Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Ammophila breviligulata
Marram grass, Beach grass
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Ammophila champlainensis

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

  • Magnoliophyta

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
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Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: State threatened

Notes:Populations along Lake Michigan appear to be increasing, potentially due to lower of lake level exposing more beach sand. Recently, downlisted to ST.

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Monocot, perennial

Roots: adventitious, rhizomes

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire leaf margin; Parallel leaf venation; awl-shaped leaf shape

Inflorescence: panicle

Flowers: perfect; incomplete; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: grain

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual, vegetative

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Important in the stabilization of sand dunes. Often associated with Calamovilfa longifolia.

ILPIN Notes: Probably now restricted to Lake County. Extensive use as sand-dune binder in New England & along the Great Lakes. Probably contributes locally to hayfever. Rootstocks and young shoots can be eaten in times of emergency. Blades involute above, flat at the base; paniculate inflorescence contracted to appear spikelike; callus with a tuft of hairs.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators: wind
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value:

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 9
  • Chicago Area: 7

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