MARRAM GRASS

'Marram Grass' or 'Beach Grass' are common names for two species of grasses of the genus ''Ammophila'' growing almost exclusively on coastal sand dunes, where its extensive system of creeping underground stems or rhizomes allow it to survive in a very harsh and windswept ecosystem. ''Ammophila'' species are native to coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean where it is usually the dominant species on sand dunes, but they occur only rarely inland.
Marram grass is widely known as an example of a xerophyte, a plant which can withstand arid conditions such as deserts or sandy beaches. Its xerophytic adaptations (mentioned below) allow it to thrive under conditions most plants could not survive.
There are two species of marram grass, barely distinguishable from each other:

★ '''Ammophila arenaria''' - 'European Marram Grass'. Coasts of Europe (north to Iceland) and northwest Africa. Inflorescence to 25 cm long; broad.

★ '''Ammophila breviligulata''' - 'American Marram Grass' or 'Beach Grass'. Coasts of eastern North America, including the shores of the Great Lakes. Inflorescence to 30 cm long; narrower.
The species name "''Ammophila'' (''Am-mó-phi-la'') " originates from the Greek words of "Ammos", meaning Sand and "Phillia", meaning lover.
Both species are listed as invasive plants in many additional areas, where they were introduced to help reduce sand dune erosion. Particular problems are noted on the Pacific Ocean coast of North America, from California north to British Columbia.
A natural hybrid, ''× Ammocalamagrostis baltica'', between ''Ammophila arenaria'' and ''Calamagrostis epigeios'' occurs in parts of northern Europe, mainly from the Baltic Sea west to eastern England.

Contents

Ecology

Uses

External links

Ecology

In Europe, marram grass (''Ammophila arenaria'') has a coastal distribution, and is the dominant species on sand dunes where it is responsible for stabilising and building the foredune by capturing blown sand and binding it together with the warp and weft of its tough, fibrous rhizome system. Marram grass is strongly associated with two coastal plant community types in the British National Vegetation Classification. In community SD6 (Mobile dune) ''Ammophila'' is the dominant species. In the semi-fixed dunes (community SD7), where the quantity of blown sand is declining ''Ammophila'' becomes less competitive, and other species, notably ''Festuca rubra'' become prominent.

Uses

Newborough women once used marram grass – which grows on the sand dunes – in the manufacture of mats, haystack covers and brushes for whitewashing.
The ability of marram grass to grow on and bind sand makes it a useful plant in the restoration of coastal defences on sandy coasts.

External links

★ ''Ammophila arenaria'' on the northwest coast of North America ''Botanical Electronic News'' 183 (12 February 1998).

★ ''California Conservation Corps, spearhead of Ammophila removal efforts in California.