Dichanthelium sect. Sphaerocarpa

Plants cespitose, with caudices. Basal rosettes well-differentiated; blades large, ovate-lanceolate. Culms 15-95 cm, usually nearly erect, sometimes spreading to ascending, glabrous or almost glabrous, slightly fleshy or thickened; fall culms with sparse branching. Cauline leaves 3-7, glabrous or almost glabrous throughout; ligules almost obsolete, usually of hairs shorter than 0.8 mm, sometimes with a minute membranous base; blades firm, thick, margins cartilaginous, bases cordate, ciliate. Spikelets 1-1.8 mm, spherical to broadly obovoid, puberulent or some¬times glabrous. Upper florets blunt or minutely umbonate.

Discussion

Dichanthelium sect. Sphaerocarpa extends from the southeastern United States through Central America and Cuba to northern South America. Pairs of species often grow together, with infrequent apparent hybridization.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Dichanthelium erectifolium, Dichanthelium polyanthes, Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon