Florida Orangegrass

Description

Perennial grass with flowering stalks usually up to 3 feet (1 meter) tall, rising in a row from underground stems (rhizomes). Basal leaves 2 - 15 inches (39 cm) long and - inch (0.5 cm) wide, bright green on both surfaces, with roughly hairy veins. Stem leaves few, scattered, strongly inrolled along edges, shorter than basal leaves. Flowers (spikelets) in a dense, one-sided, comb-like spike that curls and spirals as it dries. Second glume of the spikelet (see drawing) with a slender, pointed bristle (awn); if a row of glands occurs on the second glume, it is low and inconspicuous; these glands are usually absent.