Beach grass grassland (S1)
Beach grass grasslands are most prominent on the foredune portion of coastal sand dune systems, but they also occur in interdune and backdune areas, and as narrow strands of vegetation along the upper edge of some beaches without dunes. Each of these settings has actively shifting sand, but the foredune examples support a greater diversity of flora.
Characteristic vegetation: Beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata), the dominant species of this community, is well adapted to the dynamic environment of moving sand and creates extensive colonies of itself by spreading underground roots called rhizomes.
Good examples of intact sand dune natural communities and systems occur south of the state line, on
Beach grass grassland communities sometimes occur as part of larger coastal sand dune systems.
Beach grass grassland on a foredune at Seabrook Beach (photo by Ben Kimball)
Beach grass (Ammophila breviligulata) in the beach grass grassland community
at Seabrook Beach (photo by Ben Kimball)
Beach grass grassland community at Seabrook Beach (photo by Ben Kimball)
Narrow strip of beach grass grassland community at Odiorne Point State Park
(photo by Ben Kimball)