Description:
Spartina anglica is a stout, rhizomatous salt marsh grass that spreads by clonal growth, often forming extensive meadows (Thompson 1991). The stiff plant may be 5 to 100 cm tall, with stout stems five mm or more in diameter. The leaves lack auricles and have ligules that consist of a fringe of hairs. The leaf blades, which may be flat or inrolled, are 5 to 12 mm broad and may be persistent or falling. The flowers occur in numerous, erect, contracted panicles, which consist of closely overlapping spikelets in two rows on one side of the rachis (Partridge 1987). S. anglica is closely related Spartina x townsendii; both result from a hybrid of Spartina maritima and Spartina alterniflora. However, S. anglica is the F2 generation and produces fertile seed, while S. x townsendii does not.

• Mechanical: Seedlings can be pulled out effectively. Care must be taken to remove both shoots and roots. Seedlings generally begin tillering late in their first growing season. Once the plant has tillered, hand-pulling may break off portions of root, allowing the plant to resprout. Repeated pulling will eventually kill small plants (Spartina Task Force 1994). However, pulling or digging established clones is difficult and largely ineffectual.
• Biological: Because Spartina anglica is a new species, there is a relative absence of herbivores or diseases that affect the plant, even in its native habitat (Gray et al. 1991). However, because of its low levels of genetic variability and the fact that it spreads largely by vegetative means, S. anglica is potentially vulnerable to parasite and pathogen infestation (Thompson 1991).
• Herbicide: Rodeo™ (glyphosate) is the only herbicide presently labeled for use on Spartina anglica in Washington.

For More Information:
Detailed information about Common Cordgrass is available at the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board Web Site.