Dichanthelium dichotomum subsp. mattamuskeetense

Plants very similar to subsp. microcarpon. Fall phase sparingly branched, blades not as greatly reduced as in subsp. microcarpon. Sheaths and blades, particularly those of the lower leaves, more or less densely velvety pubescent. 2n = unknown.

Dichanthelium dichotomum subsp. mattamuskeetense grows in low, moist, often sandy or peaty, ground and bogs. A relatively uncommon subspecies, it grows on the Atlantic coastal plain from Massachusetts to Florida.

Perennial herb, tufted 30 cm - 1 m tall Inflorescence: a terminal, branched arrangement of spikelets (panicle). Primary panicles atop the culms, dense, 5 - 12 cm long, long-exserted, wiry-branched. Secondary panicles (when present) atop the branches. Fruit: a caryopsis, indehiscent, enclosed within the persistent lemma and palea. Culm: upright or with knee-like bends, 30 cm - 1 m long, slender, round in cross-section, hollow. Nodes bearded with hairs pointing down. Fall phase sparingly branched, producing reduced leaf blades and secondary panicles. Spikelets: 1.5 - 2 mm long, ellipsoid to reverse egg-shaped, prominently veined. Basal leaves: in a rosette. Blades shortly egg-shaped to lance-shaped, distinct from stem blades. Stem leaves: four to seven, alternate, two-ranked. Sheaths usually shorter than internodes, more or less densely velvety hairy, occasionally white-spotted between veins, fringed with short hairs. Ligules about 0.5 mm long, composed of hairs. Blades thin, spreading to reflexed, distinctly longer and narrower than basal leaves, 5 - 14 cm long, 5 - 14 mm wide, lance-shaped, parallel-veined, more or less densely velvety hairy, fringed with bumpy-based hairs basally. Glumes:: Lower glumes usually less than one-fourth as long as spikelets, blunt to pointed. Upper glumes usually shorter than lower lemmas, rounded to pointed at the apex. Lemmas:: Lower lemmas similar to upper glumes. Upper lemmas longitudinally lined, shiny, with rolled-up margins above. Paleas:: Lower paleas shorter than lower lemmas, thin. Upper paleas longitudinally lined. Florets:: Lower florets sterile. Upper florets bisexual, stalkless, about 1.5 mm long and 0.7 mm wide, ellipsoid with a nearly pointed apex, plump. Anthers three. Stigmas red.

Similar species: No information at this time.

Flowering: May to September

Habitat and ecology: No information at this time.

Occurence in the Chicago region: native

Etymology: Dichanthelium comes from the Greek words di, meaning twice, and anth, meaning flowering, referring to plants that may have two flowering periods. Dichotomum means "forking in pairs." Mattamuskeetense means "of Mattamuskeet Lake" (in North Carolina).

Author: The Morton Arboretum

From Flora of Indiana (1940) by Charles C. Deam

Our only specimens were found in 1935 by Ralph M. Kriebel in the northeastern corner of section 116 of Pleasant Run Township, Lawrence County. They were found in a shallow drainage ditch near Little Salt Creek bridge between Heltonville and Bartlettsville where they were associated with Panicum clandestinum. The determination was made by Agnes Chase. Since this was written Kriebel found another colony near Huron, about 20 miles distant.

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Indiana Coefficient of Conservatism: C = 5

Wetland Indicator Status: FAC