastal Scrub also vary significantly depending on the degree of disturbance of an area. For example, previously cultivated or disturbed slopes along the margins of Purisima Canyon, particularly the eastern side, are characterized by scattered plants of Baccharis pilularis in Cismontane Introduced Grasses (Fig. 14). Lupinus arboreus occurs occasionally at these sites. Upper portions of these same slopes usually are more densely vegetated with both Central Coastal Scrub and Mixed Chaparral. In turn these communities are often followed by Coast Live Oak Forest on north-facing slopes that rise above the disturbed sites. Other disturbed areas include portions of the western mesa containing dominants of Central Coastal Scrub, chaparral] and Southern Coastal Oak Woodland (Fig. 7). The vegetation of such disturbed areas will be covered in another section of this report (see: The Effects of Disturbance on the Vegetation). In addition to the occurrence of Central Coastal Scrub species in disturbed areas, there also are numerous examples where intermixing of Species occurs in transition to other communities. Perhaps the best 37 Fig. 13. Central Coastal Scrub: View from margin of eastern road in Purisima Canyon northeast of Lower Reservoir, eastward up ridge on the dissected foothill slope. Dominant shrubs include Artemisia californica, Baccharis pilularis, Ericameria ericoides, Eriophyllum confertiflorum, and Rhamnus californica. Cismontane Introduced Grasses occur on the lower slope and Southern Coastal Oak Woodland and Chaparral occurs on the upper slope and crest of the ridge. A naturalized cactus, Opuntia ficus- indica (left), is occasional at this site. Fig. 14. Central Coastal Scrub and Cismontane Introduced Grasses: View from margin of eastern road in Purisima Canyon, southeastward to cross on crest of foothill] slope. This previously cultivated/grazed field is ina successional phase from Cismontane Introduced Grasses to Central Coastal Scrub, dominated by Baccharis pilularis. Lupinus arboreus also is common here, suggesting that elements o une scrub are also present in this phase of succession. Coast Live Oak Forest (background) occurs on the north-facing slope. 38 I: mete - ns aha f s ae eal 4 i Pea th whys at example of this occurs on the western mesa just west of the park staff residences (Fig. 7). Northern Coastal Dune Scrub dominates the loose sandy soil of a broad, shallow basin. North and northwest on a low- grade, northwest-rising slope this community is transitional to Central Coastal Scrub, which in turn is transitional to and mixed with chaparral and Southern Coastal Oak Woodland communities that dominate the plateau on the mesa. In contrast to the transitional nature of some examples, other margins of Central Coastal Scrub are characterized by abrupt changes. At one particular example, the vicinity of Locality 26 (Appendix IV), a Slope dominated by Salvia mellifera terminates at its downslope limit with a narrow "bare zone." Here virtually no shrubs occur and only scattered herbaceous species grow. Northern Coastal Dune Scrub and grassland occur adjacent to this zone. Such patterning of vegetation has been attributed to the inhibitory effects of volatile compounds leached from plants such as S. mellifera. First described by Muller et al. (1964), the history of investigation into this process has been summarized for Southern Coastal Scrub by Mooney (1977), who includes much of Central Coastal Scrub within this broader category. CHAPARRAL - Chaparral vegetation at the Park occurs in two major forms, California Mixed Chaparral and Chamise Chaparral. Both of these forms occur predominantly on the plateau and upper slopes of the western mesa, and on crests of ridges and upper slopes east of Purisima Canyon (Fig. 7). Tall, dense vegetation often is characteristic on Orcutt sand. Smaller, scattered dominants of Mixed Chaparral often occur at disturbed sites, such as wind-blown, south-facing margins of the western mesa, and areas where vegetation has been removed or burned. 40 Species characteristic of both forms of chaparral are listed in the Classification of Upland Vegetation (Appendix I). The occurrence of several dominant species is illustrated in Fig. 15. Although dominants vary depending on soil type, slope, and disturbance, Adenostoma fasciculatum is the most characteristic species of chaparral vegetation at the Park. This suggests that much of the vegetation can be classified as Chamise Chaparral. Arctostaphylos purissima, A. rudis, and Ceanothus ramulosus are common associates in both types of chaparral. Additional dominants of California Mixed Chaparral include Cercocarpus betuloides, Helianthemum scoparium, Heteromeles arbutifolia, lLeptodactylon californicum, Mimulus aurantiacus, Rhamnus californica, R. crocea, and Toxicodendron diversilobum (Fig. 16). Obvious correlations between the distributional patterns of Chaparral dominants and variations in the physical environment provide some insight into the factors influencing the composition of this vegetation. For example, Chamise Chaparral (Fig. 17) usually occurs on the hardest soils of mesa flats or upper slopes and is developed best in areas where there has been little recent disturbance. However, exposures of Orcutt Sand with rather sterile, disturbed soil usually are dominated by Arctostaphylos purissima and A. rudis, forming patches of Arctostaphylos Chaparral. In contrast to this type of disturbed habitat, margins of roads or paths in Chamise Chaparral support a greater diversity of species (e.g., Artemisia californica, Baccharis pilularis, Ceanothus impressus, Mimulus aurantiacus, and Leptodactylon californicum). Yet another variation includes shallow drainage troughs in terrain of Chamise Chaparral. These troughs often lack Adenostoma fasciculatum (Fig. 15), and instead are dominated by Ceanothus ramulosus. 4] "7 asNBL4 UL paqe4ysn{ LL St _qn4dg Leyseo) jeujuay Jo satoads I14St4a4 -9eueyd aue OS{e yeYUy [evuedey) paextW 40 (snoetjueune sn{nwipW pue esast{ [oul PLALeS S°b'd) satoads [euoLyLppe JO uoLynqlL4aqystp YL *paulwuazyeap aq you P[Nod Kaepunog ayy YoLYyM UL SRaue uo saloads queuLwop eB 40 UOLINGLAYSLP GYR UL Boue [PUOLZLSUR4Z e Jauyla yuas -gudau Auepunog sayy Burywew aul, eB APL 744 sjoquxs ‘“mMOLeq pezeszsn{{t st peuuedey) pax pue jessedeyg asiwey) ul SjueuLwop se BbuLsunss0 sqnuys pezde|es 40 UOLINGL4ISLP aul, “°Z aunbly ul paqeazsnt tt st uoLyeqyaban jeuuedeyg JO sdUasANIIO jeusueb aul —— nl Pad0AD ShuWeYyY wO/pue PILUJOJL [PD SNUWEYY Saplo[njeq snduedosay fi \ snsojnweu SnyzOUed) Stpnd so[Aydeysoqo4y wn}e |NoLose} ewoysoUaPY Uy bo NOTLVLIDSA WudvdvHD JO SLNWNIWOG “ST JUNST 4 42 1344 Ob IWAYALNI HNOLNOOD [ERE aS (er a) (SE RE) (ESTEE AO wes =" im SYSALAW 00r OO€ 00¢ OOL 0 OS Oot [CESSDA SAR SAE (SRSSTE EIU SEAT (SETS) “= cova che 1544 00v1 00cl 0001 008 009 OOF 002 O OSI O0E BIWIOWNED ‘oodwo7 YL OUOISI}H] 9}2}S UOISSI-| BWISUNd BT Fig. 16. Mixed Chaparral: View from vicinity of southern limit of Burton Mesa, northward up exposed slope of sand "blow out" area toward service road. Chaparral dominants include many shrubs, for example Adenostoma fasciculatum, Arctostaphylos rudis, Eriophyllum confertiflorum, Leptodactylon cCalifornicum, Lotus sco a LAE aurantiacus, aurantiacus, and Toxicodendron diversi lobum: Additional erennial Species include forkelia cuneata, Cardionema ranione Suna Croton californicus, Dudleya lanceolata, Me Melica imperfecta, and Poa scabrella. Among the numerous annual species occurring on the open sand are Crassula erecta, Cryptantha clevelandii, Eeiosylitin multicaule, Lotus strigosus, and Mimulus bevipes. Fig. 17. Chaparral: View from vicinity of service road westward to Eucalyptus trees on west side of Rucker Road. Dominants include Adenostoma fasciculatum (foreground), Artemisia californica (right- center), Cenaothus ramulosus (upper- right), and Quercus agrifolia (upper left). Additional shrubs found nearby include PetSStook Tos purissima, and A. rudis. Cultivated trees from the pine plantation are Succeed in the Teft and right background. This example of chaparral resembles the Chamise Chaparral of other areas of the Park, but has some species more characteristic of Mixed Chaparral, Southern Oak Woodland, and Central Coastal Scrub. 44 Other sites with moister conditions, such as more northerly-facing slopes, often support Mixed Chaparral. Areas where chaparral vegetation has been removed without scrapping the soil usually have a greater abundance of Ceanothus ramulosus, even though A. fasciculatum dominated the site previously and still occurs adjacent to it. Ceanothus Chaparral iS apparently successional to Chamise Chaparral in this region. Fire also has nad a major impact on the vegetation. The relationship between disturbance and the plant communities at the Park will be discussed in further detail in another section of this report (see: The Effects of Disturbance on the Vegetation). The relationship between chaparral vegetation and adjacent communities also is complex and reflects not only the long history of disturbance at some sites within the Park but also the intermediate nature of some habitats. The most obvious overlapping of community dominants is represented by the frequency of oaks (Quercus agrifolia) mixed with chaparral and Central Coastal Scrub species (Fig. 7). The resulting vegetation has been called Woodland Chaparral (Hanes, 1977). At the Park a majority of oaks in this setting have multiple trunks and probably reflect crown-sprouting from trees burned during fires. GRASSLANDS - Grassland as a mapped unit of the landscape, excluding cultivated fields, is of minor importance at the Park (Fig. 7). It occurs on flats and slopes and is associated most often with excessively- drained, loose sandy soils of the Arnold and Marina Series. Species characteristic of Cismontane Introduced Grasses and Cismontane Native Grassiand are listed in the Classification of Upland Vegetation (Appendix I). Cismontane Introduced Grasses is the most widespread form of grassland vegetation and occurs most commonly in three 46 Situations: 1) as open grassland of largely annual species in disturbed areas, often where woody vegetation has been removed and where cultivation/grazing nas occurred; 2) in stable, open scrub communities such as Northern Coastal Dune Scrub; and 3) as a successional predecessor to scrub communities, and hence mixed with species of various communities in transitional phases. In addition to various naturalized grasses (e.g., Avena spp., Bromus spp., Schismus barbatus, and Vulpia spp.) and other naturalized genera such as Erodium, numerous species of native wild flowers are also characteristic (Fig. 18). Species lists for several localities have been prepared (Appendix V) and illustrate the diversity Ofethis=flora. Of particular note are the grassland associated witn dune scrub of Locality 1 (Fig. 12) and the open grassland of Locality 17 (Fig. 18). A profusion of wild flowers occurs during years of ample