Species

Ammophila arenaria

Etymology

arenaria: sand dweller

Common Name(s)

marram grass

Authority

Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link

Family

Poaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

AMMARE

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Grasses

Habitat

Terrestrial. Coastal plant, usually occurs on sand dunes, can occur in inland sites with low fertility.

Features

Stout rhizomatous perennial grass. Rhizomes tough, creeping long distances in loose sand. Compact tufts formed, 1 m+ high. Leaves to 700 x 3-6 mm, greyish-green, tips sharp, reddish-brown sheaths overlapping; blades tightly rolled (appear cylindrical) in exposed conditions, loosely rolled in shade; densely hairy ribs above, striped below, narrow ligule 25 mm long. Seedhead a dense spike, whitish, to 30 cm long.

Similar Taxa

Leymus racemosus is more robust, foliage less bluish. Austrofestuca littoralis native sand tussock can be confused with small marram plants.

Flowering

November, December, January, February, March

Flower Colours

Green,Yellow

Fruiting

Unknown

Year Naturalised

1873

Origin

Europe, North Africa

Reason For Introduction
Agricultural

Life Cycle Comments
Perennial.

Reproduction
Can spread large distances via seed. Vegetative reproduction occurs rapidly through extensive rhizomatic growth. The plant achieves this by trapping sand and growing through it

Seed
Low amounts of seed are produced. Seed viability is low, with no contribution to the seed bank.

Dispersal
Seed is dispersed by wind. Direct spread from extending rhizomes, seed and rhizome fragments spread by wind and water, deliberate planting by people for sand dune

Tolerances
Highly tolerant to drought and is virtually unpalatable to grazing stock. Intolerant to shade.

This page last updated on 4 May 2011