Saltmeadow Cordgrass
Marshhay Cord Grass
-
Scientific Name:
Spartina patens Aquatic
Native
Description
A perennial grass with stiff stems that grow up to 4 feet high. Leaves are thin and droopy with sharp, pointed tips. Dark green in color, leaves grow between 6 and 12 inches long and have shiny tops and rough undersides. Flowers appear as spikes of tiny, overlapping florets.
Range and Habitat
Native in North America along the East Coast from Quebec through the Gulf of America. Found in brackish and salt marshes and coastal meadows. The primary vegetation in Louisiana's brackish marshes.
Behavior
Propagates through rhizomes and seeds. Spreads extensively through rhizomes with sparse seed production. In Louisiana, blooms twice a year (once in the spring and once in the fall) due to lack of heavy frost.