winter and early spring rains. In the dune scrub community representa- tive genera include the following: Amsinckia, Camissonia, Chorizanthe, Cordylanthus, Cryptantha, Eriastrum, Eriogonum, Eriophyllum, Erysimum, Filago, Gilia, Gnaphalium, Heterotheca, Horkelia, Layia, Lessingia, Linaria, Lotus, Lupinus, Navarretia, Orthocarpus, Phacelia, and Salvia. Additional genera at Locality 17 include Collinsia, Delphinium, and Meconel la; while at other sites Microseris, Mimulus and Senecio are found. Occasional native perennial grasses sucn as Melica imperfecta and Koeleria macrantha occur with these herbaceous species when associated with scrub communities. Cismontane Native Grassland is represented only marginally and occurs more as scattered individuals characteristic of the community than as a mapped unit. For example, patches of Stipa cernua occur at tne southern edge of the western mesa (e.g., Lookout Point) and patches of 47 Stipa lepida occur in openings of chaparral and oak woodland vegetation of the southwest-facing slope of this mesa. Stipa cernua also has been found growing in a disturbed area colonized largely by Cismontane Introduced Grasses (Fig. 19). Other forms of Cismontane Native Grassland are associated with Southern Coastal Oak Woodland and Coast Live Oak Forest. Bromus carinatus often is dominant in the understory of these communities and can be associated with Claytonia perfoliata and Stachys bullata in addition to other native herbaceous species. In other examples many naturalized plants occur with Bromus carinatus, including Bromus diandrus and Sonchus oleraceus, among others. Another association can be found on the northeast-facing slope of the western mesa along the road and below Coast Live Oak Forest vegetation. The shaded, abruptly-rising lower slope is characterized by many native herbaceous species including the following: Clarkia spp., Collinsia heterophylla, Delphinium parryi, Layia paniculata, Meconella linearis, Melica imperfecta, Orthocarpus purpurascens, and Poa bulbosa. Under less shaded, more disturbed condi- tions this association would probably include many naturalized plants and hence would be classified as Cismontane Introduced Grasses. Additional associations of grassland species in habitats that are currently cultivated will be discussed at the end of this section on upland vegeta- tion. SOUTHERN COASTAL OAK WOODLAND - Oak woodland vegetation in this area is widespread and occurs both as a mapped unit and as a form (Woodland Chaparral) mixed with scrub communities such as Central Coastal Scrub, and/or Chamise or Mixed Chaparral (Fig. 7). It also grades to Coast Live Oak Forest which can be distinguished from oak woodland by a largely 48 closed canopy. At the Park, Southern Coastal Oak Woodland occurs on the mesa, ridge-crests, and slopes. Although it is found on both north- and south-facing slopes, Coast Live Oak Forest is usually characteristic of the more northerly-facing slopes. Oak woodland vegetation occurs on both the Marina and Arnold sands. As scattered trees of Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak), Southern Coastal Oak Woodland characterizes south-facing slopes and some non- wetland bottomlands and flats, and is usually associated with Cismontane Introduced Grasses or a form of Central Coastal Scrub with scattered shrubs among numerous herbaceous species (Fig. 7). As dense Woodland Chaparral, it usually occurs on the mesa plateau, crests of ridges, or northeast-facing slopes. Here it is typically associated with Heteromeles arbutifolia, Rhamnus californica, Sambucus mexicana, Toxicodendron diversilobum, and shrubs restricted more often to scrub or Chaparral vegetation, such as Arctostaphylos spp., Artemisia californica, Ceanothus ramulosus, Ericameria ericoides, and Mimulus aurantiacus. The forms of the oak trees in the various types of oak woodland reveal environmental factors that influence vegetation. For example, oak woodland of south-facing slopes is composed of individual trees usually with single enunkee However, Woodland Chaparral is characterized by oaks with multiple trunks, a phenomenon that may reflect the fire nistory of the vegetation. Trunks of oak trees severely burned during a chaparral fire will die back and new sprouts often appear from the bases of the old trees. On the western mesa trees with as many as six trunks are common. COAST LIVE OAK FOREST - This community differs from Southern Coastal Qak Woodland by having a closed rather than an open canopy (i.e., the canopies of individual trees are touching or overlapping ratner than 49 Fig. 18. Cismontane Introduced Grasses: View from east-facing slope of Burton Mesa, southeastward over floor of Purisima Canyon to foothills of the Purisima Hills. Grassland is dominated by introduced annual grasses such as Bromus diandrus, B. mollis, B. rubens and Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta, and by numerous native species. These include some perennials, such as Croton californicus, Heterotheca grandiflora, and numerous annuals, such aS Amsinckia spectabilis, Camissonia micrantha, Collinsia bartsiaefolia, Eriastrum densifolium, Layia glandulosa, Lupinus bicolor, L. truncatus, Meconella linearis, Orthocarpus purpurascens, Phacelia douglasii, Cryptantha clevelandii, Pterostegia drymarioides, and Thysanocarpus curvipes. Fig. 19. Cismontane Mixed Grassland: View from margin of pine grove, eastward across area where vegetation was removed. Cismontane Introduced Grasses (foreground), dominated by Erodium spp., are transitional to mixed grassland with elements (e.g., Stipa cernua) of Cismontane Native Grassland. Chamise Chaparral mixed with Quercus agrifolia (background) apparently dominated the site previously. Introduced pines have naturalized in a disturbed area (background). 50 Pa eee having gaps between them). Coast Live Oak Forest is usually confined to north- or northeast-facing slopes (Fig. 7), both of which are character- ized by soils of the Marina or Arnold Series. Several good examples of oak forest vegetation occur on the western side of Purisima Canyon (Fig. 20) and on slopes of ravines that dissect the eastern slope of the Park. The community is dominated by Quercus agrifolia and may include several characteristic shrubs such as Heteromeles arbutifolia, Rhamnus californica, Rubus ursinus, Sambucus mexicana, Symphoricarpos mollis, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. Occasional openings in the canopy may permit enough light to penetrate to the understory, supporting shrubs such as Arctostaphylos rudis, Ceanothus ramulosus, Ericameria ericoides, and Keckiella cordifolia. Character- istic herbaceous species of the oak forest community include Bromus carinatus, Claytonia perfoliata, and Dryopteris arguta. At the base of some north-facing slopes, Coast Live Oak Forest is often transitional to wetland vegetation (Fig. 21). In addition to Quercus agrifolia, trees of the area can include Salix laevigata and S. lasiolepis. Dominants of Emergent Wetlands (e.g., Carex spp., and Juncus spp.) also occur in the transitional vegetation. VEGETATION OF RECENTLY DISTURBED HABITATS - A group of miscellaneous upland habitats, all of which have received recent or continued distur- bance, support various associations of species which collectively or individually do not fit well into other categories of the classification scheme. These habitats usually are characterized by naturalized species. Firebreaks, roads, and paths have open sandy substrates. Firebreaks with loose sand tend to be colonized by iceplants (e.g., Carpobrotus 52 edulis and C. edulis x C. aequilaterus), while those with more compact soils may be colonized by elements of Cismontane Introduced Grasses (e.g., Erodium botrys). Service roads on the western mesa include at least two subhabitats: 1) beds with compacted sand, characterized by Spergularia bocconii, S. villosa, and others; 2) margins with loose sand, characterized by the grasses Koeleria phleoides and Schismus barbatus in addition to other naturalized species such as Cotula_ australis, Filago gallica, Lepidium virginicum, and various native species (e.g., Filago californica, Navarretia atractyloides, Sagina occidentalis, and Stylocline gnaphalioides). Paths are often colonized by the same species that occur along road margins, but frequently include more native species if they cut through open native vegetation like dune scrub rather than dense vegetation like Chamise Chaparral. The Mission and residence grounds support numerous weedy species, a checklist of which is provided in Appendix IV (Locality 15). In some of the sandier disturbed areas various natives also grow, such as Croton californicus and Eschscholzia californica. The bottomlands of Purisima Canyon are cultivated with Hordeum vulgare var. vulgare (Barley), H. vulgare var. trifurcatum (Beardless Barley), and Triticum aestivum (Wheat). However, throughout much of the field Raphanus raphanistrum is common to abundant. Margins of the field often include many naturalized species, such as Brassica geniculata, B. rapa, Sonchus asper, S. oleraceus, Spergula arvensis, Vicia sativa, and others. Wetland Vegetation - Vegetation of wetlands (Fig. 7) was classified (Appendix II) according to Cowardin et al. (1979), and consists of two systems (Riverine and Palustrine) that contain 5 major classes, namely 53 Fig. 20. Coast Live Oak Forest: View from floor of Purisima Canyon (cultivated field), southwestward to northeast-facing slope of Burton Mesa. This community is dominated by Quercus agrifolia, but supports many characteristic species. For example, shrubs are represented by Keckiella cordifolia, Heteromeles arbutifolia, Rubus ursinus, Sambucus mexicana, and Toxicodendron diversilobum; herbaceous plants by ferns (e.g., Dryopteris arguta), native grasses (e.g., Bromus carinatus) and annuals (e.g., Claytonia perfoliata and Layia paniculata). Openings in the canopy often provide enough light to support areas of Central Coastal Scrub, chaparral, and grassland. Fig. 21. Coast Live Oak Forest: View down path, westward along creek (right) through partially shaded woodland community toward Upper Reservoir. Quercus agrifolia dominates the north-facing slope. Under- story includes Rubus ursinus, Symphoricarpos mollis, and Toxicodendron diversilobum. Numerous herbaceous species Occur in Open areas and along paths. Palustrine Wetlands (right) occur adjacent to the Coast Live Oak Forest, the downslope portion of which is transitional to wetland communities. 54 Streambed, Aquatic Bed, Emergent Wetland, Scrub/Shrub Wetland, and Forested Wetland. The two systems are defined in Appendix II, and the classes are described below in the order in which they appear in this classification. STREAMBED - The Riverine System of wetlands is represented in lower Purisima Canyon only by the streambed habitat of intermittent Los Berros Creek. This wetland is mostly nonvegetated but nonpersistent emergent plants (those that die back and the above ground material of which is transported downstream) do occasionally occur and may include Epilobium adenocaulon and Oenothera hookeri. Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Water Cress), a species common to perennial streams, was not located here even tnough Los Berros Creek is named after that plant. It probably occurs in streambeds of canyons at higher elevations or at seeps similar to those in the Park. However, it could have been eliminated by the extensive flooding that occurred during the Winter of 1983. AQUATIC BED - The Palustrine System of wetlands is represented by several classes of vegetation and numerous associations of characteristic species dependent upon water regimes, substrates, and habitats. The class Aquatic Bed includes wetlands and deepwater habitats dominated by plants that grow on or below the surface of water and includes subclasses Floating and Rooted Vascular. At the Park only the floating-vascular type occurs. It is represented by two species (Azolla filiculoides and Lemna minima) that float on the surface of water in the reservoirs and along the aqueduct or in at least one cistern, and a third species (Wolffiella lingulata) that floats immediately beneath the surface of the water in the Upper Reservoir. Our collections of W. lingulata may be the only record of this species for Santa Barbara County. 56 EMERGENT WETLAND - The class Emergent Wetland is widespread and is represented by diverse associations of dominant species. This wetland type is characterized by erect, rooted, herbaceous hydrophytes, many of which are perennial species. Most of these wetlands at the Park belong to subclass Persistent, having dominant species that remain standing until the next growing season. Characteristic species of this community are listed in Appendix II. Water regime is of particular importance in determining plant associa- tions. For example, habitats that are usually permanently or semiperma- nently flooded or occasionally seasonally flooded support plants that are less tolerant of desiccated substrates. The margins of open water of the Upper Reservoir (Fig. 22) are colonized by Scirpus acutus, S. microcarpus, Sparganium eurycarpum, and Typha latifolia. Alterna- tively, the largely permanently flooded to saturated streambed above this Pecervoir supports a somewhat different association including Carex spp., Juncus spp., Oenanthe sarmentosa, Psoralea orbicularis, and Scirpus microcarpus. In contrast to these associations, the seasonally or temporarily flooded margins are characterized by species more tolerant of desiccated substrates (e.g., Carex praegracilis) and also include many upland species. In addition, species from more regularly flooded habitats that occur in the lower portions of these transitional areas also occur here. Similar associations occur at the Lower Reservoir (Fig. 23). No open water occurs at this site today because the body of the reservoir has been colonized by Scirpus acutus. Additional species (Polygonum amphibium and Sparganium eurycarpum) occur along the margin. Other associations occur above and below the reservoir. For example, in tne oi! Fig. 22. Palustrine Wetlands: View from dam of Upper Reservoir, north- eastward to vegetated wetlands at head of reservoir. Emergent Wetlands (center) are dominated by Scirpus acutus (left) and Typha latifolia (right). Forested wetlands (upper Teft and center) are dominated by Salix laevigata and S. lasiolepis. Coast Live Oak Forest (upper right) on upland adjacent to the various wetlands is dominated by Quercus agrifolia. Fig. 23. Palustrine Wetlands: View from upland on south side of Lower Reservoir, northeastward across reservoir to divide separating Upper and Lower Reservoirs. Palustrine Emergent Wetlands, dominated primarily by Scirpus acutus, have covered the reservoir. Palustrine Scrub/Shrub Wetlands, dominated by Salix lasiolepis and Baccharis pilularis, occur along the margins of the reservoir. Elements of Palustrine Forested Wetlands, for example Quercus agrifolia and Salix lasiolepis, occur scattered on the margins and up canyon (right) on the seasonally wet bottomlands. Central Coastal Scrub occurs on the south-facing slope in the background, and at the base of the north-facing slope in the fore- ground. 58 — wes saturated or seasonally flooded wetland below the dam, numerous species, including Eleocharis palustris, Elymus triticoides, Juncus spp., and Sparganium eurycarpum, have colonized flats. A dirt road occurs adjacent to this area and contains seasonally flooded, disturbed wetland, with Silty substrates that are dominated by Distichlis spicata, Gnaphalium luteo-album, Hordeum geniculatum, Juncus bufonius, Lythrum hyssopifolia, Polypogon monspeliensis, and others. In contrast, the seasonally or temporarily flooded Emergent Wetlands above the reservoir occur along bottomlands of a canyon and adjacent to Forested or Scrub/Shrub Wetland and upland habitats. The sandy substrates support a diverse mixture of wetland, transitional and upland species, some of which are restricted to the area, such as Muhlenbergia rigens, and others typically dominant in scattered locations, such as Carex praegracilis, Distichlis spicata, and Juncus textilis. Checklists for the Upper (Locality 19) and Lower (Locality 28) Reservoirs and vicinities are located in Appendix IV. Seeps are another important habitat for Emergent Wetlands and occur primarily along the eastern margin of Purisima Canyon. In open condi- tions without shading by Forested or Scrub/Shrub Wetland species, there is a nigh diversity of species. Seeps may be transitional to wet areas associated with the aqueduct or with disturbed wetlands in roads, both of which provide habitats for additional species. One such site (Locality 27, Appendix IV) supports dense vegetation at the seep (e.g., Artemisia douglasiana, Carex barbarae, Juncus effusus, J. textilis, Oenanthe sarmentosa, Psoralea orbicularis, Scirpus microcarpus, Solidago spp., and others), scattered vegetation of large and small species along margins of the aqueduct (e.g., Epilobium adenocaulon, Gnaphalium Juteo-album, Mimulus guttatus, Oenothera hookeri, Samolus parviflorus, and Scirpus 60 cernuus), a grass/rush/sedge association along the road margin (e.gq., Carex spp., Juncus spp., Lolium perenne, Polypogon monspeliensis and scattered broad-leaved species), and a disturbed, wet substrate flora in the roadbed similar to that described previously. These examples illustrate the relationship between the water regime, substrate, and other characteristics of tne habitat, as well as demonstrate the diverse and floristically rich Emergent Wetlands at the Park. SCRUB/SHRUB WETLAND - The class Scrub/Shrub Wetland is characterized by woody vegetation less than 6 meters (20 feet) tall. Plants include true shrubs, young trees, and trees or shrubs that are stunted because of environmental conditions. Emergent Wetlands are often successional to Scrub/Shrub Wetlands, which in turn are frequently transitional to Forested Wetlands. This vegetation occurs as several distinct types at the Park, each type usually corresponding to specific habitats. For example, along margins of Forested Wetlands, seeps, and streambeds in canyons, a number of shrubs occur together as a wetland thicket (Appendix II). The trough of the canyon bottomlands is often adjacent to this association and usually is dominated by Salix lasiolepis, as either a shrub or tree. A temporarily flooded, less dense wetland that is often transitional between the thicket and upland vegetation also includes a number of taxa, many of which are characteristic of upland scrub vegetation (Appendix II). Another type of Scrub/Shrub Wetland is found in disturbed areas or in the lower limits of canyon mouths. It may be vegetated by Baccharis pilularis, a colonizer of moist, disturbed habitats; or, if wet enough, also by other shrubs such as Salix lasiolepis. Both of these species 6] grow along the more recently vegetated margin of the Lower Reservoir CPagenraas). FORESTED WETLANDS - The class Forested Wetland is characterized by woody vegetation that is 6 meters tall or taller. It occurs in four habitats at the Park, but is dominated commonly by only a few species. The riparian vegetation of Los Berros Creek (Fig. 24) consists of Scrub/Shrub vegetation that is transitional to Forested Wetland. Most of this vegetation has grown since 1938. The dominant species is Salix lasiolepis. Forested Wetlands also are associated with seeps. The most well- developed example occurs on the eastern slope of Purisima Canyon (Fig. 24) and is dominated by Populus trichocarpa. A small stand of Coast Live Oak Forest, more characteristic of north-facing slopes in this region, has established on the mesic soils. Margins of reservoirs are suitable habitats for Forested weglende At the head of the Upper Reservoir are seasonally flooded and permanently saturated flats, that may have resulted from the gradual accumulation of Sediment in the reservoir. The dominant trees are Salix laevigata and S. lasiolepis, and Quercus agrifolia occurs along the outer margins (Fig. 22). The upstream and western portions of the site occur along a stream which runs partially through the Forested Wetland during peak seasonal flows (Fig. 25). Additional Forested Wetlands occur in bottomlands of the canyon above the Lower Reservoir. This vegetation has increased in cover during the past 40 years. Salix lasiolepis dominates the vegetation, although scattered individuals of Quercus agrifolia and Populus trichocarpa also occur. 62 The Effects of Disturbance on the Vegetation - La Purisima Mission State Historic Park provides an excellent opportunity to describe the succession of vegetation in disturbed habitats for several reasons: 1) different plant associations occur on similar substrates and are adjacent to each other; 2) many areas and plant communities have received at least one form of disturbance during the past 45 years, while other areas have not; 3) some of the disturbed areas nave not received addi- tional disturbance after the initial impacts, while others have received repeated disturbances; 4) much of the history of disturbance has been recorded by aerial photography starting in 1938; and 5) the current flora and vegetation of the site have been documented. These factors nave permitted us to summarize successional trends for selected areas (Fig. 26) based on the descriptive information and photographic record (see: Land Use Map, Fig. 6). Aerial photographs used in this analysis were supplied by the UCSB Map and Imagery Lab and include the following: 1) C-5140-19, 1938; 2) BTM-2K-139, 2-21-1954; 3) BTM-10K-5, 4-9-1954; BTM-5BB-101, 0-24-61; 4) BTM-2HH-31, 5-14-1967; 5) PW4742-6, 11-24-1974. AREA 1 - This portion of the western mesa is characterized by dense Chamise Chaparral. Aerial photographs reveal that the area apparently has not received any disturbance in the form of vegetation removal or burning for more than 45 years. AREA 2 = Similar to Area 1 until at least 1967, Area 2 apparently had been burned by an arson fire and surrounded by a firebreak before November, 1974. The vegetation now is characterized by both Central Coastal Scrub and Mixed Chaparral dominants and consists of shrubs Scattered among sparse herbaceous vegetation. 