Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for American Beakgrass - Diarrhena americana   Beauvois
Members of Poaceae:
Only member of Diarrhena in NC.
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Section 5 » Order Cyperales » Family Poaceae
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AuthorBeauvois
DistributionSouthern Mountains only. Three populations have been found in Graham County (specimens at NCU); also reported from Jackson County (Brown Mountain/Hench Knob) (NCNHP database).

MD to IN and MO, south to northwestern GA, northeastern AL, and southeastern OK.
AbundanceVery rare. This species is clonal. It is a State Threatened species.
HabitatRich, north-facing montane slopes, above creeks; typically over calcareous rock material.
PhenologyFlowering and fruiting July-September.
IdentificationThese plants grow 2-4 feet tall, with long and broad leaves (7-20 mm wide). The inflorescence is elongate, composed of erect to ascending branches with a few to several spikelets per branch. The fruits (technically, caryopses in grasses) are ovate and have a blunt beak -- very distinct! With age, the inflorescence may arch over.
Taxonomic CommentsNone

Other Common Name(s)American Beakgrain
State RankS1
Global RankG4G5
State StatusT
US Status
USACE-agcp
USACE-emp
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