Marram grass
Missing image Illustration_Ammophila_arenaria0.jpg Ammophila arenaria Ammophila arenaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Ammophila
Species
See text

Marram grass is a species of grass growing almost exclusively on sand dunes, where rhizomes on its extensive root system allow it to add nitrates to a very arid and wind swept ecosystem.

Marram has adapted to the harsh conditions of the Main Ridge sand dunes by having leaves which can fold to reduce surface area, are shiny and can be aligned to wind direction in order to reduce transpiration rates. Its extensive roots system allows it to tap into deep Ground water stores below the dunes, and have small rhizomes which produce necessary nitrates for the plants growth support. The root network also assists in the process of stabilizing a dune.

There are three main species of marram grass:

North American Species: Found in Eastern coastal regions in prevailing wind directions (Rhodes Island) Ammophila breviligulata

European Species: Found in the lower slopes of Mountain Regions bordering coasts (Magilligan, Co. Derry, N. Ireland) Ammophila arenaria

Hybrid Cross-Bred Species: a hybrid between Ammophila arenaria and Calamagrostis epigeios.

da:Hjælme (Ammophila) de:Strandhafer es:Ammophila