Spartina pectinata

1. Spartina pectinata Link (N-Am.) – A rare garden escape or throw-out. Probably first seen in 1996 in an industrial area in Sint-Truiden. Subsequently also seen in, for instance, Hingene (2000) and Oudenaarde (2005). It is uncertain whether or not Spartina pectinata is able to naturalize. However, two relatively large populations were discovered in Maria-Aalter in 2017 on the verge of a maize field. In this locality, it looks at least temporarily established.

Some records of Spartina pectinata might merely represent relics of cultivation. In spite of its hardiness and perennial habit apparently remaining ephemeral up to present. Spartina pectinata is also used for biomass production trials (Stace 2010), but probably not (yet) in Belgium.

In Europe (see for instance Klotz 2005) Spartina pectinata is usually treated in a broad sense, including S. cynosuroides (L.) Roth (see however Ryves & al. 1996). The latter is indeed closely related but usually treated at specific level nowadays (Barkworth 2003). All Belgian specimens seen belong to genuine Spartina pectinata.

Spartina pectinata, Geel, pond margin (probably relic of cultivation), July 2009, R. Barendse Spartina pectinata, Geel, pond margin (probably relic of cultivation), July 2009, R. Barendse
 

Herbarium specimen

 


Selected literature:

Barkworth M.E. (2003) Spartina. In: Barkworth M.E. & al. (eds.), Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 25: 240-251. Oxford University Press, New York-Oxford.

Boyle P.J. (1968) Preliminary account of Spartina pectinata Link new to Ireland. Irish Naturalists' J. 16: 74-75.

Jentsch H. & Gutte P. (1983) Spartina pectinata Link, eine seltene Adventivpflanze. Gleditschia 10: 133-135.

Klotz J. (2005) Phragmites australis var. pseudodonax und Spartina pectinata : zwei ungewöhnliche Süssgräser der Regensburger Flora. Hoppea 66: 243-254.

Ryves T.B., Clement E.J. & Foster M.C. (1996) Alien grasses of the British Isles. BSBI, London: XX + 181 p.

Klotz J. (2005) Phragmites australis var. pseudodonax und Spartina pectinata : zwei ungewöhnliche Süssgräser der Regensburger Flora. Hoppea 66: 243-254.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith