Saltgrass, Inland Saltgrass, Alkali Saltgrass

Distichlis spicata  (L.) Greene

die-STICK-less spie-CAY-tah

Poaceae

Explanation of name:  The generic name reflects the two-ranked leaves, in connection with the botanical term distichous.  Spicata refers to the (forked) spikelike inflorescence.

Synonym:  Distichlis stricta (Torr.)  Rydb.

Natural range: Found on beaches, native to Florida

Recognition:  A low-growing grass with tough, scaly rhizomes and rigid stems.  It starts growth in the early summer and has a slow growth rate.  Few seeds are produced; reproduction is mostly from rhizomes.

Seedhead:  Contracted, dense panicle, yellowish at maturity; dioecious; male seedheads larger, more dense, and on longer culms; spikelets flattened, awnless, produces 8 to 15 florets.

Leaves:  Scattered, hairy; blades stiff, flattened at base, sharp pointed, coarse, spaced along the entire length of the stem; sheaths overlap; leaves folded in the bud; collar hairy; ligule has a fringe of short hairs; auricles absent.

Soils:  primarily extremely salty and alkaline soils that are poorly drained and have a high water table.

Biology:  Saltgrass has several adaptations to its habitat.  Salt glands on the leaves extrude salt, allowing the plants to utilize salty water.  It can survive flooding and heave saturated soils if the leaves are exposed to air, allowing air to be moved from the leaves to the roots through a series of interconnected passages.  The sharp-pointed scaly rhizomes push through heavy soils, allowing saltgrass to colonize areas less favorable for seedling establishment.

Landscape uses: Extremely tolerant of salt, beach conditions, and dunes. It is very tenacious as a soil erosion control plant, but is usually not found where erosion is a problem.  This species has some value in slowing the overland flow of water and reducing the salinization of fresh water streams. Native Americans in Nevada and Utah used saltgrass as a cereal crop.