Other forms: ruderals
A ruderal species of plant is one that grows where the ground has been disturbed. The dandelions you see poking up between the pavers of a sidewalk are ruderal plants.
Following an avalanche, landslide, or wildfire, ruderal species are the ones that are able to establish themselves and grow in depleted soil. These plants, sometimes called ruderals, may also pop up after human activity like mining, pesticide use, or the building of roads or sidewalks. While some ruderal species are invasive, others are native grasses, wildflowers, ferns, and mosses. The term ruderal is derived from the Latin rudus, meaning "rubble."