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Spartina alterniflora is the plant best adapted to growth within the range of twice daily salt tides. It outgrows plants less well adapted to this degree of salinity.
     The spartina grows along the edge of the water channel behind the barrier dune. It captures sediment which comes up the water channel with the high tide or runs into the marsh from upland streams. Some of this sediment gets caught in the spartina grass and settles among its roots..
     The spartina is a perennial. The grass tops die each year and are washed out by the tide while the roots grow from year to year.
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