Saltgrass
Distichlis spicata
Summary 7
Distichlis spicata is a species of perennial, dioecious grass known by several common names, including seashore saltgrass, inland saltgrass, and desert saltgrass. It is native to the Americas, where it is abundant and widespread and extremely salt tolerant.
Botanical Information 8
The scientific name for saltgrass is Distichlis spicata. It is in the Poaceae (grass) family. It is perennial, which means it grows back from its roots, year after year. It has strong roots called rhizomes. Saltgrass grows up to 30cm tall and has 10cm long leaf blades that grow in 2 opposite vertical rows and occupy a single plane. The color of saltgrass is often yellow and it sometimes looks like wheat. It is dioecious meaning it has male or female flowers on separate plants. The saltgrass blooms in the months of April to October.
Ecological Information 7
Saltgrass is native to the Southwest, southern, and eastern states of the U.S., including New Mexico. Saltgrass lives in a variety of environments including mountains, forests, woodlands, and deserts. It requires plenty of sunlight and the soil has to be wet in order for it to thrive. It tolerates alkaline and saline or salty soils by excreting salt from glands on their leaves. These salt crystals can be seen with the unaided eye. Saltgrass attracts birds and butterflies.
Ethnobotanical Information 7
The Cahuilla people would burn the leaves to remove the salt for culinary use. The Kawaiisu people used the plant medicinally for conditions including rapid heart rate, constipation, and gonorrhea. (Note: Such reports often lack important contextual information and relevant traditional ecological knowledge.)
References 9
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distichlis_spicata
http://naeb.brit.org/uses/species/1319/
Bosque Field Guide
Cartron, Lightfoot, Mygatt, Brantley, Lowrey. (2008). A Field Guide to the Plants and Animals of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque. (p. 41). New Mexico, University of New Mexico Press.
About the Author 10
Student author*: Makyla (age 12), Estrella (age 12) and Misael (age 12) from Albuquerque Sign Language Academy
*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting. https://yerbamansaproject.org/
Sources and Credits
- (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/18024068@N00/6490592843
- (c) David Greenberger, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by David Greenberger
- (c) Alberto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alberto
- (c) Lynn Sweet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Lynn Sweet
- (c) mvelesrubio, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
- (c) Andy Newman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Andy Newman
- Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distichlis_spicata
- Adapted by Hannah from a work by (c) caseynm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Adapted by albuquerqueherbalism from a work by (c) caseynm, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
- iNat taxon page
- Biodiversity Heritage Library
- BOLD Systems BIN search
- Calflora
- CalPhotos
- eFloras.org
- Flora of North America (beta)
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
- Go Botany
- HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
- IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
- Jepson eFlora
- Maryland Biodiversity Project
- NatureServe Explorer 2.0
- OregonFlora.org
- SEINet Symbiota portals
- Tropicos
- USDA PLANTS database
- VASCAN by Canadensys
- World Flora Online
iNat Map
| Uses | edible, medicinal |
|---|---|
| Type | grass |
