Ecology of a beach

The beach at South Point,Lincoln Cove is a typical example of the areas beaches,protected at both end by rock groynes which halt the erosion by prevailing winds,it is composed partly by introduced sand and natural processes.Above the high water mark various coastal vegetation flourishes,helping to prevent erosion by their spreading root systems.

 TAPE WEED  Posodonia australis    Coastal  plants are in turn fertilised by dead and decaying sea grasses,washed ashore during rough weather and broken down by seaweed worms,sand hoppers and wave action.

 South Point beach,Lincoln Cove 

 NITRE BUSH  Nitraria  billardierei  A perennial salt tolerant shrub flowering mainly in Spring,the fruit is edible and was a valuable source of Bush Tucker for local indigenous Australians during Summer.

 COASTAL SPINIFEX   Spinifex hirsutus  This grass is useful in preventing drift in coastal sand dunes.The female flower heads break away on maturing and roll along the sand,even floating to other beaches and starting new colonies.

COAST CUSHION-BUSH  Leucophyta  brownii  Also called Snow-bush,a round shrub to 1M,found on all coastline dunes and cliffs.It is often used in landscaping dry areas.

 KNOBBY CLUB RUSH  Isolepis nodosa Grows to 1M high and 1.2M diam,native to all States, it prefers margins of saline lakes and beaches.

 COASTAL BONEFRUIT   Threlkldia diffusa   An attractive,succulent perennial herb,occurring in saline areas of Australia.Plants are mainly prostrate but may grow to 40cm

 COAST BITTER-BUSH  Adriana  klotzchii  Occurs on beaches and sand dunes of S.A and Vic,flowers all year ,but mainly Spring.The male and female flowers are on separate plants, grows to 3M.

AMERICAN SEA ROCKET*  Cakile edentula  An introduced plant native to North America,found on most beaches in Australia above the high water mark.The seeds are buoyant and drift to other beaches and become established.

 SEA SPURGE*  Euphorbia paralias  An invasive beach weed,native to Europe,found on beaches from W.A to N.S.W.The seeds are salt tolerant and live for years at sea and once established on a new beach they displace the native plants.