ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Chasmanthium latifolium
 
 
 CLASS:    MONOCOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    CYPERALES
 FAMILY:   POACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Chasmanthium latifolium
 AUTHORITY:  (Michx.) Yates
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    SEA OATS
    SPIKE GRASS
    WILD OATS
 
 SYNONOMY:
     Uniola latifolia
 
 PLANTS CODE: CHLA5
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     FOREST
       UPLAND FOREST
         MESIC
         WET-MESIC
       FLOODPLAIN FOREST
         MESIC
       FLATWOODS
     WETLAND
       BORDER OF LAKE
     PRIMARY
       GLADE
         LIMESTONE
       BLUFF
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     CENTRAL
        Upland oak
           White/Black/Northern Red-  Oak
 
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:
     Coastal Plain
        Cretaceous Hills
 
 COUNTIES:
   ALEXANDER       BOND            BROWN           CALHOUN         CHAMPAIGN
   CHRISTIAN       CLARK           CLAY            CLINTON         COLES
   CRAWFORD        CUMBERLAND      EDWARDS         EFFINGHAM       FAYETTE
   FRANKLIN        FULTON          GALLATIN        HAMILTON        HARDIN
   JACKSON         JASPER          JEFFERSON       JERSEY          JOHNSON
   KANKAKEE        LAWRENCE        LOGAN           MACON           MACOUPIN
   MADISON         MARION          MASON           MASSAC          MENARD
   MONROE          MONTGOMERY      PERRY           POPE            PULASKI
   RANDOLPH        RICHLAND        ST. CLAIR       SALINE          SANGAMON
   SHELBY          UNION           WABASH          WASHINGTON      WAYNE
   WHITE           WILLIAMSON
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Monocot
 
 TAXONOMY COMMENTS:
     This is a segregant genus from Uniola. This species was Uniola latifolia.
     Michaux type is from Illinois.
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Adventitious   (rhizomes)
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Parallel
    LEAF SHAPE:     Linear
    INFLORESCENCE:   Panicle
    FLOWER MEROUS:  3
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Hypogynous
    FRUIT:   Grain
 
 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC COMMENTS:
     This genus is unique among most grasses in having the lower 1-5 lemmas
     sterile. This is the only species in Illinois. Spikelets are
     flattened, large (15-40 mm l, to 20 mm wide).
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Native
 
 GEOGRAPHIC COMMENTS:
     Species is common in southern half; rare in northern half of Illinois.
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Common
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Grasslike
     LIFE CYCLE:   Perennial
     REPRODUCTION:   Vegetative
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      7         MONTH END-     10
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Species is distributed in alluvial soils, rich woods or rocky
     slopes along streams, especially in limestone areas.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:   No data entered
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:    No data entered
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:
     SHOWY FLOWERS:  YES      AMOUNT:  Medium
 
 
 HUMAN FACTOR COMMENTS:
     The persistent, large spikelets make this an appealing plant for
     winter bouquets.
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:   No data entered
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:    No data entered
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Mohlenbrock, R. H.  1967-continuing.  The illustrated flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Chasmanthium latifolium
 
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 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015