Distichlis spicata
Taxonomy
General Classification Information:
Distichlis spicata is the official Latin name
for what is commonly referred to as saltgrass, spike
grass or alkali grass [10, 12].
The name has Greek origins, with Distichlis from
the Greek for "two-ranked" (referring to
the forked arrangement of the plant's blades) and spicata referring
to the spiked appearance of the plant's flowers.
According to the USDA, spicata remains today
the single identified species in the genus Distichlis - numerous
attempts have been made over the years to identify other species and
sub-species, but all of these have been eventually rejected. Various
authors will still refer to several of the more common proposed variations
including Distichlis spicata spicata and Distichlis stricta quite
frequently. On this site, the author, following what appears to be
current scientific convention as indicated by the official USDA reports,
treats Distichlis spicata as the only plant in the genus Distichlis.
Classification Hierarchy :
Distichlis spicata is currently classified
as follows, reprinted from the USDA
Plant Profile for Distichlis spicata [13]:
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Kingdom: Plantae (plants)
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Sub-kingdom: Tracheobionata (vascular plants)
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Superdivision: Spermatophyta (seed plants)
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Division: Magnoliophyta (flowering plants)
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Class: Liliopsida
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Subclass: Commelinidae
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Order: Cyperales
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Family: Poaceae (grasses)
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Genus: Distichlis
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Species: Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene