Distichlis spicata

Family:POACEAE
Species:Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene
Common Name:Saltgrass; Coastal Saltgrass
Habitat:Brackish marshes.
Associated Ecological Communities:**
Growth Habit:Herb
Duration:Perennial
Category:Vascular
USDA Symbol:**
Plant Notes:Saltgrass is a native herbaceous perennial in the Grass family (Poaceae). It occurs in coastal areas of Baldwin and Mobile Counties. Saltgrass is very salt tolerant and grows on dunes, in brackish and salt marshes, and in disturbed coastal habitats. It is a warm season carpet grass with long scaly rhizomes and sometimes stolons. The roots and rhizomes have continuous air cavities than run their length from the leaf sheaths, allowing for gas exchange in the roots when they are inundated. Saltgrass culms are erect to decumbent, solid, wiry, and vary from 1-3 feet in height. The leaves are 1-5 inches in length, linear in outline, flat, and evenly distributed along the culm. Flowers are produced in congested panicles. Saltgrass is dioecious, with separate male and female individuals. The panicles have 2 to 20 green or purple-tinted spikelets. The staminate panicles are larger, longer, and denser than the female panicles. The fruit is a grain. Saltgrass is able to take up saltwater and extrude the excess salt from special 2-celled salt glands along the leaves. This salt dries and often encrusts the leaves. It has served as a source of salt for Native Americans who harvested it by scraping the leaves. Saltgrass seeds and rhizomes provide an important food source for waterfowl, and it has been grown as a forage grass on saline soils. Saltgrass serves as an important source of food and cover for both fish and crustaceans in marshes, and its dense rhizomes help to stabilize shorelines.—A. Diamond.
Taxonomic Notes:**
Status:Native, FACW+ (NWI)
References:**
Specimen: View specimen details in the Alabama Herbarium Consortium Specimen Database

** Not applicable or data not available.

Classification

FamilyPOACEAE - Grass family
Genus Distichlis
Species Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene - Saltgrass; Coastal Saltgrass

Citation

Citation Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, Bull. Calif. Acad. Sci. 2(7C): 415. 1887.
Basionym: Uniola spicata L. 1753.
Type: Without data, Kalm s.n. (lectotype: LINN 89.4). Lectotypified by Hitchcock in Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 12 : 121. 1908.

