The sand dunes developed after the last ice age (Würm glaciation) and the first resettlement of grassland plants occurred approximately 12,000 years ago.
The other limiting factor is a dry climate, affecting trees more than grassland plants, which hoard water.
This contributes to the unusual mix of grassland plants.
Grazing brought a host of invasive annual grassland plants that eventually dominated the deep-rooted native perennial grasses and altered runoff rates.
This article is about the genus of grassland plants.
Members are known as common grassland plants and as weeds of cultivated ground.
This area was included in the SSSI for its heathland vegetation communities, including several characteristic acidic grassland plants.
The flora varies from desert shrubs at the lower elevations to grassland plants to manzanita, shrub live oak, and other mountain shrubs.
Fire also encourages the growth of new grassland plants.
Some species are native to rocky and coastal areas, but the majority are grassland plants.