A few conifers are found in nature only in narrow, discontinuous bands bordering continental margins. Despite their maritime location, these trees cannot thrive in saline waters and soils. What enables them to grow in challenging habitats? Why don't these species naturalize inland? What characteristics allow them to succeed only near salt water?
A strange combination of qualities is seen: the trees are catastrophe-dependent, stress-tolerant, with broad niche potential, but are poor competitors in "easy" sites. They all possess moisture-conserving features usually associated with arid...