Print Report

A1620 Mesembryanthemum spp. - Carpobrotus spp. Ruderal Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance, dominated by exotic species of Carpobrotus, Malephora, and/or Mesembryanthemum, can be found along the immediate coast of California from north to south.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Iceplant species - Carpobrotus species Ruderal Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Ruderal Iceplant Mat

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This low-statured vegetation forms a continuous canopy less than 50 cm in height. This is a highly invasive, exotic alliance, dominated by members of three genera: Carpobrotus, Malephora, and/or Mesembryanthemum. The native shrubs Abronia latifolia, Ambrosia chamissonis, and/or Eriogonum latifolium may be present as emergents. Poa douglasii may also be present. This alliance can be found along the immediate coast of California from sea level to 100 m elevation. Stands are widespread on bluffs, disturbed land, and sand dunes. Disturbance aids the spread of this exotic alliance. Stands are being removed in several areas to restore native vegetation. However, these species are now so common in California, they must be recognized as components of the state''s vegetation.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance includes low-statured semi-natural vegetation of bluffs, disturbed land, and sand dunes of the California coast dominated by species of Carpobrotus, Malephora, and/or Mesembryanthemum.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This treatment is broadly defined to recognize the importance of these introduced species in California''s vegetation. The invasive character of several taxa in the Aizoaceae family is well-appreciated in California, especially on coastal dune habitats. Three genera are included in this series. The Jepson Manual (Hickman 1993) includes five taxa in the genera Carpobrotus, Malephora, and/or Mesembryanthemum as having naturalized in the state. These taxa have historically been placed in Mesembryanthemum, but now are referred to as Carpobrotus chilensis, Carpobrotus edulis, Malephora crocea, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, and Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum. All are invasive and replace native dune species, particularly members of the Ambrosia chamissonis and Lupinus chamissonis - Ericameria ericoides alliances.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This low-statured forb vegetation forms a continuous canopy less than 50 cm in height.

Floristics: Stands of this highly invasive, exotic alliance are dominated by members of three genera: Carpobrotus, Malephora, and/or Mesembryanthemum. The shrubs Abronia latifolia, Ambrosia chamissonis, and/or Eriogonum latifolium may be present as emergents. Poa douglasii may also be present.

Species of Interest: Malacothrix incana (CRPR 4.3) is often associated with this alliance, while Lotus dendroideus var. veatchii (= Acmispon dendroideus var. veatchii) (CRPR 4.3) and Astragalus miguelensis (CRPR 4.3) are sometimes present. Dudleya greenei (CRPR 4.2) and Eriogonum grande var. rubescens (CRPR 1B.2) occur at less than 20% constancy in samples of this alliance.

Dynamics:  Disturbance aids the spread of this exotic alliance. In Northern California Coast (USFS Section 263A; Bailey et al. 1994), Carpobrotus edulis is the most common invader of dune habitats and is widespread on most dune systems. In Central California Coast (USFS Section 261B; Bailey et al. 1994), Mesembryanthemum sp. and Carpobrotus edulis are both common on dune systems. In Southern California Coast (USFS Section 261B; Bailey et al. 1994), Mesembryanthemum sp. and Carpobrotus edulis are both common on dune systems. In the Channel Islands, Mesembryanthemum sp. has crowded out many native herbaceous and subshrub stands, especially on the northern Channel islands. Salt build-up from the leaves has effectively changed the soil chemistry of some of these stands and effectively excludes native species from recolonizing (Vivrette and Muller 1977). In the Great Valley (USFS Section 262A; Bailey et al. 1994), stands occur in Suisun Marsh and in other Delta areas of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2000).
Environmental Description:  Stands of this alliance are widespread on bluffs, disturbed land, and sand dunes along the immediate California coast from sea level to 100 m elevation.
Geographic Range: This alliance occur along the northern, central, and southern California coasts, the Central Valley, and on the Channel Islands.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CA


Confidence Level: Low

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.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation F005 2.B.4
Division 2.B.4.Nb Pacific North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division D027 2.B.4.Nb
Macrogroup 2.B.4.Nb.90 North Pacific Coastal Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M511 2.B.4.Nb.90
Group 2.B.4.Nb.90.a North Pacific Maritime Coastal Ruderal Dune Group G647 2.B.4.Nb.90.a
Alliance A1620 Iceplant species - Carpobrotus species Ruderal Grassland Alliance A1620 2.B.4.Nb.90.a
Concept Lineage: equivalent to A.1620

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Carpobrotus edulis or Other Ice Plants Herbaceous Semi-Natural Alliance (CNPS 2017) [21.200.00]
= Carpobrotus edulis or other Ice Plants (Ice plant mats) Semi-natural Stands (Sawyer et al. 2009) [21.200.00]
= Mesembryanthemum spp. - Carpobrotus spp. Semi-natural Herbaceous Alliance (Rodriguez et al. 2017)
= Ice plant series (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995)
>< Northern Foredunes (#21210) (Holland 1986b)
>< Southern Coastal Bluff Scrub (#31200) (Holland 1986b)
>< Southern Foredunes (#21230) (Holland 1986b)
Concept Author(s): T. Keeler-Wolf, M. Vaghti, and A. Kilgore (2000)

Author of Description: M.E. Hall

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
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