Print Report
G423 Cocos nucifera / Pennisetum polystachion - Pennisetum purpureum Ruderal Scrub & Herb Coastal Strand Group
Type Concept Sentence: This ruderal strand group is restricted to the shoreline and the zone immediately back of it where sites are strongly influenced by surf, wind and salt spray and where the vegetation tends to be sparse and patchy. Vegetation includes succulent herbs, low wind-sheared shrubs, grasslands, mixtures of drier shrub and grasses or taller shrublands. The vegetation is strongly dominated by non-native species such as Atriplex semibaccata, Atriplex suberecta, Vachellia farnesiana, Batis maritima, Cocos nucifera, Coccinia grandis, Cynodon dactylon, Kalanchoe pinnata, Lantana camara, Leucaena leucocephala, Melinis repens, Pennisetum ciliare, Pluchea indica, Prosopis pallida, Sphagneticola trilobata, Tetragonia tetragonioides, and Verbesina encelioides.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Coconut Palm / Mission Grass - Elephant Grass Ruderal Scrub & Herb Coastal Strand Group
Colloquial Name: Polynesian Ruderal Scrub & Herb Coastal Strand
Hierarchy Level: Group
Type Concept: This ruderal strand group is restricted to the shoreline and the zone immediately back of it where sites are strongly influenced by surf, wind and salt spray and where the vegetation tends to be sparse and patchy. Vegetation includes succulent herbs, low wind-sheared shrubs, grasslands, dry shrubs and grasses or taller shrublands, often with scattered trees, especially Cocos nucifera. The vegetation is strongly dominated by non-native species. Characteristic species include Atriplex semibaccata, Vachellia farnesiana, Batis maritima, Cocos nucifera, Coccinia grandis, Cynodon dactylon, Kalanchoe pinnata, Lantana camara, Leucaena leucocephala, Melinis repens, Morinda citrifolia, Pennisetum ciliare, Pluchea indica, Prosopis pallida, Sphagneticola trilobata, Tetragonia tetragonioides, Thespesia populnea, Tournefortia argentea, and Verbesina encelioides. Stands occur along disturbed coasts of the Hawaiian Islands and are restricted to the shoreline and the zone immediately back of it. Elevation is generally below 30 m. Sites may be rocky shorelines or sandy beaches, some with adjacent dunes or low alkaline flats above the saturated zone and behind the high-tide mark. Climate is warm, tropical. Annual precipitation ranges from over 3500 mm for wet strand, down to 1200 mm on seasonally mesic sites, and less than 1200 mm for dry strand. Substrates are variable, ranging from sandy beaches to cobbly shores, derived from volcanic tuff, recent lava flows or old disintegrating lava (basalt), or raised coral beds (limestone).
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This group is similar to ~Hawaiian Ruderal Coastal Salt Marsh Group (G433)$$; however, stands in this group are restricted to strand sites that are strongly influenced by surf, wind and salt spray. Strand stands with distinct tree canopies should likely be classified in similar lowland forest groups ~Polynesian Ruderal Lowland Rainforest Group (G390)$$ or ~Polynesian Ruderal Dry Woodland & Scrub Group (G407)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This ruderal group tends to be sparse and patchy and include succulent herbs, low wind-sheared shrubs, grasslands, mixtures of drier shrub and grasses or taller shrublands.
Floristics: Vegetation is disturbed in this ruderal group and tends to be a sparse and patchy mixture of non-native shrubs, grasses, herbs and scattered trees. Characteristic species include Atriplex semibaccata, Vachellia farnesiana (= Acacia farnesiana), Batis maritima, Chloris barbata, Cocos nucifera, Coccinia grandis, Cynodon dactylon, Kalanchoe pinnata, Lantana camara, Leucaena leucocephala, Melinis repens, Morinda citrifolia, Pennisetum ciliare, Pluchea indica, Prosopis pallida, Sphagneticola trilobata, Tetragonia tetragonioides, Thespesia populnea, Tournefortia argentea, and Verbesina encelioides. If the stand forms a distinct tree canopy then it should be classified in the ruderal coastal or lowland forest groups ~Polynesian Ruderal Lowland Rainforest Group (G390)$$ or ~Polynesian Ruderal Dry Woodland & Scrub Forest Group (G407)$$.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This ruderal group occurs along disturbed coasts of the Hawaiian Islands. Stands are restricted to the shoreline and the zone immediately back of it where sites are strongly influenced by surf, wind and salt spray. Elevation is generally below 30 m. Sites may be rocky shorelines or sandy beaches, some with adjacent dunes or low alkaline flats above the saturated zone and behind the high-tide mark.
