Spartina is a taxon of plants in the grass family, frequently found in coastal salt marshes.[3] Its species are commonly known as cordgrass or cord-grass,[4] and are native to the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean in western and southern Europe, north-western and southern Africa, the Americas and the islands of the southern Atlantic Ocean; one or two species also occur on the western coast of North America and in freshwater habitats inland in the Americas. The highest species diversity is on the east coasts of North and South America, particularly Florida. They form large, often dense colonies, particularly on coastal salt marshes, and grow quickly. The species vary in size from 0.3–2 m tall. Many of the species will produce hybrids if they come into contact.
In 2014, the taxon Spartina was subsumed into the genus Sporobolus and reassigned to the taxonomic status of section,[5] but it is may still be possible to see Spartina referred to as an accepted genus. In 2019, an interdisciplinary team of experts from all continents (except for Antarctica) coauthored a report published in the journal Ecology supporting Spartina as a genus.[6]
The section name Spartina is derived from σπαρτίνη (spartínē), the Greek word for a cord made from Spanish broom (Spartium junceum).[7]
Species of the section Spartina are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the Aaron's skipper, which feeds exclusively on smooth cordgrass, and the engrailed moth.
Some species of the section Spartina are considered as ecosystem engineers that can strongly influence the physical and biological environment.[8][9] This is particularly important in areas where invasive Spartina species significantly alter their new environment, with impacts to native plants and animals.[10]
Three of the Spartina species have become invasive plants in some countries. In British Columbia, Sporobolus anglica, also known as English cordgrass, is an aggressive, aquatic alien that invades mud flats, salt marshes and beaches, out-competing native plants, spreading quickly over mud flats and leaving large Spartina meadows.[11] It is also invasive in China and California.[10]