. Common plants of longleaf pine-bluestem range. Plant ecology; Grasses; Forage plants. FLORIDA PASPALUM Paspalum floridanum Michx. Florida paspalum is among the most robust grass- es on longleaf pine-bluestem range. It averages about 3 feet tall, but may reach 6 feet or more. Leaves, which are mostly basal, ascend stiffly. Blades are up to 20 inches long and 3/8 inch wide. The dark green foliage is usually densely hairy, but occasional specimens are almost hairless. Each stalk has two to five thick racemes, each about 3 inches long. This grass thrives on disturbed sites such as fire- lines, r
. Common plants of longleaf pine-bluestem range. Plant ecology; Grasses; Forage plants. FLORIDA PASPALUM Paspalum floridanum Michx. Florida paspalum is among the most robust grass- es on longleaf pine-bluestem range. It averages about 3 feet tall, but may reach 6 feet or more. Leaves, which are mostly basal, ascend stiffly. Blades are up to 20 inches long and 3/8 inch wide. The dark green foliage is usually densely hairy, but occasional specimens are almost hairless. Each stalk has two to five thick racemes, each about 3 inches long. This grass thrives on disturbed sites such as fire- lines, road ditches, and stump holes. On undis- turbed range, it prefers moist, well-drained soils, but also grows on dry, sandy sites and poorly drained flats. Under light competition, plants spread by stout, scaly rhizomes to form large, loose bunches; in dense bluestem stands clumps are small. Florida paspalum is readily distinguishable from other paspalums on longleaf pine ranges by its robust habit, large spikelets, and long, broad leaves. Until inflorescences appear in early summer, the species may be confused with big bluestem. There- after, and where old seedstalks persist, Florida paspalum can be distinguished by conspicuously zigzag rachises of the shattered racemes. Vegeta- tive differences are described under big bluestem. The young leaves are palatable and nutritious. As plants mature, the foliage becomes tough and less palatable. The grain, which is among the larg- est in southern range grasses, is eaten by quail, doves, and turkey. Range: Texas to Florida, north to Missouri and Maryland. Perennial. Culms 1-2 m. tall, solitary or sparse from robust, scaly rhizomes; sheaths keeled, overlapping below, glabrous to villous, sometimes papillose; ligule a firm brown membrane 2-3 mm. long; blades 15-50 cm. long, 4-10 mm. wide, usually villous on the upper surface near the base, ascending, firm, flat or folded, the upper ones reduced in size; inflorescence of two to five racemes
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, booksubjectforageplants, booksubjectgrasses
