Sporobolus anglicus

Sporobolus anglicus (formerly Spartina anglica) is a robust rhizomatous perennial grass of the Poaceae family growing 30-130 cm tall and forming extensive monospecific swards on intertidal mud. The plant arose around 1890 in southern England as a fertile allopolyploid derived from the hybrid between the North American S. alterniflorus and the European S. maritimus. Stout creeping rhizomes give rise to erect, glabrous, somewhat fleshy culms. Leaf blades are flat at the base and inrolling above, 20-50 cm long and 5-15 mm wide, grey-green, stiff, and sharp-tipped, with smooth surfaces and a fringed ligule. The inflorescence is a stiff, erect, narrow panicle 10-25 cm long composed of 2-12 closely appressed spike-like branches, each bearing two rows of laterally compressed, awnless spikelets 14-21 mm long pressed against one face of the rachis. Native and naturalised on tidal mudflats around northwest European coasts and introduced as a saltmarsh stabiliser worldwide, it flowers August to October.