63 Fig. 24, Palustrine Forested Wetlands: View from slope of western mesa eastward across Purisima Canyon to eastern slope. Forested Wetlands along Los Berros Creek are dominated by Salix lasiolepis but also include Platanus racemosa, Populus trichocarpa, Salix laevigata and S. lasiandra. Forested Wetlands associated with a seep (center) along the west-facing Slope in the background are dominated by Populus trichocarpa, Quercus agrifolia and Salix lasiolepis. Fig. 25. Palustrine Forested Wetlands: View from streambed above (east) of Upper Reservoir, northward into a Palustrine Forested Wetland that occurs adjacent to stream and what remains of the reservoir. Dominant trees include Salix laevigata and S. lasiolepis. Occasional individuals of Quercus agrifolia occur transitionally between the Forested Wetland and Coast Live Oak Forest and Southern Coastal Oak Woodland. Palustrine Emergent Wetlands in the streambed and along the outer margin of Forested Wetland include Woodwardia fimbriata (center), Carex barbarae, Oenanthe sarmentosa, and Scirpus microcarpus (foreground). Scrub/Shrub Wetland is represented on stream banks by Rubus ursinus. 64 "adURqUNYSLP JO Sadhy SnNOLUeA JO SZLWL| 03 puodsauuod ALL eNsN seaue paydalas ayy 3e SaLzLunuwod yue|d Jo sataepunog “burpeys 40 uoLqeueidxa ue soy /¢ “HL4 07 yayay, pd4uundo0 S994} puke sqnuys awos pGET Aq fyeqyLqey pue, aM JO SUOLyUOd PapeAUL UOLJeYaHSA pue,yamM quabuawyz gegT Aq fAunquad uy] Al yea wouj saqyep ULOAuasay 4wamMo7q 1961 Aq Butsarodau sem yuoLyeyabaA fpGGT 0} solud payonuysuod yPauqgauL4 BULAUdAOIIN SEM UOLILYIHAA HG6T Aq Sge6T BHulLunp pue 07 yvoltud paqzeALz[ny BuLUdAOIIU SEM UOLZEYSHIA pS6T AG £S,O0p6T Aluka OJUL PazeALZLND eauRe pue BEGET 07 4“OlLud paAouldau uoLzeyabap SE6T BOULS BoURqUNySLp uofewW ON BEGT BOULS BOUeqUNISLP SNOLAGO ON pl6T JAaquaron 03 solud pauung fgE6T 4aqse paaowau uoLzeyaba pS6I Aq quapLAd uolyequeld fgeGT 07 4OLud parowau uoLyeyabaq 1961 PUL PG6T UaeMqeq paung fgEGT 03 4OLud paqunysip suoL4uog L961 ©} Jotud utebe pue TOG, 07 4OLud pauung suolyuod ‘geGT 03 YOLud paueald UoL ze aban p/6T 0} 4otud BuLusang pa[L,ouqzuod pue yRauqgaul4 8E6T BOULS BDURqUNISLP SNOLAGO ON el i WAU VAuv VAuV Vjuv vauv VAuv VIN YIU VIuv VIuv V3IuV VIuV yOVINV GALISTIS =NOILVLIISA NO JONVEYNLISTIG JO SL93443 *9e JuNII4 66 Lompoc, California La Purisima Mission State Historic Park Sync casuueseascceses — Sas aa eee kc i 620930884525 0 Re Gee, USIEeSAeszesereasar : = SS ) O io Sr] 0 oO oO i 3 sug a = 67 AREA 3 - One of the most repeatedly disturbed portions of the western mesa, Area 3 had been cleared of vegetation prior to 1938. Although scattered shrubs had returned by April, 1954, portions of the area had been burned prior to 1961. Furthermore, prior to June, 1967 another burn included the entire site. Today the vegetation is charac- terized by Cismontane Introduced Grasses and scattered dominants of Central Coastal Scrub. The grassland nature of this area may not be due entirely to disturbance, however, because the grassland area just north of the site appeared virtually the same in 1945 as it does today. A local occurrence of Arnold Sand (Fig. 5) also has been mapped here. AREA 4 - This site appeared in 1938 as mixed vegetation composed of Chamise Chaparral and scattered oaks, although at least a portion of the area was disturbed prior to 1938 and had revegetated to a less dense scrub community. This area was quite similar to Area 1 by 1954, but prior to June, 1961 it had been burned and almost entirely surrounded by a firebreak. This resulted in the loss of most of the scrub vegetation. By May, 1967 the area had recovered to as much as one half the density of cover it had previously. By November, 1974 the impact of the disturbance was hardly recognizable in an aerial photograph and today the vegetation is virtually indistinguishable from that of most of Area l. AREA 5 - Vegetation was removed from Area 5 prior to 1938; however, the scattered oaks occurring here today apparently had not been planted here by this date, nor had the pine plantation which occurs in the northern portion of this disturbed area. These plantings are evident in a February, 1954 photograph, as are both grassland and scrub vegetation. These same communities exist in Area 5 today, and although Chamise Chaparral and oak woodland communities occur adjacent to and east of this 68 disturbed site, succession to these communities is not immediately evident from photographs after at least 30 years of no apparent distur- bance. However, scattered shrubs of Ceanothus ramulosus do occur here, particularly on the eastern margin of the area, and suggest some rever- Sion to chaparral vegetation. AREA 6 - Area 6 appeared as an open scrub/oak woodland community in 1938 but apparently had been cleared of vegetation snortly thereafter, and by 1954 was characterized by a dense scrub cover. The vegetation was burned and surrounded by a firebreak by November of 1974. As a result of this fire, the area appeared to have few remaining shrubs and contained scattered oaks. By 1981 (Fig. 7) the site had recovered to Central Coastal Scrub, but the majority of oaks apparently did not survive the fire. AREA 7 - This extensive example of Woodland Chaparral has not received any obvious extensive disturbance in the past 45 years. Aerial photographs from 1938 to 1981 illustrate a very similar community structure and density, including some open substrate areas appearing as northwest/southeast trending striations that paralleled the strike of the adjacent ridges. Many of the scattered oaks of the community have multiple trunks, suggesting that fire has nad an important impact on the area in the past. | AREA 8 - The Northern Coastal Dune Scrub of this area has occurred similar to its present form since at least 1938. The flats of this low profile basin are covered with a loose sandy soil, the sediments of which were probably derived from erosion of the adjacent mesa plateau. This community appears to be stable under these conditions, and may not be successional to Central Coastal Scrub or Mixed Chaparral, both of which 69 occur nearby and with which the dune scrub is transitional. However, better resolution of aerial photographs might reveal encroachment of Central Coastal Scrub from the north down a gentle slope and into the area covered by Northern Coastal Dune Scrub. The general stability of this dune scrub vegetation suggests that the soil map for the Park (Fig. 5) may be inaccurate in showing that the same phase of the Marina Series occurs over much of the western mesa. AREA 9 - Vegetation was removed from this site prior to 1938 and cultivation of crops probably occurred here until some time in the 1940's. By April, 1954, it appeared to have been covered by Cismontane Introduced Grasses and scattered small shrubs. The area has remained undisturbed during the past 40 years. During this time Central Coastal Scrub vegetation has gradually invaded the site from the slopes to the east. Today the lower portions are characterized by Cismontane Introduced Grasses with scattered plants of Baccharis pilularis and Lupinus arboreus, the first phase of succession to Central Coastal Scrub. AREA 10 - The south-facing slope of the Filterhouse Canyon was apparently cultivated prior to and during 1938 (Fig. 6). After cultiva- tion ceased, Cismontane Introduced Grasses and scattered shrubs of the Central Coastal Scrub type had vegetated the area by 1954. Invasion of the site by Central Coastal Scrub continues after about 40 years of abandonment. AREA 11 - Much of the Park was surrounded by a firebreak prior to 1954, A 1938 aerial photograph reveals that the Woodland Chaparral adjacent to the firebreak continued eastward and covered this site. Following removal of all vegetation, Cismontane Introduced Grasses 70 invaded the area and characterized the vegetation through at least 1961. By 1967, scrub vegetation had invaded the disturbed sites and today the firebreaks are characterized largely by Central Coastal Scrub. Some Mixed Chaparral vegetation also appears to have expanded into the break from the Woodland Chaparral along the western margin. AREA 12 - The Lower Reservoir dates from the early 19th century. By 1938 the area behind the dam appears to have silted-in significantly and although virtually no Scrub/Shrub or Forested Wetland areas are evident from an aerial photo of that date, Emergent Wetland vegetation appears to have invaded portions of the wetland habitat. By 1954 some shrubs and a few trees are evident and only a small body of open water remained in the center of tne reservoir. The remaining areas of reservoir were covered witn Emergent Wetland vegetation. In contrast, mucn of tne vegetation associated with the Upper Reservoir was apparent by 1938, althougn some open water persists today. By 1961 a significant amount of Scrub/Shrub and Forested Wetland areas appeared around tne Lower Reservoir and also had colonized the bottomlands to the east. Emergent Wetland vegetation appears to have completely colonized the reservoir by that year. Today the reservoir is covered largely by Scirpus acutus with marginal areas dominated by shrubs of Salix lasiolepis and trees of S. lasiolepis and Quercus agrifolia. There is, however, a tremendous diversity of wetland species in other wetland areas associated with the Lower Reservoir. SUMMMARY - Based on the analysis of aerial photographs and the information provided by our evaluation of the botanical resources of tne Park, a series of general observations about the stability of the vegeta- tion and the trends in plant succession following disturbance can be made. 7] Particular examples of some plant communities appear to have been relatively stable over the past 45 years. They are as follows: Coast Live Oak Forest, Chamise Chaparral, Woodland Chaparral, Central Coastal Scrub, Northern Coastal Dune Scrub, and grasslands. Stability of the above communities apparently depends on the length of time since the last disturbance, the type of habitat, and nature of the soil. Under the proper conditions, some examples of each of the above communities appear to be stable. For example, Central Coastal Scrub appears to be a stable community on south-facing Slopes and apparently is not successional to Mixed Chaparral under these conditions. Similarly, Northern Coastal Dune Scrub is stable for long periods on flats or slopes of deep loose sandy soil and may not be successional to Central Coastal Scrub under these condi- tions. Extensive disturbance at the Park has at least six origins: 1) removal of native vegetation and cultivation of bottomlands and some slopes and mesa areas; 