Appearance
''Uniola paniculata'' is a tall, erect perennial grass that can grow to 1 to 2 m in height. Its long, thin leaves reach lengths of 20 to 40 cm and are about 0.6 cm in width, tapering to a pointed apex.The plant produces inflorescences of flat spikelets, each of which contains 10 to 12 wind-pollinated florets. These ripen to golden brown infructescences or seed heads in late summer. The seeds are dispersed by wind and can be carried long distances by storms and ocean currents, but reproduction commonly occurs vegetatively by forming buds around stem bases.
The plant forms dense surface roots and penetrating deep roots that are colonized by beneficial organisms such as mycorrhizal fungi. Rhizomes are elongate and produce extensive lateral growth. They root readily when buried in sand.
''Uniola paniculata'' uses a C4 pathway for carbon fixation.
Distribution
''Uniola paniculata'' is found on beach fronts and barrier islands along the Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to Florida, and the Gulf Coast from Florida to Tabasco, Mexico. The range of ''Uniola paniculata'' along the US Atlantic coastline is expanding northward. It also occurs in the Bahamas and northwestern Cuba.Status
Sea oats are a protected grass in several states along the southeastern Atlantic coast. Picking or disturbing sea oats is punishable by fine in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Florida by law also prohibits interfering with sea oats and protects nurserymen that grow sea oats.Habitat
It grows primarily on foredunes and dune crests. It is uncommon in swales between dunes where salt spray is limited, and it is rarely found inland.Uses
Sea oats are well suited to saline environments, and as such, are important to barrier island ecology and are often used in sand stabilization projects because their long root structure firmly holds loose sand. For example, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, colonies of sea oats have been planted at several beaches. The oats are a crucial component of the area's hurricane defense strategy and have helped to stave off damage from tropical storms. The sea oat colonies and nascent dune structure they support are expected to flourish.References:
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