EMILY de CAMP HERBARIUM

COMMON NAME: Salt Marsh Hay
OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Highwater Cordgrass, Salt Meadow Hay
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Spartina patens
FAMILY: Poaceae
COMMUNITY: Tidal Marsh
STATUS: Native
LIFESPAN: Perennial
HEIGHT: 2 to 3 Feet
FLOWERTING TIME: Early July to late September
FRUITING TIME: Late July to late September
DISTRIBUTION: Throughout coastal strip and up large fresh and brackish rivers in New Jersey

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Inflorescence spike 1-3 inches long ~ Leaves enrolled and very narrow ~ Slender rhizomes ~ New growth from last years clums (stems) ~ Lies flat and matted

GENERAL INFORMATION: Spartine is the Greek word for cord and refers to the stout stem of plants in the genus (Spartina).
Salt Marsh Hay flourishes in marshes that irregularly flood with brackish water; thus, it is found on higher ground that Salt Marsh Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Because of its nutritional value, it is an essential part of the salt marsh ecological habitat.

Salt hay farming became a prominent industry in New Jersey during Colonial times because of its multiple uses and its resistance to rot. The industry grew in popularity because salt hay not required little cultivation and it could be harvested twice a year. Farmers cut salt hay using a scythe or a horse-powered mowing machine and let it dry for a week before shipping. Market price in 1900 for salt hay was about $5 per ton, compared to $3 per ton in 1835. By 1955, the market price surged to $16 to $25 per ton, but the industry began to decline. Eventually, many salt-hay farmers went out of business.

The farmers who harvested Salt Marsh Hay had to wear heavy clothing to protect them from mosquitoes and greenhead flies. The heads of horses that pulled the mowing machines had to be covered and horses were also outfitted with enlarged mud boots to keep them from getting stuck in the marshes.

Since the plant will not germinate in the absence of salt, Salt Marsh Hay is used today for erosion control at construction sites, drainage in dry-well construction and septic tanks, bulkhead construction, mulch in gardens and landscaping.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails. This information is presented for educational purposes only.ark. New Jersey, 08752.