logo Wild Flower Web
Back

Click here to search for a different flower

Search

[?]

Open the Advanced Search

Hybrid Marram Grass

Calammophila baltica

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Poales
Family:
Poaceae (Grass)
Also in this family:
Alpine Catstail, Alpine Foxtail, Alpine Meadow-grass, Annual Beard-grass, Annual Meadow-grass, Arrow Bamboo, Barren Brome Grass, Bearded Couch Grass, Bearded Fescue, Bermuda Grass, Black Bent, Black Grass, Blue Fescue, Blue Moor-grass, Bog Hair-grass, Borrer's Saltmarsh Grass, Bread Wheat, Bristle Bent, Brown Bent, Brown Sedge, Bulbous Foxtail, Bulbous Meadow-grass, California Brome Grass, Canary Grass, Carnation Sedge, Cocksfoot, Cockspur, Common Bent, Common Cord-grass, Common Millet, Common Reed, Common Saltmarsh Grass, Compact Brome Grass, Corn, Couch Grass, Creeping Bent, Creeping Soft-grass, Crested Dog's-tail, Crested Hair-grass, Cultivated Oat, Curved Hard Grass, Cut Grass, Dense Silky Bent, Downy Oat-grass, Drooping Brome Grass, Drooping Tor Grass, Dune Fescue, Early Hair-grass, Early Meadow-grass, Early Sand-grass, False Brome Grass, False Oat-grass, Fern Grass, Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue, Flattened Meadow-grass, Floating Sweet-grass, Foxtail Barley, French Oat, Giant Fescue, Glaucous Meadow-grass, Great Brome Grass, Greater Quaking Grass, Grey Hair-grass, Hairy Brome Grass, Hairy Finger-grass, Hard Fescue, Hard Grass, Harestail Grass, Heath Grass, Holy Grass, Italian Rye Grass, Knotroot Bristlegrass, Lesser Hairy Brome Grass, Lesser Quaking Grass, Loose Silky Bent, Lyme Grass, Marram Grass, Marsh Foxtail, Mat Grass, Mat-grass Fescue, Meadow Barley, Meadow Fescue, Meadow Foxtail, Meadow Oat-grass, Mountain Melick, Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass, Narrow-leaved Small-reed, Neglected Couch Grass, Nit Grass, Orange Foxtail, Pampas Grass, Perennial Rye Grass, Plicate Sweet-grass, Purple Moor-grass, Purple Small-reed, Purple-stem Catstail, Quaking Grass, Ratstail Fescue, Red Fescue, Reed Canary Grass, Reed Sweet-grass, Reflexed Saltmarsh Grass, Rescue Grass, Rough Meadow-grass, Rush-leaved Fescue, Sand Catstail, Sand Couch Grass, Scandinavian Small-reed, Scottish Small-reed, Sea Barley, Sea Couch Grass, Sea Fern Grass, Sheep's Fescue, Silver Hair-grass, Six-rowed Barley, Slender Brome Grass, Small Cord-grass, Small Sweet-grass, Smaller Catstail, Smooth Brome Grass, Smooth Cord-grass, Smooth Finger-grass, Smooth Meadow-grass, Soft Brome Grass, Somerset Hair-grass, Sorghum, Spreading Meadow-grass, Squirreltail Fescue, Stiff Brome Grass, Stiff Saltmarsh Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass, Tall Fescue, Timothy Grass, Tor Grass, Tufted Hair-grass, Two-rowed Barley, Upright Brome Grass, Velvet Bent, Viviparous Fescue, Wall Barley, Wavy Hair-grass, Wavy Meadow-grass, Whorl Grass, Wild Oat, Wood Barley, Wood Fescue, Wood Meadow-grass, Wood Melick, Wood Millet, Yellow Oat-grass, Yorkshire Fog
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
120 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Beaches, bogs, fens, meadows, riverbanks, riversides, sand dunes, seaside, waterside.

Flower:
֍
Yellow, no petals
 
The flower is a long, one-flowered, straw-coloured spike. It differs from Marram Grass (Ammophila arenaria) in that it's flower spike is more open. The lemmas are awned.
Fruit:
The fruit is a caryopsis.
Leaves:
Entire, flat, linear, alternate leaves with parallel veins.
Other Names:
Baltic Marram Grass, Hybrid Marram, Purple Marram Grass.
Frequency (UK):
Occasionally seen  

Similar Species

Marram Grass
Marram Grass

Other Information

Summary

Calamagrostis baltica (synonym Calammophila baltica) is a species of grass that is native to northern and central Europe, including parts of Scandinavia, Russia, and the Baltic states. It is a perennial grass that typically grows to a height of 60–100 cm (24–39 in) and forms dense, tufted clumps. The leaf blades are typically 3–8 mm wide and the inflorescence is a dense, spike-like panicle that can be up to 15 cm long. It produces inconspicuous, greenish-brown flowers in the summer, and it is wind pollinated.

