Stats

Lifespan

Perennial

Size

Medium

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Coastal dunes

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Runners

Defense

Spines

Status

Uncommon

About

This coastal grass grows in shifting sand dunes along the Atlantic shoreline. Its roots extend ten feet deep to anchor the plant against strong ocean winds.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Liliopsida

Order

Poales

Family

Poaceae

Genus

Calamagrostis

Species

Calamagrostis breviligulata