Grasses (Family Poaceae) in the Christopher B. Smith Preserve

Family Poaceae Characteristics: Members of this plant family are monocotyledonous, flowering plants. A monocot seed has only one cotyledon (seed leaf). Grasses have hollow stems, plugged at intervals with solid nodes that bear leaves. Leaves have veins that are parallel. Grass flowers are usually arranged in spikelets; each spikelet has one or more florets (small flowers).

Interactions in the Smith Preserve: Within the Smith Preserve, grasses are extremely important. Their root system holds particles of sand and other sediments, preventing erosion. The leaves and other plant tissues provide food and energy for a variety of organisms, and grasses serve as shelter for birds, lizards, snakes, rabbits, insects and other creatures. There are many different species of grasses in the Preserve. The 16 species of grasses that have been identified in the Preserve are listed below. Click on the species name to learn more about each one.

Species Name	Common Name
Andropogon glomeratus pumillus	Bushy Bluestem
Andropogon virginicus	Broomsedge Bluestem
Aristida stricta beyrichiana	Wiregrass
Cenchrus gracillimus	Slender Sandsbur
Cynodon dactylon	Bermudagrass
Dactyloctenium aegyptium	Egyptian Grass / Durban Crowfootgrass
Eragrostis elliotti	Elliott's Lovegrass
Eragrostis spectabilis	Purple Lovegrass
Eremochloa ophiurides	Centipedegrass
Muhlenbergia capillaris	Muhly Grass
Panicum repens	Torpedo Grass
Paspalum setaceum	Thin Paspalum Grass
Rhynchelytrum repens	Natal Grass
Setaria sp.	Bristlegrass / Foxtail
Spartina bakeri	Sand Cordgrass / Bunch Grass
Tripsacum dactyloides	Fakahatchee Grass / Eastern Gamagrass

 

© Photographs and text by Susan Leach Snyder (Conservancy of Southwest Florida Volunteer), unless otherwise credited above.

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