** Not applicable or data not available.

Synonyms

SynonymFull CitationBasionymType
Uniola multiflora Nuttall, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., ser. 2. 5: 148. 1837. ARKANSAS
Agropyrum peruvianum Agropyron peruvianum (Lamarck) Roemer & Schultes, Syst. Veg. 2: 761. 1817.Triticum peruvianum Lamarck 1791. 
Briza spicata Briza spicata (Linnaeus) Lamarck, Encycl. 1: 465. 1785.Uniola spicata Linnaeus 1753. 
Brizopyrum boreale Brizopyrum boreale J. Presl, in C. Presl, Reliq. Haenk. 1: 280. 1830. CANADA: British Columbia: Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island, s.d., Haenke s.n. (holotype: PR; isotype: MO).
Brizopyrum ovatum Brizopyrum ovatum Nees von Esenbeck ex Steudel, Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 282. 1854. PERU [Chile?]: Without data, Cuming s.n. (holotype: P?).
Brizopyrum prostratum Brizopyrum prostratum (Kunth) E. Fournier, Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique 15: 474. 1876; Mexic. Pl. 2: 120. 1886.Poa prostrata Kunth 1816. 
Brizopyrum prostratum var. erectum Brizopyrum prostratum (Kunth) Bentham ex E. Fournier, var. erectum E. Fournier, Mexic. Pl. 2: 120. 1886. MEXICO
Brizopyrum prostratum var. humile Brizopyrum prostratum (Kunth) Bentham ex E. Fournier, var. humile E. Fournier, Mexic. Pl. 2: 120. 1886. MEXICO
Brizopyrum spicatum Brizopyrum spicatum (Linnaeus) Hooker & Arnott, Bot. Beechey Voy. 403. 1841.Uniola spicata Linnaeus 1753.  
Brizopyrum spicatum var. strictum Brizopyrum spicatum (Linnaeus) Hooker & Arnott, var. strictum (Torrey) A. Gray ex S. Watson, Bot. Fortieth Parallel 385. 1871.Uniola stricta Torrey 1824. 
Brizopyrum thalassicum Brizopyrum thalassicum (Kunth) Nees von Esenbeck, Nov. Actorum Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 1: 29. 1841.Poa thalassica Kunth 1816. 
Brizopyrum americanum Brizopyrum americanum Link, Hort. Berol. 1: 160. 1826, nom. illegit.Uniola spicata Linnaeus 1753. 
Distichlis araucana Distichlis araucana Philippi, Anales Univ. Chile 94: 162. 1896. CHILE
Distichlis dentata Distichlis dentata Rydberg, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 36: 536. 1909. WASHINGTON: Without data, 1893, Sandberg & Leiberg 463 (holotype: NY; isotypes: NY, US).
Distichlis deserticola Distichlis deserticola Philippi, Anales Univ. Chile 36: 209. 1870. CHILE: Atacama Desert, s.d., Philippi 407 (holotype: SGO?).
Distichlis distichophylla Distichlis distichophylla (Labillardiere) Fassett, Rhodora 27: 71. 1925.Uniola distichophylla Labillardière 1804. 
Distichlis hirsuta Distichlis hirsuta Philippi, Anales Univ. Chile 36: 209. 1870. CHILE: Santiago,
Distichlis hirta Distichlis hirta Philippi, Anales Univ. Chile 48: 570. 1873. CHILE: Los arenales de Llico y Vichuqen, s.d., Landbeck s.n. (holotype: SGO?).
Distichlis marginata Distichlis marginata Philippi, Verz. Antofagasta Pfl. 86. 1891. CHILE: Tarapaca (Antofagasta?): Ad Breas, s.d., Philippi s.n. (holotype: SGO?).
Distichlis marginata var. stricta Distichlis marginata Philippi, var. stricta (Torrey) Thurber, Bot. California 2: 306. 1880.Uniola stricta Torrey 1824. 
Distichlis maritima Distichlis maritima Rafinesque, J. Phys. Chim. Hist. Nat. Arts 89: 104. 1819, nom. illegit.Uniola spicata Linnaeus 1753.  
Distichlis maritima var. stricta Distichlis maritima Rafinesque, var. stricta (Torrey) Thurber, Bot. California 2: 306. 1880.Uniola stricta Torrey 1824. 
Distichlis mendocina Distichlis mendocina Philippi, Anales Univ. Chile 36: 209. 1870. CHILE: Mendoza, s.d., Philippi s.n. (holotype: SGO?).
Distichlis nodosa Distichlis nodosa Rafinesque, J. Phys. Chim. Hist. Nat. Arts 89: 104. 1819, nom. illegit.Festuca distichophylla Michaux 1803. 
Distichlis prostrata Distichlis prostrata (Kunth) E. Desvaux, in Gay, Fl. Chil. 6: 398. 1854 ("1853").Poa prostrata Kunth 1816. 
Distichlis spicata subsp. stricta Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, subsp. stricta (Torrey) Thorne, Aliso 9: 195. 1978.Uniola stricta Torrey 1824. 
Distichlis spicata var. andina Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. andina Beetle, Revista Argent. Agron. 22: 93. 1955. BOLIVIA: La Paz: Guaqui, 6 Feb 1937, Parodi 10082 (holotype: BAA).
Distichlis spicata var. borealis Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. borealis (J. Presl) Beetle, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 70: 643. 1943.Brizopyrum boreale J. Presl 1830. 
Distichlis spicata var. distichophylla Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. distichophylla (Michaux) Beetle, Rhodora 47: 148. 1945.Festuca distichophylla Michaux 1803. 
Distichlis spicata var. divaricata Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. divaricata Beetle, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 70: 647. 1943. CALIFORNIA: Riverside Co.: Salton, 1902, Davy s.n. (holotype: UC).
Distichlis spicata var. laxa Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. laxa Vasey ex Beal, Grass. N. Amer. 2: 519. 1896. UTAH: Salt Lake Co.: Lake Park, 1887, Tracy s.n. (holotype: MSC?)
Distichlis spicata var. marginata Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. marginata (Philippi) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 350. 1898.Distichlis marginata Philippi 1891. 
Distichlis spicata var. mendocina Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. mendocina (Philippi) Hackel, in Stuckert, Anales Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires 6: 513. 1906.Distichlis mendocina Philippi 1870. 