2) removal of vegetation for firebreaks and unknown purposes; 3) arson fires contained by firebreaks; 4) uncontrolled fires, largely historical in nature; 5) development of roads and paths; 6) development of reservoirs and aqueduct system. | Upon abandonment of cultivation in bottomland and lower slopes, Cismontane Introduced Grasses colonized various sites. This community is successional to a phase of Central Coastal Scrub, often dominated by Baccharis pilularis and Lupinus arboreus along Purisima Canyon. We HOE i. Ne Ihe Chamise Chaparral can recover over about a 15 year period following a burn. At some sites dense Chamise Chaparral has been replaced by open scrub vegetation composed of dominants from both Central Coastal Scrub and Mixed Chaparral following a burn. Vegetation composed of Cismontane Introduced Grasses with scattered dominants of Central Coastal Scrub and Mixed Chaparral occurs in some areas where vegetation removal in one decade was followed by burns in subsequent decades. Ceanothus Chaparral has colonized some areas where Chamise Chaparral has been removed but the soil remains. Arctostaphylos Chaparral has colonized some areas where chaparral vegetation and soil has been removed and the Orcutt Formation exposed. Woodland Chaparral does not always recover following a fire but may be replaced by only chaparral vegetation or Central Coastal Scrub. Oaks of Woodland Chaparral typically have multiple trunks that probably reflect a history of burning. There is often a greater diversity of shrubs and herbaceous plants along service roads in Chamise Chaparral than there is within this community. Forested Wetland has developed along Los Berros Creek since 1937 and was probably planted along the creek in the vicinity of the Mission where a greater diversity of species occurs. Most of the Scrub/Shrub and Forested Wetland associated witn the Lower Reservoir has developed since 1954, whereas the majority of 73 that associated with the Upper Reservoir was already apparent by 1938. 74 Flora Due to the diversity of unusual or narrowly restricted habitats, endemic and relictual species, and numerous wildflowers, the Lompoc region has been of great interest to botanists for a long time (Smith, 1976). Much of the early interest was fostered by the collections of Ida Mae Blochman, who discovered a number of endemics during her explora- tion of the flora during the late 19th century. Since that time many botanists have investigated the area of Burton Mesa, Vandenberg Air Force Base and the Purisima Hills. La Purisima Mission State Historic Park and the Lompoc Region have been investigated for at least 20 years by Clifton Smith of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, who compiled a checklist of species in 1970 for some adjacent sites in Purisima Canyon and the Mission Hills area. Additionaily, an annotated checklist of plants cultivated in La Purisima Mission Garden was compiled by Edith Webb (1956). More recently, Vernon Human (1982) published a checklist of plants from the Park, concentrating on the blooming succession of native, naturalized, and cultivated species. Analysis of the Inventory - The inventory of native and naturalized taxa of vascular plants, conducted by the authors between July, 1982 and June, 1983, resulted in the collection of 600 specimens from which 342 taxa representing 64 families were identified (Appendix III). This flora consists of 252 native and 90 naturalized plants, composing 73.7% and 26.3% of the flora, respectively. The three largest families represented at the Park are the Asteraceae (64 taxa, including 19 naturalized), Poaceae (39 taxa, including 22 naturalized), and Scropnulariaceae (21 taxa, including 1 naturalized). Together they constitute 36.3% of tne 75 Flora. Additional plants not collected or observed by the authors but reported by others (C. Smith, 1976; Human, 1982) are listed in Appendix V. They total 58 species, bringing the reported native and naturalized vascular flora to a total of 400 taxa. Endemics - The extensive coastal dune system, sandy soils of Burton Mesa, and outcrops of diatomaceous earth support many plant taxa endemic to the greater Lompoc region, including southern San Luis Obispo County. The following 12 plants, arranged by family, were collected at the Park and are among those cited by C. Smith (1976) as endemic to this region, at least on the mainland. Asteraceae: Erigeron sanctarum Senecio douglasii (undescribed form) Boraginaceae: Amsinckia spectabilis var. microcarpa Brassicaceae: Erysimum suffrutescens var. lompocense Ericaceae: Arctostaphylos purissima (Fig. 27) AS mudiise (Eig. 27) Ranunculaceae: Delphinium parryi ssp. blochmanae Rhamnaceae: Ceanothus impressus C. ramulosus var. fascicularis Rosaceae: Prunus fasciculata var. punctata (Eile 47/)) Scrophulariaceae: Mimulus aurantiacus ssp. lompocensis Scrophularia atrata La Purisima Mission State Historic Park is the type locality for two of these plants: Ceanothus ramulosus var. fascicularis and Erysimum suffrutescens var. lompocense. Rare, Endangered or Threatened Plants - While no plants found at the Park are included on the official state list (State of California, 1982) 76 FIG. 27. Selected Regional Endemics: Arctostaphylos purissima — a. branch, flowering. b. leaf and twig. c. inflorescence, fruiting. Arctostaphylos rudis — d. branch, flowering. e. inflorescence and twig. f. inflorescence, fruiting. Prunus fasciculata var. punctata — g. branch. h. leaves, twig, and flower. i. leaves, twig, and fruit. of rare, endangered or threatened plants, one species, Scrophularia atrata, is on the federal list (USDI, 1980) of plants currently under review. Scrophularia atrata was located in only one area of the Park (see: Appendix III), although it is occasional to common elsewhere in the region and more frequently occurs on outcrops of diatomaceous earth. It also is a characteristic species on the margins of dune swales on San Antonio Terrace, Vandenberg Air Force Base, where it is relatively abundant (HDR, 1980). Additional taxa are listed by the California Native Plant Society (J. Smith et al., 1980; J. Smith, 1981) under various categories of concern. They are as follows: PLANT STATUS RARE AND ENDANGERED Arctostaphylos rudis: occurrence confined to several populations or to one extended population; endangered in a portion of its range; declining in number; (Fig. 27). Scrophularia atrata: occurrence confined to several populations or to one extended population; endangered in a portion of its range; increasing or stable in number. RARE BUT NOT ENDANGERED Arctostaphylos purissima: under consideration for inclusion in this category; (Fig. 27). Ceanothus impressus: under consideration for inclusion in this category. Erigeron sanctarum: increasing or stable in number. Erysimum suffrutescens ssp. lompocense: endangered in a portion of its range. Monardella undulata var. undulata: Prunus fasciculata var. punctata: increasing or stable in number. increasing or stable in number; (Fig. 27). Other Noteworthy Collections - In addition to endemic plants or those given an official status of rare, endangered or threatened, otner Species occur at the Park that are either rare locally or regionally, or are worthy of mention for another reason. These plants are as follows: PLANT Conringia orientalis: Nemacladus ramosissimus: Samolus parviflorus: Wolffiella lingulata: Arctostaphylos purissima X A. rudis: Layia glandulosa X L. paniculata: Mimulus spp.: STATUS NEW COUNTY RECORDS naturalized; rarely reported in California (Munz, 1968; McClintock, 1982). reported in Santa Barbara County only for upper Manzana Creek watershed (C. Smith, 1976). uncommon in Santa Barbara County; reported from Mission area in 1962 (C. Smith, 1976). only recent collection in Santa Barbara County; other current sites include lakes on Nipomo Mesa, San Luis Obispo County. HYBRIDS a single hybrid plant was found in a patch of Arctostaphylos Chaparral on exposed Orcutt Formation. This is an inter- sectional hybrid of taxonomic significance. hybrids between these species are common where the shaded habitat of L. paniculata occurs adjacent to the full-sun habitat of L. glandulosa. This is the first population of natural hybrids reported for tnis genus (B. Tanowitz, personal communication). a hybrid population of shrubs occurs along El Camino Real just nortn of tne Mission grounds and many include individuals arising from the following taxa: M. aurantiacus ssp. aurantiacus and ssp. lompocense; 79 M. longiflorus var. longiflorus and var. rutilus. though M. |. var. rutilus is probably an escape from the Mission gardens, it is not clear whether M. 1. var. longiflorus is native to the Park. Phytogeographic Considerations - The Park occurs in the area of California that is transitional between northern and southern floras, and occurs just north of the limit of southern California as defined by Munz (1974). This transition has been demonstrated previously in the discus- sion of vegetation, where northern communities (e.g., Northern Coastal Dune Scrub), southern communities (e.g., Southern Coastal Oak Woodland) and intermediate communities (e.g., Central Coastal Scrub) have been described from the area. It is not surprising that this transition is also noted in tne distribution of individual species. For example, Encelia californica, characteristic of Coastal Sage Scrub in southern California, reaches its northern limit just northwest of the Park. It occurs in some Central Coastal Scrub on south-facing slopes of the Park, giving this community a distinctly southern influence. | Similarly, several northern species reacn their southern limits in the Lompoc region. For example, at least three taxa, Carex montereyensis, Juncus effusus var. brunneus, and Stachys chamissonis, are characteristic of marshes to the north of this region and provide a distinctly northern aspect to wetlands of the Park. Another species, Scirpus acutus, characterizes many Emergent Wetlands of more interior, northern Santa Barbara County and is a dominant at the Park. It associates with S. californicus toward the coast and is replaced completely by it along the South Coast of Santa Barbara County. The presence of regional endemics, in addition to northern and southern species, results in unique floristic associations. The diverse 80 number of nabitats, resulting largely from the many different exposures of slope, degrees of slope grade, and water regimes, has provided a segregation of these plant associations. An analysis of floristic differences of the various physiograpnic areas and their habitats at tne Park has resulted in the following observations: 1) Ceanothus impressus, a species characteristic of the Burton Mesa chaparral, occurs only on the western mesa, suggesting that this may be tne southeastern limit of Burton Mesa chaparral; 2) Prunus fasciculata var. punctata characterizes some forms of Central Coastal Scrub on south-facing slopes and open bottomlands of the dissected eastern slope, suggesting that this species may characterize the eastern slope, which is a portion of the lower foothills of the Purisima Hills; 3) while the vegetation and flora of tne Burton Mesa and Purisima Hills are distinct within the Park, the physio- graphic features merge at the head of Purisima Canyon, north of the Park, suggesting that additional work in that area might reveal more of tne relationships between the plants of each area; 4) Lupinus albifrons, a Species of more interior habitats, is often co-dominant in Nortnern Coastal Dune Scrub in the Park with L. chamissonis, a species more Characteristic of tne stabilized dunes along the immediate coast, illustrating another aspect of the transitional nature of Park habitats; 5) seeps along the eastern margin of Purisima Canyon and ravines dissect- ing the eastern slope provide wetland habitats for numerous hydrophytic species that do not occur elsewhere in the Park and several of which are rare for the region. The floristic diversity and difference in species composition from area to area are documented in checklists for selected localities (Appendix V). 