allows these plants to grow closer to the water. Most marsh species 

 grow best in full sun; their use, in some instances, may require removal 

 of nearby trees. 



(1) Common Reed. This is probably the easiest planted of the 

 Great Lakes wetland species. It is a large, coarse grass (1.5 to 4 

 meters high) which seeds profusely, spreads vegetatively by rhizomes 

 and stolons, and quickly invades disturbed areas. Common reed is an 

 effective stabilizer during the growing season. However, it dies to 

 the ground during the winter and is unable to survive constant inunda- 

 tion. This grass is generally not considered desirable as wildlife food 

 or cover; it can become a nuisance by crowding out more valuable plants. 



C2) Other Plants . Spike rush, bulrush, great bulrush [Sairpus 

 acutus) , scouring rush {Equisetwn spp.) , and bluejoint {Calamagvostis 

 canadensis) have promise as stabilizers and should be studied. Experi- 

 ence in field planting spike rush and bulrush species elsewhere has not 

 been encouraging. One cultivated plant, reed canary grass {Phalaris 

 oj'undinaoea) , may be useful in some instances, and offers the advantage 

 of a commercial seed supply. 



Suggestions for the propagation and use of plants that grow immedi- 

 ately above the wetland species are available (Clemens, 1977; Woodhouse, 

 1978). 



2. Cultural Techniques . 



The general topic of marsh plant propagation has recently been re- 

 viewed (Kadlec and Wentz, 1974; Wentz, Smith, and Kadlec, 1974). 



a. Smooth Cordgrass . This plant is propagated by seeds and vegeta- 

 tively. 



(1) Seeds . Seed production is confined largely to new, open 

 stands and along margins; e.g., along tidal creeks. The most vigorous 

 stands usually produce the best seeds but variability is high. Planted 

 areas usually yield heavy seed crops for several years following estab- 

 lishment. Seed heads are frequently damaged by ergot infestation and 

 by flower beetles (family Mordellidae; N. H. Newton, entomologist. 

 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, personal communication, 1976). 

 Flowering time and seed maturity progress from north to south, at least 

 within geographic populations such as along the Virginia-Carolinas 

 coast. For example, there is a spread of about 2 weeks, north to south, 

 in seed maturity along the North Carolina coast with considerable varia- 

 bility within individual stands. Seeds are ready for harvest as early 

 as September in northern latitudes and as late as November in the south 

 Atlantic marshes but maturity varies from year to year. 



56 



