(g) Cannot withstand as rapid a sand accumulation as 

 American beachgrass or sea oats, and is particularly sus- 

 ceptible to burial during the establishment period. 



(h) Wide variety of plant types are found in the field — 

 creeping to erect, and delicate to robust. The best types for 

 dune planting have not been determined and better propagation 

 methods are needed. 



(5) Saltmeadow Cordgrass . This plant has smaller, more pliable 

 leaves and stems than any of the other dunegrasses and offers less resist- 

 ance to the wind; therefore, it is not as effective as a dune builder. 

 However, saltmeadow cordgrass is very tolerant of salt and flooding and 

 it seeds profusely, spreadijig readily by seeds. This grass is often 

 among the first to invade low-exposed sites along the mid and South 

 Atlantic and parts of the gulf coasts. It often initiates new dunes 



on low flats that may later become occupied by plant species better 

 adapted to high dry conditions (Fig. 21). It is widespread along the 

 Atlantic and gulf coasts. Characteristics of saltmeadow cordgrass are: 



(a) Easy to transplant where moisture is adequate but 

 difficult on dry dunes. Plants are occasionally found on 

 old high dunes where they apparently grew with the dune. 



(b) Survival depends on type of planting stock. Plants 

 must be young and uncrowded. Stock from old dune stands is 

 usually unsatisfactory. 



(c) Tolerant of reduced sand and nutrient supply. Persists 

 longer under intermediate zone conditions than other pioneer 

 zone species. 



(d) Has a long planting season on suitable (moist) sites, 

 winter through early summer. 



(6) American Dunegrass . This grass was apparently the only 

 perennial dune grass occurring along the Pacific coast from British 

 Colombia to southern California before the introduction of European 

 beachgrass in the late 1800's. The same species occurs also around the 

 Great Lakes and along the North Atlantic coast. Whether or not this is 

 the same variety as the Pacific coast grass is not clear. Early workers 

 (McLaughlin and Brown, 1942) found European and American beachgrasses 

 much easier to multiply and transplant. Consequently, little attention 

 has been devoted to the propagation and use of American dunegrass until 

 recently (Barbour, 1976). It has not been planted enough to know its 

 role and value in building and stabilizing dunes. The grass invades 

 foredune areas throughout most of its range and is capable of building 

 foredunes. It has replaced European beachgrass on some older foredunes 

 in the Pacific Northwest. American dunegrass seems to have a potential 

 for more use as its requirements are better understood. Certainly, it 

 seems to warrant further attention, particularly on the Pacific coast. 



