Woolly Beachheather

hudsonia tomentosa

Woolly Beachheather (Hudsonia tomentosa) is a remarkable, resilient dwarf shrub that thrives in some of North America's most inhospitable environments: shifting sand dunes and barren pine plains. Belonging to the rockrose family (Cistaceae), this low-lying perennial forms expansive, moss-like mats that act as vital ecological anchors, binding loose sands with their extensive root networks and helping to stabilize fragile dune ecosystems against wind erosion. Despite its desert-like habitat, the plant remains evergreen, relying on specialized adaptations to conserve precious moisture. During most of the year, Woolly Beachheather blends quietly into the sandy landscape with its soft, silvery-gray foliage. However, in late spring, it undergoes a stunning transformation. The mats burst into a spectacular display of tiny, vibrant yellow flowers, creating a vivid contrast against the pale sands. These brief but beautiful blooms attract a variety of native pollinators, making this hardy pioneer species not only a crucial physical stabilizer of coastal and lakeside sands but also a vital resource for local biodiversity.

生息地: Found in coastal and inland sand dunes, sandy beaches, and pine barrens, where soils are nutrient-poor and highly draining.

外見

Woolly Beachheather is a low-growing, highly branched evergreen subshrub forming dense, carpet-like mats up to 30 cm tall. Its tiny, scale-like leaves are needle-like, overlapping closely along the stems, and are heavily covered in a dense, grayish-white coat of woolly hairs (tomentum) that give the entire plant a distinct dusty-green or silvery-gray appearance. In late spring to early summer, the mats transform as they become blanketed in small, bright yellow, five-petaled flowers that open only in direct sunlight.

界Plantae門Tracheophyta綱Magnoliopsida目Malvales科Cistaceae属Hudsonia

Woolly Beachheather

カテゴリ

植物

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

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おもしろい事実

Despite its name and resemblance to true heathers, Woolly Beachheather actually belongs to the rockrose family (Cistaceae).

Its woolly hairs not only trap moisture but also act as natural sunscreen, reflecting harsh sunlight off the sand.

The plant's flowers open for only a few hours on sunny days, relying on a rapid pollination window.

特殊能力

The dense, woolly hairs covering the leaves trap a layer of humid air close to the plant's surface, drastically reducing water loss from transpiration.

Its extensive, fibrous root network anchors the plant in shifting sands, helping to stabilize dune structures while securing moisture from deep below.

The small yellow flowers open only under bright, direct sunlight to maximize pollination efficiency, closing rapidly on cloudy days or during the night.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 10-30 cm
寿命: 10-30 年

食性と食事

As an autotrophic plant, Woolly Beachheather produces its own organic compounds through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.

主な食物

Sunlight
Carbon dioxide
Water
Soil nutrients

生態系とのつながり

mutualism

American Beachgrass

Ammophila breviligulata

Co-occurs in sand dune habitats, where both species work together to stabilize shifting sands and build dune structures.

mutualism

Eastern Carpenter Bee

Xylocopa virginica

Visits the small yellow flowers to forage for pollen and nectar, facilitating pollination for the beachheather.

特徴

このオブジェクトにはまだ特徴バッジが割り当てられていません。

別名

まだ別名はありません。

コレクション

テーマが追加されると、このオブジェクトのコレクションがここに表示されます。

安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

Woolly Beachheatherを見分けるには？

Woolly Beachheatherを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

Woolly Beachheatherの長さは何ですか？

10-30 cm

Woolly Beachheatherの寿命は何ですか？

10-30 年

Woolly Beachheatherは何を食べますか？

As an autotrophic plant, Woolly Beachheather produces its own organic compounds through photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.

Woolly Beachheatherは通常どこに生息していますか？

Found in coastal and inland sand dunes, sandy beaches, and pine barrens, where soils are nutrient-poor and highly draining.