How do sedges help stabilize sand dunes and soil?

Sedges (family Cyperaceae) contribute to soil stabilization and dune formation primarily through their extensive underground systems of rhizomes.1

In environments such as sand dunes, these rhizome systems spread beneath the surface, creating an underground web that helps hold shifting sand in place. This process allows the soil to stabilize and enables the dune to grow higher. While many sedges are known for their role in wetland ecosystems, those species specifically adapted to sandy sites utilize these vegetative structures to anchor the substrate, preventing erosion and promoting stability in otherwise unstable, windy environments.123