Grey dune
Encyclopedia
Grey dunes are fixed, stable sand dunes located 50–100 m from the edge of the ocean. Grey dunes occur on the landward side of bare white dunes. They are so named due to the presence of grass
es and lichen
s such as the Cladonia
species. This creates the characteristic grey colour.
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es and lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s such as the Cladonia
Cladonia
Cladonia is a genus of moss-like lichens in the family Cladoniaceae. They are the primary food source for reindeer and caribou. Cladonia species are of economic importance to reindeer-herders, such as the Sami in Scandinavia or the Nenets in Russia. Antibiotic compounds are extracted from some...
species. This creates the characteristic grey colour.