Spartina alterniHora Loisel., smooth cordgrass 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season, robust, rhizomatous perennial. 
Height : 3 to 4 feet. 
Leaf blade: Flat at base; 3/4 to 1 inch wide; 12 to 20 inches 
long; tapering to a point; rolls inward when dry, giving a 
round, threadlike appearance; purple tinged at collar. 
Leaf sheath : Rounded; closely overlapping. 
Ligule: Ring of fine dense hair. 
Seedhead: 12 to 15 spikes, each 2 to 3 inches long; spikelets 
on one side of rachis; seedhead 10 to 12 inches long. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Major growth is from April through September. Produces 
seedheads during October and November. Basal part of plant re- 
mains green during most winters. Often grows in pure sea water. 
Forms dense stands on areas subject to daily tidal action. Does 
best if water level fluctuates from soil level to 12 inches above. 
Requires moderate salinity. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Coastal marshes along Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Grows on organic soils in salt marshes in almost pure stands. 
Grows extensively on firm mineral soils and salt marshes where it 
is associated with marshhay cordgrass, big cordgrass, and sea- 
shore saltgrass. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Smooth cordgrass is excellent forage for cattle during winter. 
It is a valuable wildlife food, particularly for geese. 
For quality forage, burn smooth cordgrass ranges every 2 to 3 
years to eliminate old material. Defer grazing on ranges burned 
in early fall until new growth is 6 to 8 inches high ; then use for 
winter grazing. Ranges burned in spring should not be grazed 
during summer but may be used for winter grazing. 
161 
