Foredune Plant Community

Will Elder, NPS

 

The foredune community is composed of low-growing perennial herbs and small shrubs that inhabit open dune areas adjacent to the beach. The plants are salt tolerant opportunists that pioneer harsh, low nutrient and frequently disturbed dune environments. Typically no single species dominates the cover in this community, but non-native iceplant has become a dominant species in many places and introduced grasses have taken over other areas as well. The foredune community is therefore greatly reduced from its historic distribution in California.

Typical Sites at the Presidio: Baker Beach and Crissy Field immediately inland of the shoreline.

Common Native Plants

Common Name	Scientific Name	Family
American dune grass	Leymus mollis	Poaceae
Beach primrose	Camissonia cheiranthifolia	Onagraceae
Beach strawberry	Fragraria chiloensis	Rosaceae
Dune Tansy	Tanacetum camphoratum	Asteraceae
Chamisso's lupine	Lupinus chamissonis	Fabaceae
Sagewort	Artemesia pycnocephela	Asteraceae
Silver beach weed; beach bur	Ambrosia chamissonia	Asteraceae
Pink sand verbena	Abronia umbellata	Nyctaginaceae
Yellow sand verbena	Abronia latifolia	Nyctaginaceae

Rare and Endangered Plants

Common Name	Scientific Name	Family
Dune gilia	Gilia capitata ssp.chamissonis	Polemoniaceae

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