Grasses, Sedges, Cattails, and Allies of Zihuatanejo

ORDER POALES

-Grasses (Family Poaceae)

-Subfamily Chloridoideae

-Tribe Zoysieae

-Subtribe Sporobolinae

-Dropseeds, Cordgrasses, and Sandreeds (Genus Sporobolus)

-Section Pyramidati

-Whorled Dropseed (Sporobolus pyramidatus)

Whorled Dropseed (Sporobolus pyramidatus) is a species of grass in the Poaceae family, commonly found in warm regions of the Americas, including parts of the United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is often found in prairies, savannas, roadsides, and disturbed areas, thriving in well-drained soils. Perennial bunchgrass, forming loose clumps. Height: Typically grows 1 to 3 feet (30–90 cm) tall.

Description

• Sporobolus pyramidatus, commonly known as whorled dropseed, is a perennial or short-lived perennial grass in the grass family (Poaceae).

• It forms small tufts of slender, upright or spreading stems, often growing around 20–60 cm tall.

• The leaves are narrow and grass-like, with flat or slightly folded blades.

• Its flowering stems bear open, pyramid-shaped clusters of tiny spikelets, which may appear greenish or purplish before turning straw-coloured as they mature.

• The seeds are small and dry; the genus name Sporobolus refers to the dispersal of seeds from the mature spikelets.

Range

• Sporobolus pyramidatus occurs in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas and is found in Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region of Guerrero.

• Its distribution extends into parts of the Caribbean and other warm regions.

Habitat

• Commonly grows in open grassland, dry scrub, roadsides, sandy or gravelly ground, and disturbed areas.

• Favours sunny locations and tolerates heat and seasonal dryness.

• Often occurs in sparse vegetation where grasses can establish in exposed soil.