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| common cordgrass (Spartina anglica) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Common cordgrass |
| Genus | Spartina |
| Species | anglica |
| Authority | C.E.Hubb. |
common cordgrass (Spartina anglica) is a perennial coastal grass notable for forming dense saltmarsh stands that alter tidal flats, estuaries, and coastal geomorphology. It originated by hybridization and polyploidy in the 19th century and has been subject to widespread planting, deliberate removal, and legal regulation due to its ecological and economic impacts. Its biology intersects with studies by institutions and initiatives addressing coastal restoration, invasive species control, and wetland policy.
Spartina anglica was described by C.E. Hubbard and placed in the genus Spartina, which is treated within the family Poaceae by taxonomists associated with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Natural History Museum, London, and systematic projects such as the Integrated Taxonomic Information System and the International Plant Names Index. The species arose from hybridization between Spartina alterniflora and Spartina maritima; its cytological status was clarified through work by cytogeneticists at institutions like the University of Cambridge and the John Innes Centre. Nomenclatural decisions involving Spartina anglica have been discussed in journals linked to the British Ecological Society, the Ecological Society of America, and the Royal Society.
Spartina anglica is characterized by dense tussocks, erect hollow stems, and inflorescences typical of cordgrasses described in floras used at the Natural History Museum, London, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and the Kew Gardens Herbarium. Morphological keys used by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland and field guides produced by the Marine Biological Association contrast it with Spartina alterniflora and Spartina maritima. Diagnostic features are cited in monographs from the Linnean Society of London and identification manuals employed by the Environment Agency (England) and the Scottish Natural Heritage.
Originally documented on coastlines near Dorset and the Solent region, Spartina anglica spread across the United Kingdom and was introduced to continental Europe, North America, Australasia, and parts of Africa via spoil dumping, reclamation projects, and horticultural transfers linked to agencies such as the British Admiralty and ports including Portsmouth and Chichester Harbour. Its preferred habitats include sheltered estuaries, mudflats, and lower saltmarsh zones monitored by programmes from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Ramsar Convention sites. Distribution maps referenced by the Marine Conservation Society and the European Environment Agency document its range shifts associated with land reclamation at locations like the Wash (England), the Basin of Arcachon, and the Delaware Bay.
Spartina anglica fundamentally alters sediment dynamics, nutrient cycling, and faunal assemblages; these effects have been examined in studies published by the Journal of Ecology, the Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science journal, and reports commissioned by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Dense stands trap sediment, raise marsh elevation, and change habitat for species monitored by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, and the RSPB. Its spread has been implicated in declines of intertidal invertebrates recorded by the Natural Environment Research Council and by surveys used by the European Commission for habitat assessments. Conversely, it provides carbon sequestration services quantified in research linked to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and coastal blue carbon initiatives.
Spartina anglica originated by allopolyploid speciation following hybridization between Spartina alterniflora and Spartina maritima; genetic analyses employing techniques developed at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and laboratories affiliated with the University of Oxford revealed chromosome doubling and fixed heterozygosity. Reproductive strategies include vegetative spread via rhizomes and limited sexual reproduction; studies in population genetics published through the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution and performed by teams at the University of Liverpool and the University of Southampton explored clonal structure, gene flow, and mating systems. Molecular markers from projects hosted by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory have been used to track introductions and hybridization events.
Historically, Spartina anglica was deliberately planted for land reclamation, shoreline stabilization, and as part of works by engineering firms contracted by entities like the Thames Estuary Partnership and municipal authorities in port cities such as Liverpool and Bristol. It has been promoted in manuals from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and used in managed realignment projects supported by the Environment Agency (England). Management techniques include mechanical removal, herbicide application overseen in regulatory frameworks involving the European Chemicals Agency and restoration carried out by NGOs including the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust.
Because Spartina anglica behaves invasively in many regions, eradication and containment programmes have been implemented under guidance by the Convention on Biological Diversity, national biodiversity strategies, and coastal management plans from agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Zealand Department of Conservation, and the Scottish Natural Heritage. Control methods documented in case studies from the International Maritime Organization and academic outlets include manual excavation, targeted herbicide regimes evaluated by the Environment Agency (England), and coordinated monitoring by networks like the European Alien Species Information Network. Legal responses have involved listings and management directives applied by the European Union and national legislatures to balance conservation of native saltmarsh species monitored by organizations like the RSPB and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
Category:Poaceae Category:Invasive plant species