81 Cultivated Plants - A wealth of cultivated, native Californian species as well as exotics is maintained at the Park. The design and content of the mission garden is not authentic but an example of what might nave been if the Mission had prospered (Webb, 1956). Only those plants introduced during the settlement of California by the Spanish padres and settlers, and those plants known by the mission's Native American residents for their useful properties were originally included and the total number of taxa exceeded 280 (Webb, 1956). Some of these were accounted for recently by Human (1982). In addition to the garden, other mission plantings include two large Populus fremontii (Fremont Cottonwood) in front of the Mission, Anemopsis californica (Yerba Mansa) at the womens' dormitory, and Platanus racemosa (Western Sycamore), Ribes aureum (Golden Currant), Salix lasiandra (Yellow-Willow), and others along Los Berros Creek in the vicinity of the mission garden. In addition to garden plantings, there have been other introductions of species at various locations within the Park. For example, the grounds of the staff residences contain native Californian species such as Ceanothus thyrsiflorus (California Lavender), Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. asplenifolius (Santa Cruz Island Ironwood), Rhus integrifolia (Lemonadeberry) and Romneya trichocalyx (Matilija Poppy), and exotics such as Eucalyptus spp. Additionally, the old homestead southeast of the filterhouse is the site of several persistent trees, including Cupressus macrocarpa (Monterey Cypress) and Juglans californica (California Walnut). The field in tne bottomland of Purisima Canyon has been cultivated since at least the construction of the Mission and today Supports an annual crop of mixed grasses, namely Hordeum vulgare var. 82 vulgare (Common Barley), H. vulgare var. trifurcatum (Beardless Barley), and Triticum aestivum (Cultivated Wheat). Two additional areas of note are contained on the western margin of the Park on flats where native vegetation was removed prior to 1938. The northwestern corner is the site of a pine plantation, dating back to the post 1938 period. Trees included are Pinus attenuata (Knobcone Pine), P. muricata (Bishop Pine), P. radiata (Monterey Pine), P. sabiniana (Digger Pine), and P. torreyana (Torrey Pine). Several of these species, particularly P. muricata, appear to have been planted along the ridge portion of the service road east of the plantation. At least tnree species (P. muricata, P. radiata, P. torreyana) have naturalized within the Park, the most successful of which is apparently P. torreyana. Adjacent to and south of the pine plantation are open flats cnaracterized by grassland, dune scrub, and chaparral. Planted among these communities are scattered, presumably planted, small oak trees (ca. 15 feet tall). They include Quercus agrifolia, that is native to the Park and might be natural here, Q. douglasii, more characteristic of inland sites, and Q. lobata, also characteristic of inland sites, particularly valleys. Individuals of tne latter two species do not appear to be healthy under these growing conditions. 83 ESN eVOT UR 0 cNGME IN IVsAY Lee ie oSaee NESS rege ieaVe Taniiey, Management of the botanical resources of La Purisima Mission State Historic Park depends in part on the recognition of the environmental sensitivity of the various areas. For the purpose of this report, an environmentally sensitive area is an area supporting botanical resources (native plants or vegetation) that possesses one or more of the following attributes: 1) they are either rare, endangered, or of some other special concern; 2) they have a unique and significant role in the ecosystem; and 3) they are confined to particular habitats that are easily degraded by activities of man. The information reported herein contains sufficient comment on the vegetation and flora to provide a general analysis of the sensitivity of Park areas for native botanical resources. Vegetation of Special Concern - The endemic forms of some upland plant communities in the Lompoc region are of special concern and warrant comment. For example, Central Coastal Scrub dominated by Prunus fasciculata var. punctata (Figs. 7 & 10) is endemic to this region and is restricted to sandy soils of certain largely south-facing slopes. Other forms of Central Coastal Scrub are dominated in part by another endemic, Mimulus aurantiacus ssp. lompocensis. However, this plant is more widespread and is not restricted to this community alone, making its habitats much less sensitive than tnose of some others. The inland form of Northern Coastal Dune Scrub (Figs. 7 & 10) is uncommon, and apparently has tne highest diversity of all plant communi- ties at the Park. Of additional significance is the common occurrence of the endemic Erysimum suffrutescens ssp. lompocense and the hybrid Layia 84 glandulosa X L. paniculata, the latter being more common in_ this community than in any other, and which may be restricted to the Park and vicinity. The loose, sandy soil usually associated with this community may be subject to increased wind or water erosion if the vegetation is disturbed, and thus Northern Coastal Dune Scrub also may be sensitive due to the nature of the substrate. On the other hand the natural insta- bility of this sandy soil could be a factor in maintaining the nybrid Layia on this site. Chaparral vegetation of the Park (Fig. 7) is characterized by a series of endemic shrubs, including Arctostaphylos purissima, A. rudis, Ceanothus impressus, C. ramulosus var. fascicularis, and Mimulus aurantiacus ssp. lompocense (Figs. 10 & 15). Although most of these species are listed by the California Native Plant Society as rare, the community is much less sensitive to some forms of disturbance than are other communities. Historic evidence discussed herein suggests that vegetation removal and fire are important forms of disturbance that rejuvenate Ceanothus or Arctostaphylos Chaparral at the expense of Chamise Chaparral to which they may be successional. However, some of the endemics, and the community as a whole, are less common than in recent decades. Recovery of the community from some forms of disturbance does not imply that it is insensitive to all forms of disturbance or that loss of habitat is not threatening to the endemics. Of further interest is the contrast between the frequently disturbed portions of cnaparral on the western mesa and chaparral of the eastern slope for which there is no evidence of disturbance during the past 45 years. The diversity of nabitats, vegetation, and flora and the relative stability of the areas are worthy of further study to determine their relative sensitivity. 85 Additional upland communities of note are grasslands, Woodland Chaparral and Coast Live Oak Forest. Well-drained soils supporting Cismontane Introduced Grasses often are not sensitive. However, the unstable, sandy soils of the site along the western margin of Purisima Canyon (Fig. 7) support a number of native herbaceous species and could be seriously impacted by disturbance. Although Woodland Chaparral is not particularly uncommon or sensitive to disturbance at the Park, the western mesa portion is quite extensive and a noteworthy example. Coast Live Oak Forest is represented by a few narrowly-restricted examples that are sensitive due to the limited occurrence of north-facing slopes here. Associated with this community are examples of Cismontane Native Grass- land and other mesic associations of species that are not found elsewhere in the Park. Vegetated wetlands (Fig. 7) are among the most environmentally Sensitive areas. No endemics or recognized rare, endangered or threat- ened species occur in tnese habitats at the Park. However, several regionally rare plants (e.g., Samolus parviflorus and Wolffiella lingulata), others near the southern limits of their range (e.g., Juncus effusus var. brunneus and Stachys chamissonis) and an unexpected diversity of native hydrophytes, mark tne habitats as regionally signifi- cant wetlands. Since wetlands are easily degraded by various forms of human disturbance, they are environmentally sensitive habitats for their susceptibility to degradation as well as for their botanical resources. Species of Special paneer - The species of special concern have been enumerated in the section BOTANICAL RESOURCES: Flora. These plants include regional endemics and rare or endangered species. The relative environmental sensitivity of nabitats depends on the general status of a 86 Species, its distribution within the Park, and its recovery after distur- bance. There are three general categories into which species of special concern may be placed. The first category includes those plants tnat are endemic to the region but within the Park are dominants or common cnaracteristic taxa of particular communities. These are Arctostaphylos purissima, A. rudis, Ceanothus ramulosus var. fascicularis, Erysimum suffrutescens. var. lompocense, Mimulus aurantiacus ssp. lompocensis, and Prunus fasciculata var. ounctata (Figs. 10 & 15). These plants are not tnreatened within the Park and for the most part are common in the Lompoc region within the habitats to which they are restricted. The second category includes those plants that are endemic to the Lompoc region, but within the Park are occasional, uncommon, or rare. These taxa include Ceanothus impressus, Delphinium parryi ssp. blochmanae, Erigeron sanctarum, and Scrophularia atrata. Collection or observation sites (environmentally sensitive areas) for these plants are illustrated because of their apparent limited occurrence (Fig. 28). The third category includes those plants that are not endemic to the Lompoc area but are regionally rare, and thus tne haditats within the Park are of significance to their distribution in California. These species include Nemacladus ramosissimus, Samolus parviflorus, and Wolffiella lingulata, and locations of their environmentally sensitive areas are illustrated (Fig. 28). Of final note are the locations of regionally rare natural hybrids. Those between Layia glandulosa and L. paniculata are common within the Park. While of great botanical interest and restricted general occur- rence, they appear to occur wherever tne habitats of tne two parents are a7 eye(nbur| PLlalssiom Mm eyeuye eLueinydouss Ss SNWLSSLSOWRU SNPR{IeWAN NA wnNuePIUeS UO4NSD LAG 4 aeuewyso0iq ‘dss ikaued wntutudieaqg gq SnssSaudwWt snyjourea) 9 Stpnu *W X ewiesstund sojAudejsojoy oy NYSINOD WIISdS JO SINWId G3LIFIFS YOA SWANV FATLISNSS ATIWLNAWNOYTANS “82 JYNDIS 88 1944 Ob IWAHALNI HNOLNOO Cc Sa) an an ee 5S ie) tater | SHILAW O00b Ooe 002 olen! 0 os ool SS SS aes ees a aS SEES cn 1944 00Pr 002! 