According to the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, the oldest specimen of the obscure plant called seabeach amaranth was collected from Tucker’s Island, just south of Long Beach Island, in 1802. This colony, the DEP explains, “was deemed extirpated by 1938 when the island was lost to a series of storms starting in 1917. Over time, LBI grew southward and, eventually, into the area once occupied by the island.”

COMEBACK: The oldest seabeach amaranth specimen was collected from Tucker’s Island, lost to storms years ago. LBI’s south end (top, as seen from McKinley Avenue in Holgate) grew into the area once occupied by that island, and is now home to a colony of the plant species (below, left). (Photo by Ryan Morrill)

The location is now part of Holgate, which includes the Edwin B.