Arthraxon hispidus
hairy jointgrass, joint-head, small carp grass, small carpetgrass
0.5-1(2) m, weak, often decumbent and rooting at the lower nodes;
nodes hispid.
cauline;
sheaths usually shorter than the internodes;
ligules 0.4-3.5 mm, ciliate;
lower blades 1-7.5 cm long, 4-20 mm wide, cordate-clasping, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, flat, margins ciliate (sometimes sparingly so), surfaces usually glabrous, abaxial surface rarely hispidulous;
upper blades greatly reduced.
1.3-7 cm, flabellate or contracted, with 12-20 rames;
rames 1-6(11) cm.
absent or to 2 mm.
spikelets: glumes 3-5.5 mm, lanceolate;
lower glumes several-veined;
upper glumes 1- or 3-veined;
awns 0.3-9 mm, included or exserted, usually twisted below, sometimes geniculate at midlength;
anthers usually 2, 0.5-0.7 mm.
spikelets absent.
= 36.
Arthraxon hispidus
Arthraxon hispidus is native to Asia, but is naturalized and spreading along roadsides, shores, ditches and in low woods and fields of the eastern United States. It is also naturalized in Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. Plants in the Flora region belong to A. hispidus (Thunb.) Makino var. hispidus, the most widespread and variable of the four varieties. Arthraxon castratus (Griff.) V. Naray. ex Bor reported from Puerto Rico, differs from A. hispidus in having pilose lemma margins, a palea in its second floret, and three anthers.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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