Sea oats are a type of tall beach grass, named for its grain-like seeds, that grows along the East coast of the United States, Mexico, and on Carribean Islands. Sea oats are a protected grass in most states along the East Coast, including North Carolina.
Sea oats prefer moist, sandy soil as well as lots of sunlight. They also love the salty sea air found on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. They play an important role in our ecological system by stabilizing our sand dunes. They form and maintain the dunes by trapping sand. Its system of long,underground roots and stems reduce erosion. Without sea oats to anchor the dunes, the sand would just blow away. Dunes provide a natural barrier against storm surges and high winds during severe weather as well as habitats for animals such as loggerhead sea turtles and birds. Sea oats are tough and can survive constant exposure to wind-blown sand, saltwater, heat, drought and nutrient poor soil. However, it cannot withstand people walking on it.
When visiting the beaches of North Carolina, please protect our Sea Oats by not picking them or stepping on them. They truly are a very important part of our environment.
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