Distichlis spicata var. mexicana Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. mexicana Beetle, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 70: 648. 1943. MEXICO: Durango
Distichlis spicata var. nana Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. nana Beetle, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 70: 647. 1943. CALIFORNIA: Tulare Co.: Whitaker Forest, 28 Jun 1928, Kennedy s.n. (holotype: AHUC).
Distichlis spicata var. stolonifera Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. stolonifera Beetle, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 70: 644. 1943. CALIFORNIA: Humboldt Co.: Near Ferndale, 30 Jul 1899, Davy & Blasdale 6202 (holotype: UC).
Distichlis spicata var. stricta Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. stricta (Torrey) Lamson-Scribner, Mem. Torrey Bot. Club 5(4): 51. 1894.Uniola stricta Torrey 1824. 
Distichlis spicata var. thalassica Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. thalassica (Kunth) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 350. 1898.Poa thalassica Kunth 1816. 
Distichlis stricta Distichlis stricta (Torrey) Rydberg, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 32: 602. 1905.Uniola stricta Torrey 1824. 
Distichlis stricta var. dentata Distichlis stricta (Torrey) E. Desvaux, var. dentata (Rydberg) C. L. Hitchcock, Vasc. Pl. Pacific NW 1: 553. 1969.Distichlis dentata Rydberg 1909. 
Distichlis stricta var. laxa Distichlis stricta (Torrey) E. Desvaux, var. laxa (Vasey ex Beal) Fawcett & West ex Munz, Man. S. Calif. Bot. 52, 597. 1935.Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene, var. laxa Vasey ex Beal 1896. 
Distichlis tenuifolia Distichlis tenuifolia Philippi, Anales Univ. Chile 94: 162. 1896. CHILE
Distichlis thalassica Distichlis thalassica (Kunth) E. Desvaux, in Gay, Fl. Chil. 6: 397. 1854 ("1853")..Poa thalassica Kunth 1816. 
Distichlis thalassica var. mendocina Distichlis thalassica (Kunth) E. Desvaux, var. mendocina (Philippi) Kurtz, Bol. Acad. Nat. Ci. 15: 521. 1897.Distichlis mendocina Philippi 1870. 
Distichlis thalassica var. pectinata Distichlis thalassica (Kunth) E. Desvaux, var. pectinata Grisebach, Abh. Königl. Ges. Wiss. Göttingen 24: 291. 1879. ARGENTINA/CHILE:
Distichlis viridis Distichlis viridis Philippi, Anales Univ. Chile 94: 163. 1896. CHILE
Festuca distichophylla Festuca distichophylla (Labillardiere) Hooker f., Fl. Tasman. 2: 127. 1858, non Michaux 1803.Uniola distichophylla Labillardière 1804. 
Festuca distichophylla Festuca distichophylla Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 67. 1803. SOUTH CAROLINA: Without data, Michaux s.n. (holotype: P).
Festuca multiflora Festuca multiflora Walter, Fl. Carol. 81. 1788.  
Festuca triticoides Festuca triticoides Lamarck, Tabl. Encycl. 1: 191. 1791.  
Megastachya prostrata Megastachya prostrata (Kunth) Roemer & Schultes, Syst. Veg. 2: 590. 1817.Poa prostrata Kunth 1816. 
Megastachya thalassica Megastachya thalassica (Kunth) Roemer & Schultes, Syst. Veg. 2: 590. 1817.Poa thalassica Kunth 1816. 
Poa borealis Poa borealis (J. Presl) Kunth, Revis. Gramin., Suppl. 28. 1830.Brizopyrum boreale J. Presl 1830. 
Poa distichophylla Poa distichophylla (Labillardière) R. Brown, Prodr. 182. 1810, non Gaudin 1808.Uniola distichophylla Labillardière 1804. 
Poa michauxii Poa michauxii Kunth, Revis. Gramin. 111. 1829.Festuca distichophylla Michaux 1803. 
Poa paradoxa Poa paradoxa Roemer & Schultes, Syst. Veg. 2: 569. 1817.Uniola distichophylla Labillardière 1804. 
Poa prostrata Poa prostrata Kunth, in Humboldt et al., Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 157. 1816. VENEZUELA: Monagas: Caripe, s.d., Humboldt & Bonpland 4161 (holotype: P; isotype: US(fragm)).
Poa thalassica Poa thalassica Kunth, in Humboldt et al., Nov. Gen. Sp. 1: 157. 1816. PERU: Lima: "prope ad Litus Oceani", Oct, Humboldt & Bonpland 3719 (holotype: P; isotype: US(fragm)).
Triticum peruvianum Triticum peruvianum Lamarck, Tabl. Encycl. 1: 212. 1791. PERU
Uniola distichophylla Uniola distichophylla Labillardière, Nov. Holl. Pl. 1: 21, t. 24. 1804. AUSTRALIA: Tasmania:
Uniola distichophylla Uniola distichophylla (Michaux) Roemer & Schultes, Syst. Veg. 2: 596. 1817.Festuca distichophylla Michaux 1803. 
Uniola flexuosa Uniola flexuosa Buckley, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 14: 99. 1862. TEXAS: On the Brazos at Fort Belknap, s.d., Buckley s.n. (lectotype: PH). Lectotypified by Hitchcock, Man. Grasses U.S. 838. 1935.
Uniola prostrata Uniola prostrata (Kunth) Trinius, Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg, Ser. 6, Sci. Math., Seconde Pt. Sci. Nat. 4(2): 55. 1836.Poa prostrata Kunth 1816. 
Uniola spicata Uniola spicata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 71. 1753. Without data, Kalm s.n. (lectotype: LINN 89.4). Lectotypified by Hitchcock, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 12: 121. 1908.
Uniola stricta Uniola stricta Torrey, Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York 1(1): 155. 1824. OKLAHOMA: Shores of the Canadian River, s.d., Marcy Exped. s.n. (holotype: ?; isotype: LE(fragm)).
Uniola thalassica Uniola thalassica (Kunth) Trinius, Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Petersbourg, Ser. 6, Sci. Math. 1: 359. 1830.Poa thalassica Kunth 1816. 

