Eustachys petraea (Sw.) Desv.

Dune Finger Grass; Pinewoods Finger Grass; Rock Finger Grass

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Pinewoods Finger Grass is a native perennial in the Grass family (Poaceae). It can be found in the southern third of Alabama. Pinewoods Finger Grass occurs on roadsides, on dunes, in open sandy woodlands, and in salt or brackish marshes. It is a stoloniferous, clump forming warm season grass from a short rhizome. Culms are erect, 1-3 feet in height, glabrous, with hollow internodes. It often roots at the lower nodes. The leaf sheaths are keeled, strongly compressed, and arranged in two vertical rows. Leaves are flat or conduplicate (folded lengthwise), linear, with entire margins and obtuse apices. Flowers are produced in terminal panicles of 4-7 erect, digitate branches. The lowest lemma in each spikelet is mucronate and dark brown or black in color. It also has a pubescent keel. The fruit is a grain. Pinewoods Finger Grass can easily be grown from seed. It is sometimes planted in habitat restoration projects and to stabilize disturbed sandy areas.—A. Diamond

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Native FACU- (NWPL)

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