Eastern Gamagrass
Tripsacum dactyloides
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Genus:
- Tripsacum
- Species:
- Tripsacum dactyloides
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Graminoid
- Height:
- 8-12 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun, sep
- Bloom Colors:
- orange, yellow
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Amphipoea erepta, southern cornstalk borer (Diatraea crambidoides), Sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis), Byssus Skipper (Problema byssus)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers fertile soils in native habitats
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 42 to 56 days. In other studies, mechanical injury of caryopsis or covering layers resulted in higher germination. Application of gibberellic acid also enhances germination.
Source: npn.rngr.net