California sagebrush is primarily found in coastal sage scrub (css)
Tall woody shrubs are found only in chaparral, due to the chaparral being in higher-rainfall areas, or areas with less evaporation (north-facing slopes).
These small differences do NOT mean these communities do not exist; it just means they are distinguished by only these few differences.
This closeness is recognized by other names for these communities: soft chaparral (=css) and hard chaparral, referring to the leaves and to how hard it is to walk through the community.
http://tchester.org/srp/plants/communities/13.html
Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Last update: 6 November 2005.
