T he Bitter End Spartina by Any Other Name When overtaking a vessel, pass to his port when possible and hail the captain on VHF to let him know your intentions. Photo by Amy Thurman
By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill
What we locals call Spartina, just starting to green up. Our beloved editor swears it only starts turning green when spring is nigh. Photo by Amy Thurman
“W hat’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.”
adjusting well to the change. From what I gather neither did a group at a lecture that Professor Hosier was conducting when he let it slip before the change was made official. Professor Hosier said he was met with looks of surprise and disbelief. I can understand the shock! Imagine having to change all the road signs, business names, recipes and everything else called Spartina that runs through the low country! Just as the tiny rhizome roots from this same plant run through the marsh, holding it together. So, for now, I for one, will continue to call it Spartina.
I’m sure you’ll all recognize these classic lines from Romeo and Juliet. A question between Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, their families being enemies. Today we have another name conundrum between science and those of us who call the lowcountry home. “What’s in a name? That which we call Spartina By any other name would smell … like Sporobolus?” Confused yet? If not, you’re ahead of me, and I will do my best to make you so. For the last half of the 20th century Spartina alterniflora has become synonymous with our saltwater marshes. Now however, we have to get used to calling it Sporobolus alterniflora. Spartina, AKA smooth cord grass, gets its name for that very reason, being similar to a type of cord made from Spanish broom (Spartium junceum). It can be found along most of America’s coastline from Texas to New England. And now it has a new name. In 2014, Spartina was reclassified after a taxonomic revision based on the ground-breaking work of Professor Paul Hosier from the Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington. It is now to be known as Sporobolus alterniflora. Just like when Pluto was a planet, then not a planet, new research has placed our beloved Spartina into the Sporobolinae genus. I suppose we shouldn't take it too hard as several other grasses, plants and such have been reclassified as well, due to things like DNA-based phylogenetic studies, and taxonomic research. Sporobolus comes from Greek and means “seed thrower.” Not once have I seen this plant throw its seeds! I guess I’m just not
As always, have a blessed life and safe boating, and I’ll See You On The Water.
Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com 22
Southern Tides Magazine
March 2019