Climate: Climate is warm, tropical. Annual precipitation ranges from over 3500 mm for wet strand, down to 1200 mm on seasonally mesic sites, and less than 1200 mm for dry strand. The wet to mesic strand occurs within the seasonally mesic, moist mesic, and moderately wet zones (Zones 4, 5 and 6) and the arid to moderately dry coastal strand occurs within the arid, very dry, and moderately dry zones (Zones 1, 2 and 3) of the 7 Moisture Zones developed for the Hawaiian Islands by Price et al. (2007).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Substrates are variable, ranging from sandy beaches to cobbly shores, derived from volcanic tuff, recent lava flows or old disintegrating lava (basalt), or raised coral beds (limestone).
Climate: Climate is warm, tropical. Annual precipitation ranges from over 3500 mm for wet strand, down to 1200 mm on seasonally mesic sites, and less than 1200 mm for dry strand. The wet to mesic strand occurs within the seasonally mesic, moist mesic, and moderately wet zones (Zones 4, 5 and 6) and the arid to moderately dry coastal strand occurs within the arid, very dry, and moderately dry zones (Zones 1, 2 and 3) of the 7 Moisture Zones developed for the Hawaiian Islands by Price et al. (2007).
Soil/substrate/hydrology: Substrates are variable, ranging from sandy beaches to cobbly shores, derived from volcanic tuff, recent lava flows or old disintegrating lava (basalt), or raised coral beds (limestone).
Geographic Range: This ruderal strand group occurs along disturbed coasts of the Hawaiian Islands and may include the smaller, arid islands and atolls that are widespread in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Nations: AS,FM,MP,PW,US,WS
States/Provinces: HI
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860774
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.A Tropical Grassland, Savanna & Shrubland Subclass | S01 | 2.A |
| Formation | 2.A.3 Tropical Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F024 | 2.A.3 |
| Division | 2.A.3.Ob Polynesian Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Division | D078 | 2.A.3.Ob |
| Macrogroup | 2.A.3.Ob.90 Polynesian Ruderal Scrub & Herb Coastal Strand Macrogroup | M234 | 2.A.3.Ob.90 |
| Group | 2.A.3.Ob.90.a Coconut Palm / Mission Grass - Elephant Grass Ruderal Scrub & Herb Coastal Strand Group | G423 | 2.A.3.Ob.90.a |
Concept Lineage: G424 & G425 merged into G423.
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Coastal Wet Shrubland (Gagne and Cuddihy 1990)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
- Gagne, W. C., and L. W. Cuddihy. 1990. Vegetation. Pages 45-114 in: W. L. Wagner, D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer, editors. Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii. 2 volumes. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu.
- Mueller-Dombois, D., and F. R. Fosberg. 1998. Vegetation of the tropical Pacific islands. Springer-Verlag, New York. 733 pp.
- Price, J. P., S. M. Gon, III, J. D. Jacobi, and D. Matsuwaki. 2007. Mapping plant species ranges in the Hawaiian Islands: Developing a methodology and associated GIS layers. Hawai''i Cooperative Studies Unit. Technical Report HCSU-008. Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center (PACRC), University of Hawai''i, Hilo. 58 pp., includes 16 figures and 6 tables.
- Wagner, W. L., D. R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Volumes 1 and 2. University of Hawaii Press and Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp.
- Warshauer, F. R., J. D. Jacobi, and J. P. Price. 2008. Native coastal flora and plant communities in Hawai`i: Their composition, distribution and status. Technical Report HCSU-014, USGS Hawai`i Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawai`i at Hilo.