Poaceae FAMILY

Ammophila arenaria

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Ammophila arenaria is a perennial, clump-forming grass with elongated rhizomes that spread to form large colonies. The culms are erect or ascending, 50 - 120cm long. The plant is an excellent sand binder, much planted along coasts to stabilize sand dunes. The plant also provides material for basket and broom making, thatching, fibres for paper etc. The plant is often planted to stabilize sand dunes, but should only be used within its native range since it spreads freely and can outcompete native plants on the dunes. Outside of its native range appropriate plants that are native to the specific area should be chosen.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurope - Norway to Western Russia, south to Spain and Greece; N. Africa - Morocco to Egypt; W. Asia - Turkey south to Israel, possibly also in Arabia.

HabitatSand dunes by the coast[ 17 Title Flora of the British Isles. Publication Author Clapham, Tutin and Warburg. Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1962 ISBN - Description A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures. ]. It is the prime colonist of unstable and mobile sand hills in dune systems, dominating the 'white dune' stage, and is commonly a component of other plant communities at tops of beaches and on very sandy coastal ground[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ].