Physiognomy and Structure: These areas can be dense shrublands totally comprised of one species or they can be more open mosaics of grassland and shrubland, or pure grassland.

Floristics: This macrogroup is dominated by non-native or introduced species such as Ammophila arenaria or Ammophila breviligulata, Cakile edentula, Cakile maritima, Carpobrotus chilensis, Carpobrotus edulis, Mesembryanthemum spp., and/or Lupinus arboreus. Other non-native species may also be present, including Bromus diandrus, Cirsium vulgare, Medicago polymorpha, Poa pratensis, and Rumex acetosella. Native species may be scattered about but these are at very low cover. Some restoration areas of planted Leymus mollis ssp. mollis have spread beyond where the natural type would have occurred, and are thus more invasive than "restored" and fit this concept, although this may be difficult to determine in the field and makes knowledge of site history imperative.

Dynamics:  According to Pickart and Barbour (2007, and references therein), "invasion by Carpobrotus edulis results in displacement of native herbaceous and even shrub species by direct overgrowth or indirectly by competition for resources…ecosystem impacts include changes to soil pH...the buildup of organic matter, and loss of sand movement...High Carpobrotus edulis cover is detrimental to burrowing dune insects...." They also note that Ammophila arenaria, which was introduced to stabilize the dunes, "has built a steep, continuous foredune over much of its range, replacing the original low, hummocky and mobile foredunes."