Sand Couch
Elytrigia juncea
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
Sand Couch is the first grass to colonise bare sand at the top of the beach — a true pioneer. It tolerates salt spray and periodic burial by sand. Once established, it begins the dune-building process that Marram Grass eventually takes over further inland. Sand Couch is also the sole foodplant of the Sandhill Rustic Moth larvae — the rare moth that breeds on Birkdale Green Beach feeds inside Sand Couch leaves. A relatively unremarkable-looking plant with enormous ecological importance.
At a Glance
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Habitat | Strandline · Fore-dune · Bare sand at top of beach |
| UK population | Common on all UK sandy coasts |
| Sefton Coast | Common on the strandline and lowest fore-dune throughout the Sefton Coast |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
The very top of the beach and lowest fore-dune at Formby and Ainsdale. Pioneer of bare sand.
Identification
Low to medium grass. Grey-green, slightly wavy leaves. Grows in loose, spreading patches at the top of the beach. Flat-spike flower head (not the rolled tube of Marram). Somewhat waxy feel to leaves.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Look at the strandline and the very lowest slope of the dune at Formby. Sand Couch forms patches on the otherwise bare sand.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Sand Couch so important for the Sandhill Rustic Moth?
Sand Couch is the only known foodplant of the Sandhill Rustic Moth subspecies gueneei on the Sefton Coast. The larvae feed inside Sand Couch leaves in the highest tide zone — an extraordinarily specific requirement. As Sand Couch is restricted to this narrow coastal zone, the moth's entire British population depends on the health of Sand Couch stands at a handful of dune sites.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.