Sporobolus airoides is a species of grass known by the common name alkali sacaton.[1] It is native to western North America, including the Western United States west of the Mississippi River, British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, and northern and central Mexico. It grows in many types of habitat, often in alkali soils, such as in California desert regions.
| Sporobolus airoides | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Sporobolus |
| Species: | S. airoides
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| Binomial name | |
| Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr.
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Description
editSporobolus airoides is a perennial bunchgrass forming a clump of stems reaching up to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall. The stem bases are thick and tough, almost woody in texture. The fibrous green or gray-green leaves are up to 60 cm (24 in) in length. The inflorescence is long and generally wide open and spreading, bearing yellow spikelets with purplish bases. The grass produces abundant seeds, which are often dispersed in flowing water and germinate when embedded in sediment.[2]
Halophyte – salinity
editSporobolus airoides is a facultative halophyte, able to grow in soils with high salt concentrations.[2] This grass germinates best in warm, sunny, wet conditions, and it can easily move into saline soils such as those in alkali flats when the substrate is wet.[2]
Cultivation
editIt is a valuable grass for habitat restoration and revegetation projects in disturbed habitat in the Southwest United States, especially in riparian zones in California and the Intermountain West.[2]
Mojave Desert
editIt is planted with Muhlenbergia asperifolia (scratchgrass) for Mojave River and other riparian zone restoration in the Mojave Desert.[3] It produces dense groundcover once established.[2]
References
edit- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Sporobolus airoides". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d e US Forest Service Fire Ecology
- ^ Hershdorfer, M. and R. Garner. Sporobolus airoides and Muhlenbergia asperifolia: Population developments for southern Nevada. USDA. March 2006.
External links
edit- Jepson Manual Treatment – Sporobolus airoides
- USDA Plants Profile: Sporobolus airoides
- Grass Manual Treatment – Sporobolus airoides
- FAO Grassland Index
- Sporobolus airoides – Photo gallery
