Distichlis Raf.

• Authority

  Britton, Nathaniel L. & Millspaugh, Charles F. 1920. The Bahama Flora.

• Family

  Poaceae

• Scientific Name

  Distichlis Raf.

• Description

  Genus Description - Dioecious grasses, with rigid culms creeping or decumbent at the base, flat or convolute leaves and spike-like paniculate inflorescence. Spikelets flattened, more numerous on the staminate plants than on the pistillate, 6-16-flowered; rachilla continuous in the staminate spikelets, articulated in the pistillate. Two lower scales empty, narrow, keeled, acute, shorter than the flowering ones; flowering scales broader, many-nerved, acute, rigid; palets 2-keeled. Stamens 3. Styles thickened at the base, rather long, distinct. Stigmas longplumose. Grain free, enclosed in the scale and palet. [Greek, signifying tworanked, probably in reference to the spikelets.] Four known species, natives of America, inhabiting the seaeoast or alkaline soil; one of them is also found in Australia. Type species: Uniola spicata L.