Spartina


Spartina, commonly known as cordgrass or cord-grass, is a genus of plants in the grass family, frequently found in coastal salt marshes. They are native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean in western and southern Europe, northwest and southern Africa, the Americas and the southern Atlantic Ocean islands; one or two species also occur on the North American Pacific Ocean coast and in freshwater habitats inland in the Americas. The highest species diversity is on the east coasts of North and South America, particularly Florida. They form large, often dense colonies, particularly on coastal salt marshes, and grow quickly. The species vary in size from 0.3–2 m tall. Many of the species will produce hybrids if they come into contact.

Taxonomy

In 2014, the genus Spartina was subsumed into the genus Sporobolus and reassigned to the taxonomic status of section, but it is still common to see Spartina used as an accepted genus. In 2019 an interdisciplinary team of experts from all continents coauthored a report published in the journal Ecology supporting Spartina as a genus.
The word Spartina is derived from σπαρτίνη, the Greek word for a cord made from Spanish broom.

Species

, species include:
Spartina species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the Aaron's skipper and the engrailed moth.
Some species of Spartina are considered ecosystem engineers that can strongly influence the physical and biological environment. This is particularly important in areas where invasive Spartina species significantly alter their new environment, with impacts to native plants and animals.

As an invasive species

Three of the Spartina species have become invasive plants in some countries. In British Columbia, Spartina anglica, also known as English cordgrass, is an aggressive, aquatic alien that invades mud flats, salt marshes and beaches, out-competing native plants, spreading quickly over mud flats and leaving large Spartina meadows. It is also invasive in China and California.
Spartina densiflora and Spartina patens have become invasive on the Iberian Peninsula and the west coast of the United States
Spartina alterniflora and its hybrids with other Spartina species are invasive in numerous locations around the globe, including China, California, England, France, and Spain.

Cultivation

Spartina has been planted by humans to reclaim estuarine areas for farming, to supply fodder for livestock, and to prevent erosion. Various members of the genus have spread outside of their native boundaries and become invasive.
Big cordgrass is used in the construction of bull's eye targets for sports archery. A properly constructed Spartina target can stop an arrow safely without damage to the arrowhead as it lodges in the target.