Xyris platylepis

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Common names: tall yelloweyed grass

Xyris platylepis
Xyris platylepis AFP.jpg
Photo by Betty Wargo hosted at Atlas of Florida Plants
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Liliopsida - Moncots
Order: Commelinales
Family: Xyridaceae
Genus: Xyris
Species: X. platylepis
Binomial name
Xyris platylepis
Kunth
XYRI PLAT DIST.JPG
Natural range of Xyris platylepis from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Taxonomic Notes

Synonyms: none

Varieties: none

Description

X. platylepis is a native perennial forb that is a member of the Xyridaceae family.[1] Leaves are linear, 20-40 cm long and 5-10 mm wide, mostly smooth. Outermost leaves are scale-like, and quickly turn to a dull brown color. Spike is broadly elliptic or oblong, with closely imbricate bracts. Seeds are ellipsoidal approximately 0.5 mm long.[2]

Distribution

The native distribution of X. platylepis consists of the Southeast United States, ranging from eastern Texas to southern Virginia. It has been introduced to Hawaii's main island.[1]

Ecology

Habitat

X. platylepis can be found in savannahs, sandhill seeps, and ditches as human disturbed habitats throughout its distribution.[3] This includes moist to wet sands as well as sandy peats of pineland pond margins, bogs and marshes. [2] X. platylepis has also been observed in a range of habitats including wet loamy sand between pine woods and cypress-gum swamps, moist sand on grassy roadsides, moist sandy loam, wet peat, and sphagnous bog.[4] Preferred habitat for X. platyepis is seepage-fed habitats with herbaceous seepage slopes with mesic or wet flatwoods and prairies or cypress domes that include Sphagnum mosses.[5]

Phenology

Flowering time ranges from August until November in the season.[4]

Fire ecology

Populations of Xyris platylepis have been known to persist through repeated annual burning.[6]

Conservation, cultivation, and restoration

Cultural use

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 USDA Plants Database URL: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=XYPL
  2. 2.0 2.1 Kral, R. (1960). "The genus Xyris in Florida." Rhodora 62(743): 295-319.
  3. Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: May 2018. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Cecil R. Slaughter, Robert K. Godfrey, Rodie White, Robert L. Lazor, R. Kral, Chas. C. Deam, R. E. Perdue, Jr., O. Lakela, and Richard S. Mitchell. States and Counties: Florida: Wakulla, Franklin, Gadsden, Volusia, Suwannee, Levy, Baker, Leon, Liberty, Orange, Highlands, Brevard, De Soto, Hillsborough, and Manatee. Alabama: Lowndes. Georgia: Grady.
  5. Observation by Edwin Bridges, Highlands County Fl., August 3, 2015, posted to Florida Flora and Ecosystematics Facebook Group.
  6. Platt, W.J., R. Carter, G. Nelson, W. Baker, S. Hermann, J. Kane, L. Anderson, M. Smith, K. Robertson. 2021. Unpublished species list of Wade Tract old-growth longleaf pine savanna, Thomasville, Georgia.