Description

A perennial, Panicoid grass to 3.5 meters tall. Nodes and internodes glabrous; the internodes filled with a spongy aerenchyma. Blades 15-33 cm long, 12-28 mm wide. Ligules 1-2.5 mm long membranes.

Panicles 10-40 cm long, dense and spikelike, often lobed basally. Spikelets 3.5-5 mm long, dorsally compressed, 2-flowered; the lower floret sterile and lacking a palea; the upper floret bisexual. Lower glume 3-veined, 1/2 the length of the spikelet or shorter. Upper glume 3-7-veined. Lower lemma 3.6-4.6 mm long. Upper lemma 2.5-3.5 mm long.

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Distribution Map

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Image

Hymenachne amplexicaulis - panicle
Photo by Ann Murray, University of Florida/IFAS
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
Used with permission