Bushy broom grass
The tall, bushy beardgrass is a native grass of Florida. This perennial is frequent in moist areas, marshes, and ditches throughout the state; but also may be found in low flatwoods. View the herbarium specimen image from the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects.
Bushy beardgrass typically grows 3 to 5 feet tall. The single stem has regularly spaced leaf nodes. Bushy beardgrass leaves are very narrow and somewhat long. Each leaf has a long leaf sheath. The sheath is rigid and tightly wraps around the stem. The inflorescence of bushy beardgrass is a dense cluster of brachts and spikelets, growing from the top part of the stem. The inflorescence is somewhat oblong. The spikelets have many long hairs, including an especially long hair that grows from the tip of each spikelet. As the inflorescence matures, it becomes more and more feathery and bushy-looking. Bushy beardgrass has a single main stem with regular leaf nodes. Its narrow leaves are attached to long sheaths that wrap around the stem. The inflorescence at the top of the stem appears feathery because of its many long-haired spikelets and flowers.
