© Karen Andrews
My winter walk on Burnham-on-Sea beach this weekend showed how well sand dunes can stand up to a week of high winds and heavy rains. It gave me an opportunity to contrast my plant finds with those of the summer in the same area. Marram Grass, Ammophila arenaria (Poaceae), is a plant that binds sand together and makes it possible for other coastal plants to colonise dunes. It dominates mobile dunes.
Calm summer evening at Burnham-on-Sea’s sand dunes 
Burnham-on-Sea’s dunes in December with a visible high strand line of seaweed and other debris
You could tell that the Marram Grass, Ammophila arenaria, had defeated the high tide by the irregular channel that ran along the base of the dunes. I was surprised at the heavy pieces of driftwood discarded so high up the beach by the sea. Sometimes they were large, long branches. They conveyed the power of the sea and tides to me.
© Karen Andrews
A tight network of Marram Grass roots was exposed where the sand had occasionally given way. The Marram Grass was already recovering with fresh green shoots. The next winds to blow up the beach will soon cover the roots over again.
Network of exposed Ammophila arenaria, Marram Grass roots after the stormy weather
© Karen Andrews
Marram Grass’s signs of recovery 
New green shoot among the exposed roots
No roots were exposed back in the summer.
Marram Grass growing out of the fine sand in summer 
Marram Grass inflorescence
There was stronger evidence of storm action near the sea wall. Debris had been thrown over the sea wall at both Brean and Burnham. The Burnham wall was just shorter than my standing height. (You can see pictures of the Brean sea wall in my previous ShoreSearch at Brean blog).
Debris over 1st stage of Brean Wall by the café 
Heavy debris at Burnham was stopped by the vegetation
Vegetation Succession
There are a lot of different levels and vegetation stages in the sand dunes at Burnham-on-Sea. The variation in plant cover closest to the sea did not appear as great as in the summer. Some plants showed signs of burning by the salt spray. No doubt, many of these coastal plants will return in calmer weather next year.
Succession of vegetation cover between Burnham beach and Berrow & Burnham golf course. © Karen Andrews
© Karen Andrews
Second Line of Defence
Sea Buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides (Eleagnaceae) offers the second line of defence against the sea’s incursions. It forms a tough, impenetrable thicket.
Hippophae rhamnoides, Sea-buckthorn in summer 
Hippophae rhamnoides, Sea-buckthorn looks like a bare Christmas tree with baubles in December
Other Coastal Plants
Euphorbia paralias, Sea Spurge (Euphorbiaceae) was another plant that had weathered the storm in patches protected by Marram Grass, Ammophila arenaria. It showed signs of burning from the salt spray, where it was not protected.
Euphorbia paralias, Sea Spurge in summer from above 
Euphorbia paralias, Sea Spurge in the dunes in summer
I found one bedraggled specimen of Sea Radish, Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimus (Brassicaceae) during my walk at Brean. The fruits have previously confirmed the local subspecies. There was not any visible Sea Rocket, Cakile maritima (Brassicaceae).
Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. maritimus, Sea Radish in summer 
Cakile maritima, Sea Rocket, on the dunes in summer
I didn’t see any of the local Salsola kali, Prickly Saltwort either. It will no doubt reappear from the sand in time. It is well-adapted to the salty, sandy environment.
After my post-storm walk, I returned home with extra admiration for the resilience of Marram Grass compared to man-made, concrete sea walls.
© Karen Andrews
References and Further Reading
- Burnham.on.Sea.com (2018): Met Office issues warning for 70mph winds in Burnham area today. 8 December 2019. Last accessed 8 December 2019.
- Burnham.on.Sea.com (2018): Burnham-on-Sea, Berrow and Brean see damage in storms. 5 January 2018. Last accessed 8 December 2019
- Field Studies Council (2016): Sand Dunes Succession. FSC Biology Fieldwork. A Level. Last accessed 8 December 2019.
- Streeter, David et al (2016): Collins Wild Flower Guide. 2nd Edition.
- Wildlife Trusts, The (?): Sand Dunes. Last accessed 8 December 2019
Copyright Note
Karen does not seek or receive any commercial interest or advantage from this blog. She is not promoting any business venture. She simply loves to share fascinating facts about plants. These pages illustrate her love of plants, botany, biodiversity, gardens and creative expression. There is always so much to learn about plant diversity. This blog is designed as a showcase for photography, commentary on plants and wildlife, gardens and other places visited, horticulture and related topics. Viewpoints are her own, not those of her employer.
© Karen Andrews 2018 onwards. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Karen Andrews and BotanyKaren.net with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.