What are the characteristics of marram grass?
The dense, spiky tufts of Marram grass are a familiar sight on our windswept coasts. In fact, its matted roots help to stabilise sand dunes, allowing them to grow up and become colonised by other species.
Is marram grass an invasive species?
The grass is invasive in the local ecosystems, forming dense monotypic stands that crowd out native vegetation, reduce species diversity of native arthropods, and cover vital open stretches of sand used for nesting by the threatened western snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus).
What adaptations does marram grass have?
Marram grass grows on sand dunes. Its leaves have adaptations to reduce transpiration in dry, windy conditions….Leaf adaptations.
| Adaptation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Rolled leaves, leaf hairs, and stomata sunk in pits | Traps moist air, which increases the humidity and reduces the diffusion of water vapour |
Why is Ammophila a Xerophyte?
The Ammophila grasses are widely known as examples of xerophytes, plants that can withstand dry conditions. Ammophila builds coastal sand dunes and thus stabilizes the sand.
What kind of grass grows on sand dunes?
Ammophila breviligulata (American beachgrass or American marram grass) is a species of grass native to eastern North America, where it grows on sand dunes along the Atlantic Ocean and Great Lakes coasts.
How does Marram grass survive in sand dunes?
Surviving happily on free-draining sand on windy coasts, the plant does everything it can to prevent unnecessary water loss. The waxy leaves are rolled inwards to prevent evaporation from the surface, while tiny hairs alongside the inside minimise air flow that could carry water away.
How does grass grow in sand dunes?
American dune grass (Leymus mollis), the most common native grass for sand along the California coast, flourishes in all counties from Del Norte south to Santa Barbara county. The grass spreads underground via rhizomes that anchor the plants to the dune and send forth new shoots.
What is the tall grass at the beach called?
Where does marram grass grow?
This native grass is frequently found around the UK’s coasts and beaches, especially in the south and west. It has tightly rolled, sharply pointed grey-green leaves, and produces large spikes of cream or pale yellow flowers in June.