Specimens and Distribution

This species has been reported in the following counties by the herbaria listed. An overview of the individual specimens are provided in the table that follows. Click on the accession number to view details; click on column headers to sort; choose a county or herbaria to filter the specimen data.

Counties included on distribution map: Baldwin, Mobile

Counties represented by specimen data listed below:

Herbaria represented by specimen data listed below: ALNHS, AUA, JSU, TROY, UNA, UWAL

Range of years during which specimens were collected: 1965 - 1966

Barcode / Accession No. County Coll. Date Collector &
Collection No.
Herbarium &
Herbarium Name Used
Image
UNA00003717 Mobile 15 Aug 1966 Deramus, Rebecca
D985
UNA
Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene
UWAL0002768 Baldwin 02 Sep 2010 Diamond, Alvin R.
21548
UWAL
Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene
TROY000047236 Mobile 08 Nov 1975 Lelong, Michel G.
8892
TROY
Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene
ALNHS00000215 Mobile 29 Aug 1998 Spaulding, Daniel D.
10412
ALNHS
Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene
TROY000032406 Baldwin 02 Sep 2010 Diamond, Alvin R.
21548
TROY
Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene
JSU101109 Mobile 29 Aug 1998 Spaulding, Daniel D.
10412
JSU
Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene
UWAL0047600 Mobile 07 Sep 2016 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#2468
UWAL
Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene
AUA000016926 Mobile 11 Apr 1962 Rogers, Ken E.
AUA
Distichlis Spicata (L.) Greene
UWAL0043048 Baldwin 26 Sep 2008 Larsen, Harry S.
1647
UWAL
Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene
UNA00003782 Mobile 26 Aug 1965 Deramus, Rebecca
D684
UNA
Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene
TROY000030880 Mobile 04 Nov 1962 Rogers, Kenneth E.
s.n.
TROY
Distichlis spicata (Linnaeus) Greene
ALNHS00004347 Mobile 07 Sep 2016 Barger, T. Wayne
SP#2468
ALNHS
Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene
UNA00003727 Mobile s.d. Mohr, Charles
s.n.
UNA
Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene
UWAL0037717 Mobile 08 Nov 1975 LeLong, Michel G.
8892
UWAL
Distichlis spicata L.
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