Single Record
Participant Info
- Species
- Sporobolus hookerianus [Spartina gracilis]
- Family
- Poaceae
- CommonName
- alkali cordgrass, alkali cord-grass
- Presence
- yes
- Status
- native
- EarliestDate
- 1873
- LatestDate
- 2024
- Ecosystem
- basin, foothill
- Geobotanical
- UBasin, LBasin
- Counties
- Alamosa, Costilla, Rio Grande, Saguache
- Passes
- WildlifePreserves
- Baca, Blanca Wetlands, Great Sand Dunes, Russell Lakes, San Luis Lakes
- Other Localities
- PhotoRecords
- Comments
- NEED IN SITU PHOTOS. Alkali cord-grass is fairly common in the Watershed, in its habitat, which is marshy alkali flats—found, for instance, around the San Luis Lakes or the Russell Lakes. It also extends up into the foothills along streams such as Saguache Creek. In the USA, Sporobolus hookerianus, perennial and warm-season, can be found in similar habitats in all Western states and the upper Great Plains. The Watershed locations are the only ones for the species in the entire Rio Grande drainage. Note that the traditional name for this taxon was Spartina gracilis, still accepted by BONAP and FNA. As with many species of dropseed, the grain of Sporobolus hookerianus matures in late spring and early summer, providing wildlife with much needed food at that time of year.
- Annotation