<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Binomial name </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Ammophila breviligulata Fern . </Td> </Tr> <P> Ammophila breviligulata (American beachgrass or American marram grass) is a species of grass that is native to eastern North America, where it grows on sand dunes along the Atlantic Ocean and Great Lakes coasts . Beachgrass thrives under conditions of shifting sand, sand burial, and high winds; it is a dune - building grass that builds the first line of sand dunes along the coast . Beachgrass is less vigorous in stabilized sand, and is only infrequently found further inland than the coastal foredunes . Ammophila breviligulata was introduced to the Pacific coast of North America in the 1930s . It is proving to be invasive, and is increasingly important to coastal ecology and development in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia . </P> <P> The leaves of A. breviligulata have deeply furrowed upper surfaces and smooth undersides, and grow 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 m) tall . The plant's inflorescence is a spike - like panicle that can reach 10 inches (25 cm) long; the seed head appears in late July or August . The species name breviligulata derives from the Latin brevis ("short") and ligula ("tongue"), which refers to a feature of grass leaves called the ligule . </P>

What is the grass on the beach called