Calamagrostis baltica is commonly found in bogs, fens, and wet meadows, as well as on river and lake shores. It is highly adaptable and can also grow on dry and nutrient-poor soils. It is also used as ornamental grass in gardens and as forage for wildlife. It can also act as a bio-indicator for wetland habitats and therefore used in wetland restoration and monitoring.

Blog

Hybrid Marram Grass (Calammophila baltica) is a species of grass that is native to the coastal regions of Europe. It is a hybrid between two species of marram grass, Ammophila arenaria and Ammophila baltica. Hybrid Marram Grass is a popular choice for planting in coastal areas, as it is highly salt-tolerant and can withstand harsh coastal conditions.

Appearance and Characteristics

Hybrid Marram Grass grows in large clumps and can reach up to four feet in height. It has long, narrow leaves that are blue-green in color and can grow up to a foot long. The plant's stems are tough and rigid, making it ideal for stabilizing sand dunes and preventing erosion. Hybrid Marram Grass also produces small, inconspicuous flowers in the summer months.

Ecological Importance

Hybrid Marram Grass plays an important role in coastal ecosystems. It helps to stabilize sand dunes, preventing erosion and protecting the coastline from the impacts of storms and high tides. The plant's extensive root system also helps to bind sand particles together, reducing the risk of sand movement and dune destabilization.

In addition to its ecological benefits, Hybrid Marram Grass has a number of other uses. The plant's leaves can be used for weaving baskets and other handicrafts, and its seeds can be used to make flour. The grass is also an important source of food for wildlife, including birds and small mammals.

Cultivation

Hybrid Marram Grass is a hardy plant that is easy to cultivate. It prefers well-drained, sandy soil and full sunlight, and is highly tolerant of salt spray and wind. The plant can be propagated by seed or by division, and can be used for erosion control and landscaping in coastal areas.

In some regions, Hybrid Marram Grass is considered an invasive species, as it can outcompete native plant species and alter coastal ecosystems. It is important to use caution when planting Hybrid Marram Grass, and to ensure that it is not introduced to areas where it may cause harm.

Hybrid Marram Grass is a valuable plant for coastal ecosystems, providing important ecological benefits and a range of practical uses. Its salt tolerance and ability to stabilize sand dunes make it an ideal choice for erosion control and landscaping in coastal areas. However, it is important to use caution when planting Hybrid Marram Grass, and to ensure that it is not introduced to areas where it may become invasive.

More Information

Hybrid Marram Grass is a relatively new hybrid species that was first discovered in the early 20th century. It is believed to have originated in the coastal regions of Europe, where its parent species, Ammophila arenaria and Ammophila baltica, are also found.

One of the unique features of Hybrid Marram Grass is its ability to adapt to a range of coastal environments. It is found in a variety of habitats, from sandy beaches to coastal dunes and cliffs. This adaptability makes it a valuable plant for erosion control and habitat restoration in areas where native vegetation has been lost or damaged.

In addition to its ecological and practical benefits, Hybrid Marram Grass is also valued for its aesthetic qualities. Its blue-green foliage and delicate seed heads can add visual interest to coastal landscapes, and it is often used in landscaping and garden design.

However, it is important to note that Hybrid Marram Grass is not a panacea for all coastal erosion problems. In some cases, more complex solutions may be needed to address the underlying causes of erosion, such as sea level rise and human impacts on the coastal environment.

Hybrid Marram Grass is also known for its ability to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. The plant's extensive root system can store large amounts of carbon in the soil, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. This makes it a valuable asset in efforts to combat global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Another interesting feature of Hybrid Marram Grass is its ability to colonize new areas quickly. The plant's seeds are dispersed by wind and can travel long distances, allowing it to rapidly establish itself in new locations. This can be both a benefit and a challenge, as it can help to stabilize new areas but also has the potential to become invasive in some regions.

In some parts of the world, Hybrid Marram Grass is being used as a biofuel crop. The plant's high biomass production and salt tolerance make it a promising source of renewable energy for coastal communities.

While Hybrid Marram Grass is a valuable plant species, it is important to remember that it is not a silver bullet for all coastal management issues. It is just one of many tools that can be used to address erosion and other environmental challenges in coastal areas. Careful planning and management are essential to ensure that the benefits of Hybrid Marram Grass are maximized while minimizing any negative impacts.