BEACH GRASS

also called marram grass, psamma, or sand reed any of the sand-binding plants in the genus Ammophila (family Poaceae). These coarse, perennial grasses are about one metre (about three feet) tall and grow on sandy coasts of temperate Europe, North America, and northern Africa. American beach grass (A. breviligulata) grows along the Atlantic coast and in the Great Lakes region. European beach grass (A. arenaria) has been introduced on the northern Pacific coast of the United States as a dune stabilizer. Both species grow in tufts and have rolled, spikelike leaves. The flower clusters are long, dense, and cylindrical. The tough, scaly underground stems may spread 10 to 13 metres (33 to 43 feet) away from the plant, sending up new shoots throughout the dune. In some areas, beach grass is protected by law.