Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene

salt grass


Info

Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Genus etymology: Distichlis = "smooth two rowed" [Greek] refering to the leaves with two rows and lacking hairs
Species etymology: spicata = "spike" [Latin] refering to the inflorescence
Photosynthetic type: C4 (warm season)
Nativity: naturalized - accidental
First recorded in Hawaiʻi: 1977

Map

 Distribution of Distichlis spicata in Hawaiʻi.

Plant

Distichlis spicata Plant
Distichlis spicata Plant

Habit

Distichlis spicata Habit
Distichlis spicata Habit
Distichlis spicata Habit
Distichlis spicata Habit
Distichlis spicata Habit

Landscape

Distichlis spicata Landscape

Description

Plants rhizomatous and sometimes stoloniferous. Culms 10-60 cm, usually erect, sometimes decumbent or prostrate. Blades of upper leaves 1-8(20) cm, rigid and divaricate to lax and ascending, usually equaling or exceeding the pistillate panicles, varying with respect to the staminate panicles. Pistillate panicles 1-7 cm, often congested, with 2-20 spikelets. Pistillate spikelets 5-20 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, with 5-20 florets; lower glumes 2-3 mm; upper glumes 3-4 mm; lemmas 3.5-6 mm; paleas with serrate keels. Caryopses 2-5 mm, tapered or truncate. Staminate panicles and spikelets similar to the pistillate panicles and spikelets, but the lemmas somewhat thinner in texture and the paleas not bowed-out. Anthers 3-4 mm. 2n = 40.
(Description source: Barkworth, M.E., Capels, K.M., Long, S. & Piep, M.B. (eds.) 2003. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 25. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, Part 2. Oxford University Press, New York. 783 pp. http://floranorthamerica.org/Distichlis_spicata )