See the Sea Oat (Uniola paniculata) stalk blowing in the wind at the restored park on Pompano Beach in Florida. The leaves and seedheads trap the sands that blow onshore helping the dune area to grow which helps control beach erosion. I have watched this occurance of increased dune development over the past years wherever Sea Oats have been planted by volunteers. Sea Oats are a natural aid in containing the beaches. Similar to the native prairie grasses, Sea Oats have deep roots that help sustain them through hurricanes and tropical storms. Roots can be as deep as the plants are tall which can reach six feet. Copyright 2024 Pamela BreitbergLike prairie lands inland, the dunes along the beach contain a variety of plant life. Here, nestled into the setting is a Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) planting. This one species can grow to be a dense shrub or even a fifty foot tree. The low, groundcover seems to be Beach Peanut (Okenia hypagaea), not yet showing it’s purple blooms. Just fun to explore and look for new species hidden among the Sea Oats. Copyright 2024 Pamela Breitberg
