Triplasis americana
Plants perennial; cespitose. Culms 30-80 cm, usually erect; nodes and internodes appressed pubescent. Sheaths glabrous or pilose, margins ciliate; ligules to 2 mm, membranous, ciliate; blades to 20 cm long, usually less than 2 mm wide, filiform, scabrous adaxially. Panicles 1-5 cm long, 1-3 cm wide, occasionally reduced to a raceme. Spikelets 9-12 mm, with 2-5 florets. Glumes subequal, 3.4-4.5 mm, acuminate; lemmas 4-8 mm, lobes 4.5-8 mm, tapering to the acute apices; awns 8-11 mm, divergent; paleas 2-3 mm, keels ciliate; anthers 1.5-2 mm, yellow. Caryopses 1.5-2.5 mm, ovoid, tan. 2n = unknown.
Distribution
Ga., La., Ala., N.C., S.C., Miss., Fla.
Discussion
Triplasis americana is endemic to the southeastern United States. It grows on sandy soils in prairies and woods, being less common in maritime dunes than Triplasis purpurea.
Selected References
None.