(Ammophila breviligulata) 3 sea oats (Uniola panioulata) 3 Dune panic grass 

 (Panicum amarum) and saitmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens). 



a. American Beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata) 



American beachgrass is the only one of these grasses of which ample 

 planting stock is presently available and the only one that has been planted 

 extensively on the foredune portions of the Banks. So far, this species 

 appears to be an excellent grass for this purpose. It lends itself quite 

 well to nursery propagation, can be transplanted to the Banks with almost 

 perfect survival, grows off quite rapidly following transplanting and is 

 capable of trapping and coming through large quantities of sand. Being 

 indigenous to the Atlantic coast, north of the Virginia Capes, it is not as 

 tolerant of hot, dry weather as sea oats and dune panic grass, but has done 

 quite well on fairly high dunes as far south as Bogue Banks, and in trial 

 plantings at lower elevations to the South Carolina line. 



American beachgrass is quite tolerant to salt spray and will withstand 

 occasional flooding by salt water in cool weather. During the hot summer 

 period, it is killed quite readily by salt tides. Some disease and insect 

 damage has been observed on this species, but so far, nothing of this kind 

 has reached serious proportions. 



Under favorable conditions, American beachgrass spreads readily through 

 the production of extensive rhizomes. Some reproduction from seeds occurs 

 but this is sporadic and does not appear to be very extensive. 



This grass can tolerate and continue to grow through rather rapid sand 

 accumulation. One example of this capacity is illustrated in Figure I. Under 

 the rapid rate of accumulation shown, most plants were completely covered 

 at one time or another and there appeared to be some thinning of stands at 

 all sites. However, on the last day (October 20, 1965), an adequate stand 

 remained at most points with some 6 to 8 inches of grass protruding above 

 the sand (see Figure 2). New roots had developed to within 6 to 8 inches 

 of the surface with the original root system still viable. A great deal 

 remains to be determined on this point, but it is apparent that American 

 beachgrass is capable of withstanding very substantial sand accumulation 

 during the growing season. 



b. The Sea Oat (Uniola panioulata) 



The sea oat is widely distributed from the Virginia Capes to 

 Mexico. On the North Carolina coast, this grass is the principal occupant 

 of unplanted dunes near the sea. It is an excellent sand catcher. 

 Unfortunately, natural stands are frequently sparse, resulting in rapid 

 accumulation of sand by the individual plants and the growth of rough, 

 hummocky dunes. This characteristic has given rise to the belief that 

 this grass always forms rough dunes. However, where good stands have 

 been observed, there seems to be little difference between a sea oat dune 

 and an American beachgrass dune. 



