Sand dune species were analyzed across two areas included in the “Roman Coastal State Nature Reserve” (Italy): Ostia (O) and Marina di Palidoro (P). Significant variations in species distribution, dry mass and size over the gradient from the water-edge toward the inland between O and P were observed. Species colonize O, on an average, at 79 m from the water-edge extended along the gradient toward the inland over a length of 26 m. PD is 40.8 ± 9.9 plants^.m^-2. Ononis variegata and Elymus farctus have the highest PD (15.4 ± 1.3 plants^.m^-2), followed by Silene colorata and Sporobulus pungens (4.3 ± 3.9 plants^.m^-2), by Cakile maritima, Echinophora spinosa, Eryngium maritimum, Ammophila arenaria, Anthemis maritima, Cyperus capitatus, Medicago marina and Calystegia soldanella (<0.5 plants^.m^-2), with C. soldanella having the lowest PD (0.02 plants^.m^-2). On an average, in P, the species colonize the dune at 17 m from the water-edge for a length of 46 m toward the inland, PD is on an average 21.5 ± 16.1 plants^.m^-2. S. pungens, E. farctus and O. variegata have the highest PD (6.0 ±

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