cordgrass

Cordgrass is the common name for several grasses in the genus Spartina, in the family Poaceae. The best known is Spartina alterniflora, commonly called smooth cordgrass, which forms tall, dense stands along tidal mudflats and salt marshes. Other cordgrasses include Spartina patens (saltmeadow cordgrass) and Spartina pectinata (prairie cordgrass), which occupy marshes and wetlands in coastal and inland habitats.

Description and characteristics: Cordgrasses are perennials with rhizomatous growth and long, narrow leaves. They produce flowering inflorescences in late spring to summer and are adapted to brackish or saline soils, frequent flooding, and low oxygen conditions in mud.

Habitat and ecology: Cordgrasses occur in coastal salt marshes, estuaries, and brackish wetlands across temperate to subtropical regions. They contribute to shoreline stabilization by trapping sediment, influence tidal dynamics, and provide habitat and food for a variety of birds, invertebrates, and marsh species. They play a significant role in nutrient cycling within marsh ecosystems.

Distribution and status: Native ranges vary by species, with S. alterniflora widespread along the Atlantic coast of North America and parts of Asia and Europe. Spartina alterniflora has been introduced outside its native range for erosion control and marsh restoration in several regions, where it has become invasive in some areas. In Europe, hybridization between Spartina maritima and Spartina alterniflora produced Spartina anglica, a highly competitive, often dominant marsh-forming plant that spread widely.

Management and uses: Invasive populations are managed through methods such as mechanical removal, controlled disturbances, and herbicide use, typically with restoration of native vegetation. Cordgrass also serves in habitat creation and shoreline protection and is used in marsh restoration projects.