Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Spartina x townsendii H. Groves & J. Groves

Synonyms

Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald (misapplied)
Spartina townsendi H. Groves & J. Groves
Spartina townsendii H. Groves & J. Groves

Family

Gramineae (South Australia)
Poaceae (Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory)

Common Names

cord grass, cord-grass, rice grass, Townsend's cord grass, Townsend's cord-grass, Townsend's cordgrass

Origin

Townsend's cordgrass (Spartina x townsendii) is a hybrid that originated in northern Europe (i.e. southern England and western France). It is thought that this hybrid came about when smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) was introduced to Great Britain from North America in ship ballast water. This introduced species is thought to have crossed with the native small cordgrass (Spartina maritima), resulting in the appearance of the sterile hybrid known as Townsend's cordgrass (Spartina x townsendii).

Naturalised Distribution

Locally naturalised in some coastal districts of south-eastern Australia (i.e. in Victoria and south-eastern South Australia).

Also naturalised in western Europe, north-western USA (i.e. Washington) and New Zealand.

Notes

Townsend's cordgrass (Spartina x townsendii) is regarded as significant environmental weed in Victoria, and is listed as a priority environmental weed in at least one Natural Resource Management region in this state.