Anthaenantia villosa (Michx.) P. Beauv.

Green Silkyscale

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Green Silkyscale is a native herbaceous perennial in the grass family (Poaceae). It can be found in the southern third of Alabama. Green Silkyscale occurs in sandy Longleaf pine forests, in pine flatwoods, in turkey oak sand hills, and in open mixed pine/hardwood forests. It is a perennial with a short knotty rhizome. The stems are erect, 1-3 feet in height, and unbranched. The leaves are primarily basal and on the lower portion of the stem. They are flat, linear in outline, glabrous or pubescent, with papillose-based hairs along the margins. The junction of the leaf sheath and the blade is evident. Flowers are produced in erect panicles. The spikelets are obovoid in outline and densely pubescent with appressed or spready whitish hairs. The fruit is a grain. Purple Silkyscale (Anthaenantia rufa (Elliott) Schult.) is similar. It usually occurs on wetter sites, the junction of the leaf sheath and blade is not evident, the leaf blade has small teeth along its margin, and the hairs on the fruit are purplish.—A. Diamond

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Native

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