Saccharum alopecuroides

Saccharum alopecuroides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus: Saccharum
Species:
S. alopecuroides
Binomial name
Saccharum alopecuroides
(L.) Nutt.

Saccharum alopecuroides, commonly known as silver plumegrass, is a species of perennial grass found in North America.[1]

Description

Saccharum alopecuroides is a grass species with purplish culms that reach a height of up to 3 m (10 ft) with blades reaching a length of 75 cm (30 in). Panicles are white to brown in color, reaching a length between 15 and 30 cm (0.5 and 1.0 ft), with nodes and internodes that are commonly glabrous. When grain is produced it is ellipsoid in shape, reddish in color, and 2 to 3.5 mm (0.08 to 0.14 in) in length.[2]

This species possesses fibrous roots.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Within the United States, S. alopecuroides can be found from New Jersey to Florida and westward to Texas through Indiana.[4]

This species can be found in environments such as in fields, along and inside woodlands, and along roadsides.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ Weakley, Alan S. (2020). Flora of the Southeastern United States. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  2. ^ Radford, Albert E.; Ahles, Harry E.; Bell, C. Ritchie (1968). Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0807810873.
  3. ^ "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  4. ^ "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  5. ^ "Erianthus alopecuroides (Silver Plume Grass) - FSUS". fsus.ncbg.unc.edu. Retrieved 2025-10-20.
  6. ^ Weakley, Alan S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. University of North Carolina Herbarium.