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Useful Temperate Plants

Sporobolus cynosuroides

(L.) P.M.Peterson & Saarela

Poaceae


We are following the treatment by Paul M. Peterson et al; 'A molecular phylogeny and new subgeneric classification of Sporobolus (Poaceae: Chloridoideae: Sporobolinae)' Taxon 63 (6) December 2014; 1212-1243, whereby the genus Spartina is transferred to the genus Sporobolus[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Cynodon cynosuroides (L.) Raspail

Dactylis cynosuroides L.

Limnetis cynosuroides (L.) Rich.

Limnetis polystachya (Michx.) Rich.

Paspalum cynosuroides (L.) Brot.

Poa lagopoides Steud.

Spartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth

Spartina polystachya (Michx.) Willd.

Trachynotia cynosuroides (L.) Michx.

Trachynotia polystachya Michx.

Triodia cynosuroides (L.) Spreng.

Common Name: Big Cordgrass

No Image.

General Information

Sporobolus cynosuroides is a vigorous, perennial grass, spreading freely by means of rhizomes and sometimes forming extensive colonies; it can grow 200 - 350cm tall.
The plant is sometimes used in soil stabilization projects and has potential for use as a biomass crop.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.

Range

Eastern and southern North America - New York and Massachusetts, south to Florida and east to Texas and northern Mexico.

Habitat

Salt or brackish marshes along the coast[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
].

Properties

Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height2.50 m
Growth RateFast
PollinatorsWind
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Succeeds in fresh or salt water marshes and in ordinary garden soil[
162
Title
Ornamental Grasses.
Publication
 
Author
Grounds. R.
Publisher
Christopher Helm
Year
1989
ISBN
0-7470-1219-9
Description
Cultivation details of many of the grasses and bamboos. Well illustrated.
]. Prefers a deep rich moist soil in sun or light shade[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Adaptable to a range of growing conditions, including arable soils, cut over peats, waterlogged and brackish soil, and it is able to produce higher yields than most natural grasses with a low input on fertiliser[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
].
This species photosynthesizes by a more efficient method than most plants[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
]. Called the 'C4 carbon-fixation pathway', this process is particularly efficient at high temperatures, in bright sunlight and under dry conditions.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants have an extensive root system and can be used for soil stabilization, especially along coasts[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
].

Other Uses

This species is being investigated as a potential biomass crop. It has been shown to be adaptable to a range of growing conditions and to produce higher yields than most natural grasses with a low input on fertiliser[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
]. However yields are lower than seem possible from some other biomass crops such as Miscanthus[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
]. The advantage of this species is the potential to be established from seed, its greater adaptability to adverse soil conditions, low fertiliser requirement and its higher dry matter content earlier in the winter[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
]. It is likely that this species will be well suited to mild wet climate areas in Europe[
289
Title
The National Non-Food Crops Centre Crop Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nnfcc.co.uk/crops/pd.cfm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line information source, with information on over 100 species (as of 2006) of plants being investigated as bio-crops.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a greenhouse in spring and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Plant out in the summer if sufficient growth has been made, otherwise overwinter them in a cold frame and plant them out in the following spring.
Division in spring.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-03. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Sporobolus+cynosuroides>

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