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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation AreaView of Skull Rock
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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Plants
Nature and Science

The Santa Monica Mountains are one of the last remaining examples of a relatively undisturbed Mediterranean-type ecosystem in the world. A unique climate, diverse topography, and other factors create a complex assemblage of vegetation types including oak woodland, several types of chaparral, coastal sage scrub, valley oak savanna, grassland, riparian woodland, wetland, and coastal marsh. This vegetation diversity provides abundant habitat for animal species, including 50 species of mammals, close to 400 bird species, and over 35 reptile and amphibian species. These natural resources occur within and adjacent to Los Angeles, the second largest urban area in the nation. Within the National Park System, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area represents one of the largest and most significant areas of protected Mediterranean-type ecosystem. Although 90 percent of the park contains natural habitat, more than half of these areas are privately owned. The greatest threats to the natural resources within the park are impacts associated with transformation from natural open space to developed areas. In many other parks and reserves, legislated boundaries are complete or near completion and both external and internal development threats are less severe.

 
Pond at Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa

There are 12 communities derived from 26 vegetation associations identified by the California Natural Diversity Database classification system (Holland 1986). These include coastal salt marsh, coastal strand, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, coast live oak woodland, riparian woodland, valley oak savanna, freshwater ponds/lakes, rock outcrops, and suburban development.

Click here to download a checklist of the plants of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

 
Euphorbia teracina or Terracina Spurge grows rapidly and is a prolific seed producer, easily invading coastal scrub lands and out-competing native species for space.

Photo: NPS

Terracina Spurge (Euphorbia terracina)

However a battle to protect this ecosystem from invasive plants is being waged in the mountains. Noxious invasives commonly called weeds are still spreading through out the Santa Monica Mountains. Early dectection is key in preventing large ecosystem impact.

Download our free invasive weed field guide.
Click here (2MB)

 

 

The city of Los Angeles can be seen from many scenic view points in the Santa Monica Mountains.  

Did You Know?
Comprising 153,075 acres, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the world's largest urban national park. It has more area codes (5) and zip codes (26), including the notable 90210 zip code of Beverly Hills, than any other unit in the National Park System.

Last Updated: October 11, 2009 at 12:50 EST