Spartina patens

marshhay cordgrass, saltmeadow cordgrass, salt meadow cordgrass
Family

Poaceae

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

Leaf Attachment

sheathing

Leaf Margin

entire

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

linear

Growth Form

graminoid

Flower Color

inconspicuous

Flower Month

May - November

Height (meters)

0.3 - 1.5

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Warm season


Wetland Class

FACW

Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism

9

Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

6

Field Characters

Stems with nodes and leaves, leaf blades rolled and pointed, sand-papery n upper side. Sterile plants of Spartina patens are sometimes confused with Spartina spartineae, which does not have cauline leaves, and the tips of its leaves are usually sharp. Muhlenbergia capillaris also looks similar when sterile, with inrolled leaf blades and cauline leaves, but it has a two to three mm long membranous ligule, distinguishing it from Spartina patens which has a ligule that is a 1-1.5 mm long fringe of hairs.

Animal Use

Provides desirable forage for cattle and good wildlife cover, especially for geese and muskrats (Hatch et al 1999).

Natural History

One of five species of Spartina found along the gulf coast. A frequent species in brackish to saline areas of the Louisiana coastal marsh. It ranges throughout the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Coasts and the shores of the Great Lakes. A rhizomatous form is widespread on beaches, sandy flats, and tidal flats on the lower gulf coast, while a tufted form is found on bayous, marshlands, and prairies of the upper coastal region (Hatch et al. 1999). The Acadian French name for this cordgrass is "paille chat tigre" or panther straw. This name is also used for Juncus roemerianus (Holmes 1990).

Habitat

Sandy locations, seasonally moist soil near the coast, brackish marshes, low dunes, and other saline situations inland.