Spartina alterniflora
Common names
American spartina
Synonyms
Sporobolus alterniflorus (Loisel.) P.M.Peterson & Saarela
Family
Poaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Grasses
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
SPAALT
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Aquatic: Emergent. Saline. Estuaries, mangroves and other intertidal zones with soft sediment.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
OBL: Obligate Wetland
Almost always is a hydrophyte, rarely in uplands (non-wetlands).
Detailed description
Robust perennial clump forming grass to 1m. Rhizomes thick, fleshy, far-creeping, forming open clumps. Culm erect, 8–30 mm diameter near base, including closely ensheathing leaves. Leaves 8–45 cm × 6–15 mm, persistent, coriaceous, flat, glabrous, adaxially ribbed, much narrowed to fine hard tip. Flowers rarely seen.
Similar taxa
Can be distinguished from other Spartina species by the rather open clumps, large shoots (8–30 mm diameter), occasional plants flowering, and on those that do, the spikelets is not hairy.
Flowering
N/A
Life cycle
Perennial. Flowers are hardly ever seen (Timmins & MacKenzie 1995). Vegetative reproduction from underground rhizomes, seed not produced (ibid.). Rhizome fragments survive digging, dropped pieces resprout (bid.)
Year naturalised
1965
Origin
N. America
Reason for introduction
Agricultural
Tolerances
The plant is intolerant to shade and drought; tolerant to poor drainage and highly tolerant of salt. Physical damage and grazing result in the resprouting of underground rhizomes (Timmins & MacKenzie 1995).
References and further reading
Timmins SM, Mackenzie IW. 1995. Weeds in New Zealand Protected Natural Areas database. Department of Conservation Technical Series 8. Department of Conservation, Wellington, NZ. 282 p.