A soft, woody, more or less evergreen shrub 1-2m tall, usually occurring inland of Northern Foredunes (21210), and dominated by Baccharis pilularis, Scrophularia californica, and Lupinus arboreus, with herbaceous openings dominated by Poa douglasii, and Lathyrus littoralis or by Artemisia pycnocephala and Eriogonum latifolium and a rich annual herb flora.
SITE FACTORS:
Less wind and salt spray allows better vegetative stabilization of the (taller) dunes. Intergrades away from the coast with Sitka Spruce-Grand Fir Forest (82100) on moist, sandy sites; with Coastal Closed-Cone Coniferous Forests (83100) on dry, sandy sites; and with Northern Coastal Scrubs (32100) on drier, rocky sites.
DISTRIBUTION:
Areas of sand accumulation along the coast, but usually farther back than the foredune. Generally found from Bodega Bay north to Oregon.
UPDATE:10/86
Source: Holland, 1986
Digital Text: NatureBase