0001 008 009 OOF 002 0 OSI NDE 3vos \ i S-aS ; eas { : SS Fs pees Gee ag oe 3 oz Ess Ne se \ ——s Weg DUOISIH GEIS UOISSIWY BwWISLNd By adjacent to each other. In contrast, only one plant of the hybrid Manzanita (Arctostaphylos purissima X A. rudis) was located (Fig. 28). This plant occurs in Arctostaphylos Chaparral at an exposure of Orcutt Formation. The Mimulus hybrids are in need of further study but appear to be related to material introduced at the mission garden and perhaps are of little significance to the Park. 90 eee enOAMaNcbaNeD Ar Tel“OoN-S-=-AN-D. COMMENT S Recommendations offered by the team of investigators are based upon the data gathered during tnis study and upon general recommendations or observations reported by others. Our concerns relate primarily to the botanical resources and thus recommendations for management of the vegetation and flora may not be identical to tnose offered for zoological, archaeological or other resources of tne Park. All recommen- dations should be considered as preliminary suggestions made for careful review before any implementation is considered. A. Resources of Special Concern 1. Protection should be given or other appropriate management procedures applied to all species of special concern, including endemics and rare plants. 2. Protection snould be given or other appropriate management procedures applied to all plant communities or associations of special concern. B. Eastern Portion of the Park The lack of recent disturbance, otner than from foot or equestrian traffic on trails, and the great diversity of nabitats and plant communities suggest that the eastern portion of tne Park be preserved or otherwise managed to reat the diversity. Wetlands of tne area nave high sensitivity and should be protected. 3. Controlled burning should be conducted only in a limited manner in the Chamise Chaparral or the Woodland Chaparral in the eastern portion of tne Park because a potential increase in erosion on tne canyon slopes after fires could impact the wetlands seriously by increasing rates of siltation. 9] C. Western Portion of the Park The complex land use and disturbance history of tne western mesa, in addition to extant old stands of Chamise Chaparral and Woodland Chaparral, suggest that management procedures different than those for tne eastern slope could be implemented here. 4, Controlled burns could be conducted in stands of Central Coastal Scrub, Chamise Chaparral and Woodland Chaparral that nave not been disturbed or burned for over 45 years (see: Land Use, and Vegeta- tion). Complete fire suppression in areas such as tnese is now considered archaic (Oberbauer, 1982) and may result in reduced productivity and diversity of the vegetation. 5. As documented herein, repeated burning and/or vegetation removal over Short intervals favors herbaceous species and open vegetation, while Similar disturbances over longer periods favor dense shrub cover, particularly in chaparral vegetation. If an increase in herbaceous Species and a decrease in shrub density is desired, controlled burning should be conducted, preferably on a rotational basis among many selected sites. This would result in an enhancement of the mosaic of associations and habitats that now occur to a more limited degree. 6. Areas with a long fire cycle (i.e., those that burn infrequently such as every 40-100 years) often nave more dead shrubs prior to a fire and thus fewer potential resprouts from living individuals after fires. Areas with a short fire cycle (i.e., those that burn more frequently such as about every 25 years) often have fewer dead shrubs prior to tne fire and thus more potential resprouts depending on the association of species (Keeley, 1977). Burning of old chaparral 92 might provide more open areas as habitats for a greater diversity of colonizing species than burning of younger stands that might regenerate faster from sprouting of shrubs that survive fires. While these comments seem at first to contradict those of No. 5, the degree of disturbance and the duration between disturbances including fires has a profound effect on the resulting vegetation. Therefore we recommend careful analysis of these parameters and others, sucn as time of year for controlled burning, before implementation of programs. Different chaparral dominants often respond differently to distur- bances. For example, Arctostaphylos rudis has burls and tnus will resprout from the base after fires. On the other hand, A. purissima does not have burls and may reestablish in areas only from germina- tion of seeds in the seed bank or from introduction of seeds from adjacent areas. Similar contrasting responses may occur Detween Ceanothus ramulosus and C. impressus. Ceanothus impressus at the Park apparently grows only at the edge of chaparral along tne service road (Fig. 26), while C. ramulosus is widespread. We recommend that careful analysis be made of such variable phenomena to be certain that controlled burning in an area would not result in the permanent reduction or elimination of a species that does not respond well to Pines Controlled burning should take place in the late summer or fall after the year's seed is set. Natural burning of chaparral vegetation usually occurs during this period (Oberbauer, 1982). Burns may result in an increase in pine seedlings. Because several naturalized species are currently increasing in number in the Park, 93 10. some effort snould be made to avoid further establishment of these pines. Perhaps trees and cones should be removed from areas before burning takes place. Firebreaks nave a profound effect on the native vegetation. It often takes many decades before similar vegetation is restored to the site. Therefore, placement of firebreaks, if any more are needed, should be done so as to avoid sensitive areas. 94 AVGTK@NGOOWSE JE DG BoM EON TS We thank the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, for providing funding to conduct the field work and for permission to collect plants at the Park. Also, we are indebted to tne park staff, particularly John Hillerman, Peter Van Coops and Ron Dupuy, for their assistance during the project. We thank Melanie Fujii and Lisa Strong for typing the manuscript and for providing reliable general assistance throughout tne production phase of the report; we thank Lars Pierce for his assistance witn the initial field work and graphics; and we thank Sue Lafferty for the illustration of selected endemics. We give special thanks to those who assisted us in the field, inciuding J. R. Haller (UCSB), B. Tanowitz (UCSB), Jan Timbrook (SBMNH), and J. Mudrick (UCSB), and the members of the UCSB Botanical Society, in particular Snaron Clark, Martin and Debbie Fletcher, Susanne Muller, Bruce Orr, Sue Pitts, and Fred Roberts. We also give special thanks to the following consultants to the project: J. R. Haller and Barry Tanowitz, Steve Junak (SBBG), and Clifton Smith (SBMNH); and to the following reviewers of the manuscript: Tom Mulroy (HDR), Clifton Smith, J. R. Haller, Frank Davis (UCSB), and Peter Van Coops. 95 LoD ERR Teva REG eae» Barbour, M. G., T. M. DeJong, and A. F. Johnson. 1975. Additions and corrections to a review of North American Pacific Coast beach vegetation. Madrono 23:130-134. is aa and A. F. Jonnson. 1977. Beach and dune. p. 223-261, in: M. G. Barbour and J. Major. Terrestrial vegetation of California. John Wiley & Sons, New York. Burk, G. F. 1941. Vegetation type and forest condition maps of California and Western Nevada, Lompoc Quadrangle (Southwest Quarter). USDA, Forest Service and California Forest and Range Experiment Station. Cheatnam, N. H. and J. R. Haller. 1975. An annotated list of California habitat types. University of California Natural Land and Water Reserves System. Cowardin, LE. M., V. Carter, Fo C. Gollet. and Ea mEaRoeme a Lonor Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. U.S. Fisn and Wildlife Service FWS/08S-79/31. Dibblee, T. W., Jr. 1950. Geology of Southwestern Santa Barbara County, California. Calif. Div. Mines Bull. 150. Elford, C.R. 1972... Climate. . p3.174-17,7,, ins) Sidjpmanig: GeEcs SOMm Survey of the Northern Santa Barbara Area. USDA, Soil Conservation Service and UC Agr. Exper. Sta. Engbeck, J. H., Jr. Undated. La Purisima Mission State Historic Park. State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation. Hanes, LE. Le 19772 ‘Cal ifiognilaschaparcalns pe 407-409 sean. M. G. Barbour and J. Major. Terrestrial vegetation of California. John Wiley & Sons, New York. HDR. 1980. Biological assessment for proposed MX Flight Test Program, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Prepared for United States Air Force Ballistic Missile Office, Norton Air Force Base, California. Henningson, Durham and Ricnardson, Sciences Division, Santa Barbara, California. Hoover, R. F. 1970. The vascular flora of San Luis Obispo County, California. University of California Press, Berkeley. Human, V. 1982. Wild flower blooming succession at La Purisima Mission, Lompoc, California. Chaparral Press, Lompoc, CA. Keeley, J. E. 1977. Fire-dependent reproductive strategies in Arctostaphylos and Ceanothus. n. 391-396, in: Proceedings of tne Symposium on the environmental consequences of fire and fuel management in Mediterranean ecosystems. J.S. Forest Service, Washington D.C. 96 McClintock, E. 1982. An annotated list of escaped exotics in California. California Native Plant Society. Mooney, H. A. 1977. Southern coastal scrub. p. 471-489, in: M. G. Barbour and J. Major: Terrestrial vegetation of California. John Wiley & Sons, New York. Muller, C., W. Muller, and B. Haines. 1964. Volatile growth inhibitors produced by aromatic shrubs. Science 143:417-473. pdinZemee A. L959. A California flora. Univ. California Press, Berkeley aes . 1968. Supplement to a California flora. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 7 aaa . 1974. A flora of southern California. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. Oberbauer, T. 1982. The pros and cons of controlled burning. Fremontia 10:16-18. Shipman, G. —. 