• Several varieties of palm tree are native to Florida beach dunes.florida beach image by itsallgood from Fotolia.com
  
  Florida's beach dunes serve as a barrier between the ocean and the land farther inland. Dunes form gradually over hundreds of years through raising and lowering sea levels. Native plants add unique character to the beaches as well as maintaining the dunes. Grasses and shrubs also provide cover and food sources for native animals.
  
  

Grasses

• Grasses provide ground cover across every part of the dunes. Grasses have far-reaching root systems that help to anchor the dunes and protect them from erosion. Bitter panic grass, muhley grass and sea oats are some varieties of grass you are likely to find. Sea oats are among the tallest of Florida's dune grasses, reaching heights of 3 to 5 feet.
  
  

Palms

• Palm trees are distinctive trees with fan-shaped fronds. They inhabit the back dune primarily. Native Floridian palms include the cabbage palm, green saw palmetto and silver saw palmetto. While many palm trees are tall, saw palmettos are shorter, shrub-like plants. Saw palmettos have been used for hundreds of years for medicinal purposes.
  
  

Wildflowers

• Wildflowers of all types grow on Florida's dunes. Like grasses, wildflowers have strong root systems, which make them instrumental in reducing erosion from beach winds. Beach morning glory, dune sunflowers and prickly pear are some of the native wildflowers you can find on the dunes. Prickly pears are a type of cactus plant, and can grow as large as 6 feet tall. Their juice can be used to bake breads and deserts, and the fleshy leaves can be cooked and eaten.
  
  

Shrubs

• Shrubs dot the fore and back dunes, helping to hold down the shifting sand. Native varieties include cat's claw, inkberry and spanish bayonet. The spanish bayonet, or yucca, gets its name from its long, pointed leaves. The entire yucca plant is edible, from the flowers to the large fruit.
  
  

Trees

• The larger trees inhabit the back dune area, primarily. Some of the native trees can reach heights of up to 50 feet. Mahogany, southern red cedar and sea grape are some varieties you can find on Florida's dunes. The sea grape earned its name from the grape-like clusters of edible berries. Only the female trees bear fruit, and the berries ripen at different rates. A resin from the tree makes an effective astringent.