3. Cordgrasses . 



a. Big Cordgrass jSpavt-ina aynosuroides) . This cordgrass occurs exten- 

 sively along the Atlantic and gulf coasts wherever freshwater influence is 

 strong, along tidal creeks and in brackish waters such as Currituck Sound, 

 North Carolina, and large areas in the Mississippi Delta where it, together 

 with conmon reed, make up the "cane zone." It is a vigorous grower, larger 

 and taller than smooth cordgrass and forms a dense root-rhizome mass affording 

 excellent protection in its zone of adaptation. Big cordgrass has very 

 specific elevation and flooding requirements which limit it to a rather narrow 

 zone from about MHW upward, often in a narrow band between smooth and salt- 

 meadow cordgrass zones. It is especially easy to grow in pots. Seeds germi- 

 nate readily and seedlings grow rapidly. Seeds should be stored in cold 

 saltwater, 10 parts per thousand. It can be used very effectively in brackish 

 areas just above smooth cordgrass. 



Plant production, transplanting, spacing and management are the same as 

 described for smooth cordgrass in Section VI. 



b. Saltmeadow Cordgrass {Spavtina patens) . Saltmeadow cordgrass is a 

 fine-leaved grass, 15 to 90 centimeters high, that occurs extensively in the 

 occasionally flooded high marsh zone all along the Atlantic and much of the 

 gulf coasts (Fig. 32). In the absence of black needle rush, it replaces 

 smooth cordgrass at about the MHW level and forms dense mats from MHW to the 

 high spring or storm surge line. This grass forms a narrow band along the 

 marsh edge but on gently sloping topography it may cover a wide expanse and be 

 mixed with saltgrass, patches of black needle rush, and other high marsh 

 species. Saltmeadow cordgrass forms the extensive saltmeadows of New England 

 that were formerly mown for hay. 



Saltmeadow cordgrass can withstand extended periods of both flooding and 

 drought, and often occurs where surface drainage is poor, causing ponding of 

 rainwater during wet periods. It cannot tolerate the daily flooding of the 

 intertidal zone. Saltmeadow cordgrass is a valuable stabilizer for the zone 

 between the smooth cordgrass and the high spring or storm surge line. This 

 zone is not exposed to direct attack by waves except when storms cause higher 

 than normal water levels. Even on eroding shorelines this zone will often 

 have complete vegetative cover and will not require planting. However, if the 

 zone is unvegetated, planting of saltmeadow cordgrass will retard erosion from 

 surface runoff (Fig. 33). 



(1) Planting Techniques . 



(a) Sprigs . Saltmeadow cordgrass is plentiful in high marshes 

 and on low sandflats along the Atlantic and gulf coasts, but it is difficult 

 to obtain good planting stock from the wild. Stands on moist sites soon 

 become so dense that harvesting is difficult, and the crowded plants do not 

 make vlgourous planting stock. Plants growing on dry, infertile sites lose 

 vigor and survive poorly when transplanted. The best transplants are the 

 large culms from rapidly growing, uncrowded young stands; however, obtaining 

 significant quantities of this kind of transplant may require the establish- 

 ment of a nursery. Although saltmeadow cordgrass is also found in coastal 



71 



