Ammophila arenaria (Beach grass)
Photos & text
by Mary Jo Adams Copyright © 2003
grass ( Ammophila arenaria ) is one of the two grasses that
grow along our beaches. It grows to about 3 feet as does Dune
grass (Elymus mollis), but the blades are much more narrow
(only about 4 mm wide) than the blades of Dune grass and are yellow
green in color. This is an invasive species that has literally changed
the shape of our shores. It was introduced in 1869 from Europe. It
loves shifting, moving sand, which it is able to trap and hold onto.
The sand trapping causes steep dunes that form parallel along the
beach. These types of dunes were not seen along Pacific shores prior
to its introduction.
page was created on May 6, 2004.