. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: This is a well-established stand of bitter panicum. Seashore elder forms round, hummocky dunes. Saltmeadow cordgrass colonizes on a washed-over dune area. Rope fences are less expensive to install than wooden sand fences. PLANT SPECIES The "signature" plants on North Carolina's coastal dunes are sea oats (Uniola paniculata). As the name implies, the seed head has an oat-like appearance. The plant's tall stems, with their seed heads blowing in the ocean breeze, are a favorite
. Coast watch. Marine resources; Oceanography; Coastal zone management; Coastal ecology. CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: This is a well-established stand of bitter panicum. Seashore elder forms round, hummocky dunes. Saltmeadow cordgrass colonizes on a washed-over dune area. Rope fences are less expensive to install than wooden sand fences. PLANT SPECIES The "signature" plants on North Carolina's coastal dunes are sea oats (Uniola paniculata). As the name implies, the seed head has an oat-like appearance. The plant's tall stems, with their seed heads blowing in the ocean breeze, are a favorite sight for coastal visitors and residents. Sea oats are aesthetically pleasing and also are important food sources for wildlife, including birds and other creatures that depend upon the dune ecosystem for their survival. "Sea oats provide the best long-term stability for coastal dunes when planted in its native range, which includes the entire North Carolina coast," says Nash. American beachgrass {Ammophila brevilgulata), which is a cool- season perennial grass native to the north and mid-Atlantic coasts along the eastern seaboard, is also frequently seen along the North Carolina coast. Cape Hatteras is considered to be the approximate southern limit of its native range. Although American beachgrass is best adapted to the northern region of the mid-Atlantic coast, it has been planted extensively throughout the coastal areas of North and South Carolina to stabilize dunes. A third type of dune plant is bitter panicum (Panicum amarum), which occurs naturally from New England to Mexico. Its stout stem and wide, blue-green leaves add unique color and texture to the dune environ- ment. "This plant works well in combination with other dune species and should be included in dune vegetation projects," says Nash. In back dune areas that have less windblown sand, saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens) is highly adaptable. The slender-stemmed grass prefers moist sites b
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookcollectionunclibra, booksubjectoceanography
