Did you know picking or destroying sea oats along our coast is illegal? Walking on the sand dunes and picking sea oats is prohibited by a law enacted in 1973 by the Alabama legislature. This is because vegetation is essential to our coast’s ecosystem. Rooted throughout our sugar-white dunes, they do draw the eye. But as the adage goes: Look but don’t touch. Sea oats are not just some weed. They look like tall grass or stalks of wheat, and [...]
Sea oats are an important part of the ecosystem along the coast. These plants look like tall grass along the shore and form a natural storm protection. You will typically find sea oats on sand dunes, as they help the growth of the dunes by trapping the sand that is blown from the wind. Sand dunes are extremely fragile, so the sea oats play an important role in maintaining them; the deep roots help stabilize the dunes and prevent them [...]
Earlier this year we were reminded of how fragile our beautiful coastline is. Hurricane Sally visited and definitely overstayed her welcome with hours of hurricane-force winds and torrential rain battering our beaches, homes and businesses. Do you know what is the greatest natural protection we have from storms? The sea oats and other vegetation that help hold our dunes together. The stately sea oats can create a root system as much as 10 times the size of the rest of the plant. All of those roots hold on to sand. As sea oats [...]
How much do you know about those sea oats you see growing on the dunes of the Alabama coast? We’re sharing six facts below to help you brush up your knowledge. 1 – Sea oats are a widespread grass that is drought resistant and immune to fungus infections. That makes them a hardy species for the tough coastal environment, even using the sand that collects around it to stimulate the plant’s growth. 2 – The scientific name for sea oats [...]
