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Spike chasmanthium, Slender woodoats Chasmanthium laxum var. laxum
Poaceae
General Landscape Uses:
Groundcover, borders.
Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description: Leafy grass 3 or more feet tall with flat leaves 20 inches long and less than one half inch wide. Leaves are somewhat drooping and have rough edges. Flat, V-shaped spikelets atop 20 inch long panicles in spring and summer. Sheaths are smooth.
Dimensions: Typically 3 feet in height.
Range:
Eastern United States south to Brevard, Osceola, Highlands, and Manatee counties; disjunct in Lee County where presumed extirpated.
Soils: Moist to wet, moderately well-drained sandy soils, with humus.
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: Moderate shade to light shade.
Flower Color: Greenish white
Flower Characteristics: Slender inflorescence.
Flowering Season: Spring to summer.
Wildlife and Ecology: Larval host plant for Gemmed satyr (Cyllopsis gemma), Clouded skipper (Lerema accius), Byssus skipper (Problema byssus), possible Zabulon skipper (Paones zabulon) and Yehl skipper (Panes yehl).
References: Wunderlin and Hansen (2011), Taylor (2009)
Comments: We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.
Other data on Chasmanthium laxum var. laxum available from:
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
