WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread but uncommon along coasts throughout the UK being absent from the far South East and West, North Eastern England, Western Wales and much of Scotland. Hot spots include: along the River Severn, Portsmouth, the Eastern coast, N.West England, South Wales, South West Scotland and Eastern, southern and South West Coast of Ireland. Elsewhere it is scattered and local. Habitat includes: tidal mud-flats, saltmarshes, estuaries etc. Growing habit: Rhizomatous Perennial. Height: Up to 1.3 m. It is Endemic to Britain. It originated in Southampton Water in about 1890 as an amphidiploid derivative of S. x townsendii. ID: Leaves are yellowish green in spring and summer, but turning light brown in autumn and winter. The leaves are 20 - 60 centimetres long and 1.5 cm wide at the base, tapering to a point. It produces flowers and seeds on only one side of the stalk. The flowers are a yellowish-green, turning brown by the winter.

Spartina alterniflora (Smooth Cord-grass) x
Spartina anglica (Common Cord-grass) /
Spartina maritima (Small Cord-grass) x
Spartina patens (Saltmeadow Cord-grass) x
Spartina pectinata (Prairie Cord-grass) x
Spartina maritima x alterniflora = S. x townsendii (Townsend's Cord-grass) x