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                | Saltgrass
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                | Distichlis spicata  
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                | Poaceae 
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                | Landscape Uses:
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                |  | Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.  Also butterfly gardens in saline areas along the coast. |  
                | Ecological Restoration Notes: |  
                |  | A somewhat sporadic element of tidal marshes.  The similar looking Sporobolus virginicus is much more common in South Florida. |  
                | Availability: |  
                |  | Available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. |  
                | Description: |  
                |  | Small herbaceous grass. |  
                | Height: |  
                |  | About 4-8 inches in height; to 12 inches when in flower.  Spreading from underground stems (rhizomes) and forming large patches. |  
                | Growth Rate: |  
                |  | Moderate. |  
                | Range: |  
                |  | Widespread in North America south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America. |  
                | Habitats: |  
                |  | Tidal marshes. |  
                | Soils: |  
                |  | Wet to moist, regularly inundated saline soils. |  
                | Nutritional Requirements: |  
                |  | Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. |  
                | Salt Water Tolerance: |  
                |  | High; tolerates flooding by salt water. |  
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: |  
                |  | Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. |  
                | Drought Tolerance: |  
                |  | Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought. |  
                | Light Requirements: |  
                |  | Full sun. |  
                | Flower Color: |  
                |  | Gray-green inflorescence. |  
                | Flower Characteristics: |  
                |  | Inconspicuous. |  
                | Flowering Season: |  
                |  | All year; peak spring-fall. |  
                | Fruit: |  
                |  | Inconspicuous light brown caryopsis. |  
                | Wildlife and Ecology: |  
                |  | Provides food for birds.  Larval host plant for obscure skipper (Panoquina panoquinoides) and saltmarsh skipper (Panoquina panoquin) butterflies. |  
                | Horticultural Notes: |  
                |  | Can be grown from seed or divisions. |  
                | Comments: |  
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                | George D. Gann in habitat, New Providence, Bahamas, 2012
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                | George D. Gann in habitat, New Providence, Bahamas, 2012
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