Salt grass

Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene (Poaceae) is a extrem salt-tolerant grass that growths in the former Texcoco Lake, near Mexico city. This species is able to grow under ECe of >150 dS m-1 (most plant only can only tolerate about 4 dS m-1). It can also growth under waterlogging-conditions.

The most impressive characteristics could be its adaptations to contribute to a hummock-building process that permits removal of salts, providing a favorable strip for the rooting of extended rhizomes.

Thanks to the colonization of Distichlis spicata in the Texcoco basin, the dust storms that affected the northern part of Mexico City have been reduced.