One of the most striking of dune plants, the beach rose is also one of the first shrubs to appear in the ecological succession scheme. Found in the nutrient poor areas most often dominated by grasses, this plant is subjected to harsh environmental conditions. Its graceful shape is formed as a result of the wind. Salt, blown in from the sea and deposited on protruding branches, kills that part of the plant so exposed. Branches that fit within the airfoil of the shrub or the nearby dune are spared the necrotic effects of salty air. The resulting graceful shape is known as espalier.
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