About 2-6 inches in height. Spreading and forming large, open or dense patches.
Growth Rate:
Fast to moderate.
Range:
Southeastern United States west to Texas and south to Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland; West Indies, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Old World.
Habitats:
Moist forests.
Soils:
Moist to wet, well-drained to moderately well-drained sandy, limestone, or organic soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Light shade to moderate shade.
Flower Color:
White.
Flower Characteristics:
Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season:
All year.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous caryopsis.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Larval host for Carolina satyr (Hermeuptychia sosbius) butterflies.
Gann, G.D., M.E. Abdo, J.W. Gann, G.D. Gann, Sr., S.W.
Woodmansee, K.A. Bradley, E. Verdon and K.N. Hines. 2005-2008. Natives For Your Neighborhood. http://www.regionalconservation.org.
The Institute for Regional Conservation, Miami.