Erianthus coarctatus

Erianthus coarctatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Panicoideae
Genus:	Erianthus
Species:	E. coarctatus
Binomial name
Erianthus coarctatus Fernald

Erianthus coarctatus, the compressed plumegrass or brown plume grass, is a species of perennial grass found in North America. ^[1]

Description

Erianthus coarctatus can reach 1–1.5 metres (3 ft 3 in – 4 ft 11 in) in height, with blades up to 40 centimetres (16 in) in length and 1 centimeters in width. The blades are scaberulous with glabrous sheaths. When grain is produced, it is ellipsoid in shape, reddish in color, and reaches a length of 2–3.5 millimetres (0.08–0.14 in). ^{[2] [3]}

Distribution and habitat

Within North America E. coarctatus's range stretches from Delaware to Florida and westward to Texas. ^{[1] [4]}

It can be found in mesic environments such as marshes, swamps, and depression ponds. ^{[4] [5]} E. coarctatus is often observed in habitats that experience frequent fire. ^[6]

References

1. Weakley, Alan S. (2015). Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
2. Radford, Albert E.; Ahles, Harry E.; Bell, C. Ritchie (21 December 1968). Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN   978-0807810873.
3. Fernald Rhodora 45: 246 (1943)
4. "Erianthus coarctatus (Brown Plume Grass) - FSUS". fsus.ncbg.unc.edu. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
5. "Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora | Erianthus coarctatus Fernald". vaplantatlas.org. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
6. Ostertag, T. E. and K. M. Robertson (2007). A comparison of native versus old-field vegetation in upland pinelands managed with frequent fire, south Georgia, USA. Proceedings of the 23rd Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference: Fire in Grassland and Shrubland Ecosystems, Tallahassee, Tall Timbers Research Station.