Spartina spartinae

gulf cord grass, gulf cordgrass, sacahuista
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

April - August

Height (meters)

0.5 - 2.0

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Warm season


Wetland Class

OBL

Wetland Coefficient of Conservatism

8

Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

5

Field Characters

A clump forming grass with inrolled leaves which are sharp pointed on their tips and hurt when bumped.

Animal Use

Provides winter cattle and geese forage when burned and properly grazed. Good wildlife nesting habitat and cover, especially for wetland margin species. Good bird nesting habitat (Hatch et al 1999).

Natural History

Known in Texas as Sacahuista, Spartina spartinae is one of five species of Spartina found along the gulf coast. The ranchers there often burn gulf cordgrass due to the palatability of new growth. Older growth is too tough and unpalatable, even for horses. It is abundant in tight, loamy or clayey, somewhat saline, poorly drained flats. It is often the dominate species near the coast in southeast Texas and the Rio Grande Plains, but is more scattered inland. In the United States it is restricted to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Habitat

Tight loamy somewhat saline poorly drained flats, near coasts.