1972. Soil survey of the northern Santa Barbara Area. USDA, Soil Conservation Service and UC Agr. Exper. Sta. Smith, C. F. 1976. A flora of the Santa Barbara Region, California. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, CA. Smith, J. Pw, R. J. Cole, and J. 0. Sawyer, Jr. 1980. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. California Native Plant Society, Spec. Publ. No. 1 (ed. 2). Smith, J. P. 1981. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California, First Supplement. California Native Plant Society, Spec. Publ. No. 1 (ed. 2). State of California. 1982. Designated endangered or rare plants. Department of Fish and Game. United States Department of Agriculture. 1980. Endangered and threat- ened wildlife and plants: Review of plant taxa for listing on endangered or threatened species. Federal Register 45:82480-82569. Upson, J. E., M. G. Tnomasson, Jr., and others. 1951. Geology and water resources of Santa Ynez River Valley, Santa Barbara County, California. U.S. Geol. Surv. Water Supply Paper 1107. Webb, E. 1956. The garden plants of La Purisima Mission. (unpublished). Woodring, W. P., M. N. Bramlett. 1950. Geology and paleontology of the Santa Maria district, California: U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper QOS 97 a. , Ee aa an Tee ve = = ¥ 9 tigeses Ab AL bL En a, ace net? avhies pipet tad alms if fie Deialinn, eee 7, f ; eae wu int ¥ co stulic ees 4 sae top ne" i ” saa 3 4 ? eet, walt ee 4 OUw. 1 hati ~— Stina om (Ne TP | e % a? ‘aa Ny Hikes a pelle e¢ ‘ ot » ‘i os ‘al ‘7 ei r - ne, © Oe | AO NRE uate nes vi hes J sanreesw Al taage ae? nae \! i ub \ : ,? é é y 1 ¥" ‘ ‘“ . x ; ; Ss | “ Le i i. 4 a f ( ie & seh ‘upd : aa a | ‘yi Ka) tt wt mre ONy' $s, J a »* mee any’ oe - > Loma f : one ae as a suel tS: nis PANY « a : ; Phi r al , q ay , : » 29 y . ie, a " Oe aS i ; a 98 2 a APPENDIX I CLASSIFICATION OF UPLAND VEGETATION XY LA PURISIMA MISSION STATE HISTORIC PARK UPLAND VEGETATION Upland vegetation at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park is dependent upon the diverse topographic features of the area, such as the Burton Mesa, Purisima Hills and Purisima Canyon, and the largely sandy substrates derived from the Orcutt Formation. The following hierarchical classification, modified after Cheatham and Haller (1975), illustrates in some detail various characteristics of a majority of upland vegetation categories dominated by vascular plants. Intraspecific taxa are excluded below but are listed in the Annotated Catalogue. 100 CLASSIFICATION OF UPLAND VEGETATION Based on Cheatham and Haller (1975) MAJOR CATEGORY: Dune Habitats HABITAT TYPE: Partially Stabilized and Stabilized Coastal Dune MAJOR SUBDIVISION: Coastal Dune Scrub MINOR SUBDIVISION: Northern Coastal Dune Scrub CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: Artemisia californica Baccharis Dilularis Corethrogyne filaginifolia Croton californicus Ericameria ericoides Erysimum suffrutescens Horkelia cuneata Lupinus albitrons L. arboreus L. chamissonis Phacelia ramosissima Rhamnus californica Senecio douglasii MAJOR CATEGORY: Scrub and Chaparral HABITAT TYPE: Coastal Scrub MAJOR SUBDIVISION: Central Coast Scrub CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: Artemisia californica Baccharis pilularis Corethrogyne filaginifolia Ericameria ericoides Eriophyllum confertif lorum Erysimum suffrutescens Helianthemum scoparium Mimulus aurantiacus Phacelia ramosissima Prunus fasciculata Rhamnus californica R. crocea Salvia mellifera Senecio douglasii Toxicodendron diversi lobum HABITAT TYPE: Chaparral MAJOR SUBDIVISION: Mixed Chaparra! MINOR SUBDIVISION: California Mixed Chaparral CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: Adenostoma fasciculatum Arctostaphylos purissima A. rudis Ceanothus impressus C. ramulosus Cercocarpus betuloides Helianthemum scoparium Heteromeles arbutifolia 10] Lotus scoparius Mimulus aurantiacus Phacella ramosissima Quercus agrifolia Rhamnus californica Re crocea Toxicodendron diversilobum MAJOR SUBDIVISION: Chamise Chaparral CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: Adenostoma fasciculatum Arctostaphylos purissima A. rudis Ceanothus impressus C. ramulosus MAJOR CATEGORY: Grasslands HABITAT TYPE: Valley and Foothill Grasslands MAJOR SUBDIVISION: Cismontane Native Grassland CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: Bromus carinatus* Melica imperfecta* Poa scabre|l|la* Stipa cernua S. lepida *Usually not found growing together in a grassland community, but as patches or clumps within scrub, chaparral, or forest communities. MAJOR SUBDIVISION: Cismontane Introduced Grasses CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: Amsinckia spp. Avena spp. Bromus spp. Camissonia spp. Clarkia spp. Croton californicus Cryptantha spp. DeTphinium parryi Eriastrum densifolium Erodium spp. Hemizonia increscens Heterotheca spp. Hypochoeris glabra ayia spp. Lessingia germanorum Linaria canadensis Lupinus spp. Meconella linearis Medicago polymorpha rthocarpus purpurascens Phacelia spp. Salvia columbariae Vulpia spp. 102 MAJOR CATEGORY: HABITAT TYPE: Oak Woodlands MAJOR SUBDIVISION: MINOR SUBDIVISION: CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: MAJOR CATEGORY: HABITAT TYPE: MAJOR SUBDIVISION: MINOR SUBDIVISION: CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: 103 Forests (closed canopy) Broadleaved Evergreen Forests Live Oak Forests Coast Live Oak Forest Woodlands (trees scattered) Southern Oak Woodlands Southern Coastal Oak Wood] and Claytonia perfoliata Heteromeles arbutifolia Quercus agrifolia Rhamnus Sntomica Sambucus mexicana Toxicodendron diversilobum Bromus carinatus Claytonia perfoliata Dryopteris arguta Heteromeles arbutifolia Quercus agrifolia Rhamnus californica Sambucus mexicana Toxicodendron diversi lobum ore Fhenk GD stay / aeD leteen) power Mag ato typhi. (esi oe a 7 Al ¥ 7c ‘iow 2aleorreayer- | 3 a : Tate Teor i es Uront ait voralts : aes i Some , : je Se abe ithe hoe ey i i, : : my! I 8) Y if fe 5 CE 4, 5 nih: Shae : 198 nah’ ou > Oe reek cs o7. Wa avi temnd.. SET VR aa * ce) LY ' chev | at + pee 1 ¥ ba Po TAPPENDIX TI _ CLASSIFICATION OF VEGETATED WETLANDS LA PURISIMA MISSION STATE HISTORIC PARK WETLAND VEGETATION Wetlands at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park are associated with Los Berros Creek and its seasonally wet tributaries, springs, or impounded areas that were once reservoirs for the historic mission. These wetlands can be grouped into two systems (Cowardin et al., 1979) as follows: 1) the Riverine System, containing wetlands in river- or Streambeds that when vegetated are characterized by nonpersistent plant types and are flooded by water with an average annual low salinity less than 0.05% from ocean derived salts; and 2) the Palustrine System, including wetlands that when vegetated are characterized by persistent plant types (or if nonpersistent vegetation occurs, the habitat is not a river- or streambed), and that are flooded by water with an average annual salinity less than 0.05% from ocean derived salts. The following hierarchical classification, modified after Cowardin et al. (1979), illustrates in some detail various characteristics of a majority of wetland types vegetated by vascular plants. Intraspecific taxa are excluded below but are listed in the Annotated Catalogue. 106 CLASSIFICATION OF THE VEGETATED WETLANDS Epilobium adenocaulon Oenothera hookeri Permanently, Semipermanently, and Azolla filiculoides Lemna minima Wolffiella lingulata SYSTEM: Riverine SUBSYSTEM: Intermittent CLASS: Streambed SUBCLASS: Vegetated WATER REGIME: Seasonally Flooded CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: SYSTEM: Palustrine CLASS: Aquatic Bed SUBCLASS: Floating WATER REGIMES: Seasonally Flooded HABITATS: reservoirs, aqueduct, cisterns CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: CLASS: Emergent Wetland SUBCLASS: Persistent WATER REGIMES: HABITAT: reservoirs CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: WATER REGIMES: Permanently or Semipermanently Flooded Oenanthe sarmentosa Scirpus acutus S. microcarpus Sparganium eurycarpum Typha latifolia Woodwardia fimbriata Permanently, Semipermanently and Seasonally Flooded, or Saturated HABITATS: of aqueduct CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: HABITAT: aqueduct CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: 107 reservoirs, moutns of canyons, seeps, margins Carex spo. Eleocharis palustris ETymus spp. Juncus spp. Oenanthe sarmentosa Phalaris aquatica Psoralea orbicularis Rumex spp. Scirpus microcarpus Solidago spp. Urtica holosericea Epilobium adenocaulon Gnaphalium luteo-album Juncus bufonius Mimulus guttatus SUBCLASS: SUBCLASSES: WATER REGIME: HABITATS: Wetland) CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: WATER REGIME: HABITATS: CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: Scrub/Shrub Wet] and WATER REGIMES: Oenothera hookeri Pol ypogon monspeliensis Samolus parviflorus Scirpus cernuus Sesonally or Temporarily Flooded canyon bottomlands (assoc. with Scrub/Shrub Carex spp. Distichlis spicata Juncus centri MuhTenbergia rigens Vicia exigua Seasonally or Temporarily Flooded (transitional to SUBCLASS: roadbeds below reservoirs, adjacent to seeps Nonpersistent) Distichlis spicata Gnaphalium luteo-album Hordeum genicuTatum Juncus bufonius Lolium perenne Lythr um hyssopifolia Poa annua Polypogon monspeliensis TECHIE marina Vulpia myuros Broad-leaved Deciduous Permanently, Semipermanently, Seasonally and Temporarily Flooded, and Saturated HABITATS: CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: WATER REGIME: Saturated HABITATS: margins of reservoirs, bottomlands, seeps Salix lasiolepis Broad-leaved Deciduous and Evergreen Seasonally and Temporarily Flooded, and margins of reservoirs, bottomlands, streambanks, seeps CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: WATER REGIME: HABITAT: vegetation) CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: 108 Artemisia douglasiana Baccharis pilularis Lonicera subspicata Rhamnus californica Rosa californica Rubus ursinus Sambucus mexicana Toxicodendron diversilobum Temporarily Flooded bottomlands (transitional to upland scrub Artemisia douglasiana Baccharis pilularis Ericameria ericoides Eriophyllum confertiflorum Horkelia cuneata Rhamnus californica Rosa californica Rubus ursinus Satureja douglasii SUBCLASS: Broad-leaved Evergreen WATER REGIME: Seasonally and Temporarily Flooded HABITATS: bottomlands, mouths of canyons CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: Baccharis pilularis CLASS: Forested Wetland SUBCLASSES: Broad-leaved Deciduous and Evergreen WATER REGIMES: Permanently, Semipermanently, Seasonally and Temporarily Flood and Saturated HABITATS: margins of reservoirs, bottomlands, seeps, and streambanks CHARACTERISTIC SPECIES: Platanus racemosa Populus tricnocarpa Quercus agrifolia Salix laevigata S. Tasiandra S. Tasiolepis 109 =i ik mice’ or a = pnw? wi ipo? ges ag! : tetas Tee ‘ 7 et , ' ie 7 ‘b re ‘TP atiexd —eqtiws " > =