Чапараль

The chaparral is part of the California floristic province. It is shaped by a Mediterranean climate, with mild wet winters and hot dry summers, and by infrequent, high-intensity crown fires. Many of its shrubs have hard, evergreen leaves, in contrast to the soft-leaved coastal sage scrub that is often found on drier, southern-facing slopes. Chaparral comprises 9% of California's wildland vegetation and contains 20% of its plant species.

The plants of the chaparral

Before a major fire, typical chaparral is dominated by manzanita, chamise, Ceanothus species, toyon and other drought-resistant shrubs with hard leaves. The sages, Salvia species, are among the indicator plants of the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion. White sage, Salvia apiana, grows on dry slopes in coastal sage scrub, chaparral and yellow-pine forests of Southern California to Baja California. When its leaves are rubbed, oils and resins are released that produce a strong aroma.

Chaparral and garrigue

Garrigue is a type of low scrubland found on limestone soils in southern France and around the Mediterranean Basin. In California, a similar Mediterranean climate ecoregion is named chaparral.

Chaparral as a name for creosote bush

Larrea tridentata is often referred to as chaparral when used as a herbal remedy and supplement, but it does not grow in the chaparral plant community. Creosote bush and its endophytes are collectively known in the herbal trade as chaparral tea. Larrea tridentata is an evergreen shrub growing to 1 to 3 m tall, rarely 4 m. It is a prominent species in the Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts of western North America. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid, a lignan with the formula C₁₈H₂₂O₄, is a natural compound found in the creosote bush.

Herbal use and safety

The shrub is still used as a herbal medicine in Mexico. The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings about the health hazards of ingesting chaparral or using it as an internal medicine. In 2005, Health Canada warned consumers to avoid the leaves of Larrea species because of the risk of damage to the liver and kidneys.

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Related: Alpha Pinene · Angelica · Angelica Root · Angelica Root Oil · Artemisia · Barrenwort · Beachheather · Behini Tree