Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela

Scientific Name: Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Spartina Schreb./ Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela

<i>Sporobolus cynosuroides</i> (L.)  P.M. Peterson & Saarela
General Information
Usda SymbolSPCY4
GroupMonocot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsGraminoid
Native LocationsSPCY4

Plant Guide

Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela is planted.

Fact Sheet

Alternate Names

Salt reedgrass

Uses

Cattle graze big cordgrass. Ducks and geese eat the tender shoots that grow after marshes are burned in early fall.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

Description

Grass Family (Poaceae). Big cordgrass is a warm-season, robust, rhizomatous perennial. The height ranges from 3 to 10 feet. The leaf blade is flat and 1/2 to 1 inch wide; often 18 to 24 inches long; rough and sharp margin. The leaf sheath is rounded. The ligule has short membrane and densely hairy. The stem is thick, round and often 3/4 inch in diameter at base. The seedhead has 20 to 40 spikes, each about 3 inches long, and spikelets about 1/2 inch long growing on one side of rachis with the seedhead growing 12 to 18 inches long.

Management

For best production and plant vigor, graze big cordgrass during fall and winter and defer grazing during summer.

Establishment

Major growth is from late March through September or October, Seedheads form during fall, The base of the plant remains green through the winter, It reproduces from robust rhizomes, which form dense colonies, This plant is primarily adapted to mineral soils in salt marshes, It tolerates moderate salinity and water levels that fluctuate from 4 inches below soil surface to 2 inches above, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela., It is closely associated with marsh-hay cordgrass (Spartina patens) and common reed (Phragmites australis), Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Please contact your local NRCS Field Office,

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)-3
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceHigh
CaCO3 ToleranceMedium
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Drought ToleranceNone
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fire ToleranceHigh
Frost Free Days, Minimum210
Hedge ToleranceNone
Moisture UseHigh
pH, Maximum7.5
pH, Minimum5.8
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim11000
Planting Density per Acre, Minim2700
Precipitation, Maximum60
Precipitation, Minimum40
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)20
Salinity ToleranceHigh
Shade ToleranceIntolerant


Morphology/Physiology

After Harvest Regrowth RateSlow
ToxicityNone
Resprout AbilityNo
Shape and OrientationErect
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
BloatNone
C:N RatioMedium
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ConspicuousNo
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage Porosity WinterModerate
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Nitrogen FixationNone
Low Growing GrassYes
LifespanLong
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)8.0
Growth RateModerate
Growth FormRhizomatous
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Foliage TextureCoarse


Reproduction

Vegetative Spread RateRapid
Small GrainNo
Seedling VigorLow
Seed Spread RateSlow
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsYes
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed AbundanceLow
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Bloom PeriodSpring
Propagated by CormNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

<i>Sporobolus cynosuroides</i> (L.)  P.M. Peterson & Saarela

<i>Sporobolus cynosuroides</i> (L.)  P.M. Peterson & Saarela

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