Herbaceous 



Coastal Prairie 

 r... I Valley Grassland 

 [=^ Freshwater Marsh 

 H Coastal Salt Marsh 

 M Coastal Strand 



Map. 2. Approximate distribution of herbaceous plant 

 communities in California. 



The climate of the area occupied by the Coastal Strand plant 

 community in California is variable. Rainfall varies from an aver- 

 age annual total of about 1 5 inches (38 cm) to a total in excess of 

 70 inches (178 cm). In many parts of the coast, there are extens- 

 ive fogs during the summer and the winter. The growing season 

 along the immediate coast is very long and even in extreme 



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