Spartina densiflora Brong. is a typical grass in salt marshes of the Patos lagoon estuary, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The species shows morphological adaptations in relation to salinity, flooding and, anaerobic soils, characteristic for this stressful environment. The principal xerophytic and halophytic adaptations observed in this species are lenghwise curling of the leaves with stomates protected by papilla; increased lignification in the leaves, rhyzomes, roots and salt glands spread. The presence of intercellular spaces in the leaves, rhyzomes and roots is an adaptation that permits the plants survival in anaerobic soils.
Spartina densiflora; anatomy; anaerobiosis; halophyte; xerophyte