jersey shore plants

trifoliate alternate leaves, produces fruit (drupe), deciduous, spreads vegetatively and sexually, can be bush or climb on tree, contact dermatitis in humans

toxicondrendon radicans - poison ivy

north america in wooded areas, rocky areas, and open fields

stores water in pads, modified leaves prevent water loss, yellow flowers, and red friuits

opuntia humifusa - prickly pear

sandy areas

tolerant of sand burial and high winds, spreads through subsurface rhizomes, mechanisms for preventing drying by wind

ammophila breviligulata - american beachgrass

primary dunes

fleshy annual found above high tide line, rocket shaped seed pod which is dry and corky

cakile edentula - sea rocket

primary dunes

summer, tall with small flowerheads in clusters, in winter a short cluster

artemesia caudata - tall wormwood

secondary dunes

tall, spatula shaped leaves, one sided flower clusters, very salt tolerant, very shade tolerant (secondary dunes)

solidago sempervirends - seaside goldenrod
secondary dunes

needle like leaves that are hairy and don’t overlap, dense erect branches

hudsonia ericodes - golden heather

secondary dunes

introduced from asia, ornamental, produces hips that resemble tomatoes, hybridizes with other roses, valued by other roses for its resistance to diseases

rosa rugosa - salt spray rose

secondary dunes

perennial legume, flowers have bilateral symmetry

lathyrus japonicus - beach pea

secondary dunes

deciduous shrub, leaves alternate, elliptical, become showy in winter, fruit is edible drupe used to make jam

prunus maritma - beach plum

thicket

woody native perennial, crushed leaves smell like cherry, fruit is drupe, food source for shore birds

prunus serotina - wild black cherry

thicket

common woody vine, heart shaped leave, climbs other plants with tendrils

smilax rotundifolia - greenbrier

thicket

dense slow growing tree, reddish brown bark, leaves either needle like or scale like, incense and gin

juniperus virginiana - red cedar

thicket

evergreen tree with shiny and spikey leaves, wedge shaped base and acute apex, drupes poisonous but important for birds, thick canopy or protection from predators and storms for birds

llex opaca - american holly

maritime forests

evergreen coniferous, feathery foliage, flattened sprays, green and blue green color, wood endures moisture, used for fence posts, ties, and shingles

chamaecyparis thyoides - atlantic white cedar maritime forests

perennial deciduous grass, leaves up to 2 feet, environmental engineer, grows out of water and accumulates sediment enabling other habitat engineering species to settle

spartina alterniflora - saltmarsh corgrass

tidal marshes

found in brackish water, stems are wispy and hollow, leaves roll inward and appear round, weak stems so bend with water and wind creating tufts

spartina patens - saltmarsh hay

tidal marshes

prickly leaves annual, important pioneer, branched taproot, tumbleweed, source of soda ash

salsola kali - saltwort

tidal marshes

extensive stands, phytoremediation, debate about origin

phragmites austalis - common reed

tidal marshes