Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains

63. Poaceae, the Grass Family

27. Spartina Schreb. -- Cordgrass

1. Spartina gracilis Trin. -- Alkali cordgrass


Plants mostly 3-8 dm tall; leaves usually involute, 2-5 mm wide when flattened. Inflorescence of 3-8, 1-sided spikes, the spikes appressed in the raceme, 2-6 cm long. Spikelets 7-9 mm long; glumes hispid on the keel, the first glume ca. 1/2 as long as the second, acuminate, the second glume acute to mucronate; lemma nearly as long as the second glume, 6-8 mm long. Jul--Sep. Wet meadows, shores, flats and seepage areas, often where alkaline or saline; frequent; (c Man. to B.C., s to KS, NM, AZ and CA).
GIF- Distribution Map

Map key


Previous Section -- Scolochloa festucacea (Willd.) Link -- Whitetop, sprangletop
Return to Family -- Poaceae - The Grass Family
Next Section -- Spartina pectinata Link -- Prairie cordgrass
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Page Last Modified: August 3, 2006