Family - Poaceae

Stems:

Rhizome.

Node of stem.

Leaves:

Leaves on the culm.

Leaf base.

Arrow shows the small ligule.

Inflorescence:

Rachis of the inflorescence.

Flowers:

Flowering - June - November.

Habitat - Widely cultivated as a lawn and pasture grass, rarely escaped to roadsides, waste places, and open disturbed sites.

Origin - Native to tropical America.

Other information - This species can be found throughout most of Alabama. The plant is commonly planted as a lawn grass and is often mowed before the flowering culms reach maturity. Typically, this grass has two rachises at the apex of the flowering culm that produce a "Y" shape. A third, fourth, and sometimes fifth flowering rachis(es) can also form below the upper two rachises (as in the picture above). The leaves of this species can be conduplicate or flat.

Alabama Distribution:

Photographs taken off Lee Rd 54, Auburn, AL., 6-23-06.

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