(f) This grass is relatively free of pests in the dune 

 environment . 



(g) The stiff upright growth habit and short rhizome system 

 produce rapid sand accumulation near margins of vegetation. The 

 slow lateral spread produces steep seaward dune slopes. 



(h) A summer grower that grows only during warm weather, 

 which makes the growing season short in the Carolinas but almost 

 year round on the south Texas coast. 



(i) Tolerance to heat and drought is high, and rarely 

 exhibits drought symptoms. 



(4) Bitter Panicum . A strongly rhizomatous perennial warm 

 season grass which spreads by branching at the nodes (Figs. 19 and 20). 

 It is generally less erect and has shorter leaves than sea oats and the 

 beachgrasses. Bitter panicum has received serious attention only recently. 

 It is apparently native to the mid and South Atlantic and gulf coasts but 

 had disappeared from most dune and beach areas long ago because of over- 

 grazing by livestock (Dahl, et al., 1975). Since it rarely, if ever, 

 produces viable seed, it is slow to reinvade without the help of man or 

 storm activity. Now that grazing has largely been eliminated, this dune 

 grass is increasing throughout much of its range. It does have substan- 

 tial value as a sand-stilling grass from about the mid-Atlantic coast to 

 Mexico, as the initial stabilizer in the southern half of the region, 

 and as a companion to other pioneer foredune plants elsewhere (Dahl, 

 et al., 1975; Seneca, Woodhouse, and Broome, 1976). Characteristics 

 of bitter panicum are: 



(a) Easy to multiply under nursery conditions but commercial 

 availability is limited; the supply could be quickly expanded if 

 demand develops. 



(b) Rarely, if ever, produces viable seeds; therefore, must 

 be propagated vegetatively. 



(c) Free of serious pests under both nursery and dune 

 conditions. 



(d) Easy to harvest, store, and transplant. Survival of 

 transplants is substantially superior to that of sea oats but 

 inferior to American and European beachgrasses. The trans- 

 planting season is long. 



(e) Growth is erratic the first year. Some transplants may 

 start new growth immediately while others delay for some time. 



(f) Sand trapping is efficient and the plants spread later- 

 ally in a way similar to sea oats. Dune slopes are more gentle. 



38 



