Error message
Unable to fetch location details at this time.
Prairie Cordgrass
Spartina pectinata
43.1471, -88.8784
Field Notes
Description:
Prairie cordgrass is a warm-season, native, sod-forming grass. Culms
reach heights of 3.5 to 10 feet (1-3 m) and are firm or wiry. Spikes
are mostly 10 to 20 per plant and are 1.5 to 3 inches (4-8 cm) long.
The root system has coarse, woody, highly branched rhizomes. The roots
grow from the rhizomes and the base of the clumps and penetrate almost
vertically downward to depths of 8 to 13 feet.
Habitat:
Prairie cordgrass grows on wet banks of sluggish streams and around
ponds. On its hydric side it is bordered by tall rushes (Scirpus spp.),
sedges (Carex spp.), and reed grasses (Phragmites spp.). On the dry
side, there is usually a band of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and
Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) between prairie cordgrass and big
bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), which dominates the next dryer zone.
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment
Sign in to comment