Protected against harsh conditions

Helm grass is what we encounter in the dunes among others in the Netherlands. The Ammophillia arenaria can withstand the salty water and salty sea air. Ammophillia arenaria can be planted on all types of soil, only on clay soil it is best to make the soil poor with masonry sand. The soil must be calcareous.

At the cross-section of the grass blade we can see how the plant protects itself by rolling the leaf inwards. One could say that the plant creates its own small internal microclimate in which it can breathe comfortably. On the outside of the grass blade we see a solid protective layer of cells.

Note:
The image shown here is made from a prepared slide which belongs to the collection of the Royal Antwerp Society For Micrography http://www.microscopie.be/.