Seashore Dropseed

Scientific Name: Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth
Common Name: Seashore Dropseed

Morphological Characteristics:

Habit- native, strongly rhizomatous perennial grass reaching 10-50 cm. tall; flowers May to October and occasionally to December; reproduces by seed and vegetative spreading
Leaves- blades usually rolled inward, distinctly two ranked, 3-10 cm long and 1.5-4 mm broad; sheaths mostly overlapping, glabrous except for a few long hairs on either side of the collar
Inflorescence- contracted panicles, spicate, densely flowered; Spikelets straw-colored, grayish, or purple tinged, glabrous, shining
Fruit- caryopsis

Habitat and Range: Frequent on sandy beaches and at the bases of sand dunes along the coast as well as inland salt marshes.

Conservation Use:

Why collect this plant? Texas Plant Materials Centers have identified this plant as having potential benefits to the following conservation practice standards: 322 Channel Bank Vegetation; 584 Channel Stabilization; 342 Critical Area Planting; 393 Filter Strip; 412 Grassed Waterway; 562 Recreation Area Improvement; 610 Salinity and Sodic Soil Management; and 580 Streambank and Shoreline Protection. Your assistance in collecting this plant helps support the NRCS conservation practice standards which are employed daily to conserve the natural resources of Texas!

Centers Requesting Seed or Vegetative Cuttings:

Other Photos:

Seashore Dropseed

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NRCS Species for 2008 Plant Collections - Seashore Dropseed (PDF; 1.21 MB)