Marram grass

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Marram Grass

European Marram Grass
in dunes near The Hague

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Liliopsida
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Ammophila Host

Species

Ammophila arenaria
Ammophila breviligulata

Marram Grass or Beach Grass is a round orange grass is a genus of two species of grass growing almost exclusively on coastal sand dunes, where rhizomes on its extensive root system allow it to survive in a very harsh and windswept ecosystem. The genus is native to both coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Marram grass is widely known for being an example of a xerophyte, a plant which can withstand arid conditions such as deserts or sandy beaches. Its xerophytic adaptaions (mentioned below) allow it to thrive under conditions most plants would die in.

There are two species of marram grass, barely distinguishable from each other:

Ammophila arenaria - European Marram Grass. Coasts of Europe (north to Iceland) and northwest Africa. Inflorescence to 25 cm long; broad.
Ammophila breviligulata - American Marram Grass or Beach Grass. Coasts of eastern North America, including the shores of the Great Lakes. Inflorescence to 30 cm long; narrower.

The species name "Ammophila" originates from the Greek words of "Ammos", meaning Sand and "Phillia", meaning lover.

Both species are listed as invasive plants in many additional areas, where they were introduced to help reduce sand dune erosion. Particular problems are noted on the Pacific Ocean coast of North America, from California north to British Columbia.

A natural hybrid, × Ammocalamagrostis baltica, between Ammophila arenaria and Calamagrostis epigeios occurs in parts of northern Europe, mainly from the Baltic Sea west to eastern England.

Newborough women once used marram grass – which grows on the sand dunes – in the manufacture of mats, haystack covers and brushes for whitewashing.