DESCRIPTION OF IMPORTANT GRASS FORAGE PLANTS 



143 



becomes more matted, the sands are effectually anchored (Fig. 60). In 

 the latter part of August and early September, the pale, straw-yellow 

 spike of spikelets grow up from the subterranean stem. It is propagated 

 for sand-binding purposes by cutting the plant up into lengths, between 

 the widely separated tufts, which are planted out in rows along with other 

 protective devices. This method of fixing the wandering dunes has been 

 used for many years on the Baltic coasts of Europe, in Holland, in Bel- 

 gium, on Cape Cod and elsewhere with satisfactory results. 



FIG. 60. Sand dune with marram grass (Ammophila arenarid) and beach pea (Lalhyrus 

 maritimus), Gilgo Beach, South Shore, Long Island, July 8, 1914. 



Seaside Oats (Uniola paniculata). This stout grass is found on the 

 sand hills and drifting sands of the American coast from Virginia to Florida 

 and westward to Texas, where it produces a stout panicle bearing many 

 oblong-oval, stramineous spikelets. These panicles are gathered by the 

 people of such cities as Wilmington, N. C. and Charlestown, S. C. for 

 decoration, being usually placed in vases for that purpose (Fig. 61). This 

 grass to a certain extent takes the place of the marram grass in binding 

 the sand of southern sea beaches and sand dunes. The description of this 

 grass introduces us to a few additional species of grasses which are especi- 

 ally useful in the southern states. These grasses are: 



