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Spartina
S. densiflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Chloridoideae
Tribe:	Zoysieae
Genus:	Spartina Schreb.[1]
Type species
Spartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth.
Synonyms[3]
Chauvinia Steud. Limnetis Rich. Ponceletia Thouars 1808 not R.Br. 1810 Psammophila Schult. Solenachne Steud. Sporobolus subsect. Spartina (Schreb.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela [2] Trachynotia Michx.

Spartina, commonly known as cordgrass or cord-grass,^[4] is a genus of plants in the grass family, frequently found in coastal salt marshes.^[5]

The genus Spartina has been subsumed into the genus Sporobolus and demoted to the taxonomic status of section after a taxonomic revision in 2014^[6], but it is still common to see Spartina used as the genus.

The word Spartina is derived from σπαρτίνη (spartiné), the Greek word for a cord made from Spanish broom (Spartium junceum).^[7] They are native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean in western and southern Europe, northwest and southern Africa, the Americas and the southern Atlantic Ocean islands; one or two species also occur on the North American Pacific Ocean coast and in freshwater habitats inland in the Americas. The highest species diversity is on the east coasts of North and South America, particularly Florida.

They form large, often dense colonies, particularly on coastal salt marshes, and grow quickly. The species vary in size from 0.3–2 m tall. Many of the species will produce hybrids if they come into contact.

Species^{[3][8][4][9][10]}

(Species on this list were revised to the genus Sporobolus, section Spartina, in 2014 ^[2][6])

1. 
   Spartina alterniflora Loisel. – smooth cordgrass – Atlantic coasts of North + South America, West Indies


2. 
   Spartina anglica C.E.Hubb. – common cordgrass – Great Britain; introduced scattered other places


3. 
   Spartina arundinacea (Thouars) Carmich – Tristan da Cunha, Amsterdam Island in Indian Ocean


4. 
   Spartina bakeri Merr. – sand cordgrass – southeastern US


5. 
   Spartina × caespitosa A.A.Eaton – short cordgrass – eastern US + Canada (PEI to VA)


6. 
   Spartina ciliata Brongn. – Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay


7. 
   Spartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth – big cordgrass – eastern US (TX to MA); Tamaulipas, Chihuahua, Bahamas


8. 
   Spartina densiflora Brongn. – denseflower cordgrass – Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile


9. 
   Spartina foliosa Trin. – California cordgrass – California, Baja California, Baja California Sur


10. 
    Spartina gracilis Trin. – alkali cordgrass – western Canada, western + central US, Chihuahua, Jalisco, Michoacán


11. 
    Spartina longispica Hauman & Parodi ex St.-Yves – Argentina, Uruguay


12. 
    Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald – small cordgrass – Great Britain, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Morocco, Mauritania, Namibia, South Africa


13. 
    Spartina patens (Aiton) Muhl – saltmeadow cordgrass – east coast of North America from Labrador to Tamaulipas; West Indies


14. 
    Spartina pectinata Bosc ex Link – prairie cordgrass from Northwest Territories to Texas + Newfoundland


15. 
    Spartina spartinae (Trin.) Merr. ex Hitchc. – Gulf cordgrass – Atlantic coast of North America from Florida to Argentina, incl Caribbean + Gulf of Mexico


16. 
    Spartina × townsendii H.Groves & J.Groves (S. alterniflora × S. maritima) – Townsend's cordgrass – western Europe


17. 
    Spartina versicolor Fabre – Mediterranean, Azores

Formerly included^[3]

see Bouteloua Crypsis Dactylis Digitaria

Cultivation

Spartina has been planted by humans to reclaim estuarine areas for farming, to supply fodder for livestock, and to prevent erosion. Various members of the genus (especially Spartina alterniflora and its derivatives, Spartina anglica and Spartina × townsendii) have spread outside of their native boundaries and become invasive.

Big cordgrass (S. cynosuroides) is used in the construction of bull's eye targets for sports archery. A properly constructed Spartina target can stop an arrow safely without damage to the arrowhead as it lodges in the target.^[11]

Ecology

Spartina species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the Aaron's skipper (which feeds exclusively on smooth cordgrass) and the engrailed moth.

Some species of Spartina are considered ecosystem engineers that can strongly influence the physical and biological environment^[12][13]. This is particularly important in areas where invasive Spartina species significantly alter their new environment, with impacts to native plants and animals^[14].

As an invasive species

Three of the Spartina species have become invasive plants in some countries. In British Columbia, Spartina anglica, also known as English cordgrass, is an aggressive, aquatic alien that invades mud flats, salt marshes and beaches, out-competing native plants, spreading quickly over mud flats and leaving large Spartina meadows^[15]. It is also invasive in China and California^[14].

Spartina densiflora and Spartina patens have become invasive on the Iberian Peninsula and the west coast of the United States^[14][16][17].

Spartina alterniflora and its hybrids with other Spartina species are invasive in numerous locations around the globe, including China, California, England, France, and Spain^[14][18].

See also

• Invasive grasses of North America


• 
  Sand Bay – an area in the UK where Spartina grass planted to support a river bank has spread.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spartina.

Data related to Spartina at Wikispecies

• 
  Spartina anglica: species derivation and problems


• San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project: Maps and Findings


• Spartina information from the University of Florida


• Invasive Spartina in Willapa Bay


• USDA: Spartina