Chasmanthium latifolium (Michx.) H.O. Yates

River Oats

Chasmanthium_latifolium_plant.jpg
STATS

Native
CC = 4
CW = 0
MOC = 72

© DETenaglia

Family - Poaceae/Centotheceae

Stems - No info. yet.

Leaves - No info. yet.

Chasmanthium_latifolium_leaf_base.jpg Leaf base.

© DETenaglia

Chasmanthium_latifolium_ligule.jpg Ligule.

© DETenaglia

Inflorescence - No info. yet.

Chasmanthium_latifolium_inflorescence2.jpg Maturing inflorescence

© SRTurner

Flowers - No info. yet.

Chasmanthium_latifolium_spikelet.jpg

© DETenaglia

Chasmanthium_latifolium_spikelet2.jpg Spikelets, with caryopses visible.

© SRTurner

Flowering - June - October.

Habitat - Alluvial soils, mesic bottoms, moist bluffs, rich woods.

Origin - Native to U.S.

Other info. - This striking grass can be found throughout much of Missouri but is apparently absent from the northwest and extreme southeast corners of the state. This species is probably the easiest of all the grasses to identify because of its drooping inflorescences and compressed spikelets. The spikelets turn a nice golden-brown color in the fall and are excellent for dried flower arrangements. The plant is also sold for cultivation and takes little care once established. It grows well from seed.

Photographs taken at Logan Creek, Reynolds County, MO., 7-7-03 (DETenaglia); also at Shaw Nature Reserve, 10-1-2007 (SRTurner).