Biological Flora of Coastal Wetlands: Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela

Stalter, R. and Lonard, R.I., 2022. Biological flora of coastal wetlands: Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela. Journal of Coastal Research, 38(5), 1061–1069. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela = Spartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth is a temperate zone rhizomatous grass that often is a dominant species in coastal brackish marshes on the Gulf coast and Atlantic coasts of the United States where salinity ranges from 0 to 10 psu. Sporobolus cynosuroides (L.) P.M. Peterson & Saarela = Spartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth is usually absent where salinity values are >12 psu. Sporobolus cynosuroides occurs in coastal habitats characterized by infrequent tidal flooding and moderate nutrient levels. Also known as big cordgrass, it may account for net productivity in high marshes that rivals productivity of Sporobolus alterniflorus = Spartina alterniflora the dominant species in saline low marsh environments. Sporobolus cynosuroides and a limited number of cohorts are threatened by climate change and rising sea levels. This species provides important ecological services. In addition, S. cynosurodes provides cover and nutrition for wildlife, and has fair forage potential for livestock.