Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl., marshhay cordgrass 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season , rhizomatous perennial. 
Height: 1 to 4 feet. 
Leaf blade: Long; narrow; usually rolled inward, giving a 
wiry appearance ; upper side rough. 
Leaf sheath: Rounded. 
Ligtde: Ring of short hair. 
Seedhead: 3 to 5 spikes, each 2 to 6 inches long, growing 
almost at right angle to stem; spikelets grow on one side 
of rachis. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Makes primary growth during warm season and some growth 
all year. Produces most of seed by October. Mature plants turn 
a grayish color. Frequently grows in almost pure stands. Repro- 
duces from seed and from rhizomes. Although rhizomatous, often 
gives appearance of being a bunch grass. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Brackish to saline marshes along Atlantic and gulf coasts and 
saline marshes in New York and Michigan. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Grows best on firm mineral soils. Tolerates moderate salinity. 
Does best if water level fluctuates from 2 inches above soil surface 
to 4 inches below. Occasionally grows in scattered stands on 
slightly salty, heavy-textured uplands soils. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Marshhay cordgrass is the most important forage plant on 
adapted sites. It provides forage for cattle, muskrats, and wild 
geese. Muskrats use it for building houses. 
This grass is managed mostly for winter grazing. Forage qual- 
ity is improved if ranges are burned every second year between 
September and February when water level is above soil surface. 
Ranges burned and grazed in winter should not be grazed for at 
least 120 days the following summer. Water-control systems are 
sometimes installed to maintain favorable water level and salinity 
if natural conditions have been disturbed. Cattle walkways are 
built to make more of the range accessible to cattle. 
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