As you begin, you see yourself standing on a small beach directly across Taylor’s Creek from the Beaufort waterfront. The sand ridge was created and is constantly modified by water-transported sediments and wave action.  The elevation is great enough to allow plants to establish in some places.

Note the pools of standing water left by the falling tide.  Several plants have their roots in the water.  Despite the abundance of water, this area is like a desert – the salt content of estuarine water can cause dehydration.  As a result, some plants, like the sea ox-eye, have developed thick, waxy leaves and stems to reduce evaporation.  The glasswort has dispensed with leaves altogether.  It stores extra salt in its tissues to absorb and retain water.

The broadleaf plants are sea oxeye with yellow flowers and the straight thin ones are glasswort.

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