Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Southern Watergrass - Luziola fluitans   (Michaux) Terrell & H. Robinson
Members of Poaceae:
Members of Luziola with account distribution info or public map:
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Section 5 » Order Cyperales » Family Poaceae
Author(Michaux) Terrell & H. Robinson
DistributionCoastal Plain and Sandhills. No doubt occurs in more counties than the map shows, but is easily overlooked. Records for Robeson and Perquimans counties are from USDA website, but no vouchers are at SERNEC. Similarly, NCNHP lists Bladen County, bur no voucher has been seen.

Coastal Plain, NC to central FL to eastern TX.
AbundanceUncommon, but can be abundant where found. This is a Significantly Rare species. The NCNHP moved the State Rank from S2 to S1S2 in Fall 2022; however, the distribution seems to still suggest a slightly less rare S2, especially as this is an aquatic species that can be overlooked or failed to be collected by many biologists.
HabitatNatural and artificial lakes, ponds, impoundments, canals through peatlands, slow-moving blackwater rivers.
PhenologyFlowering and fruiting August-October.
IdentificationThe floating leaves, although small, often occur in large numbers and call attention to it, as do the brownish submerged ones that trail off below for up to 3 feet. Leaves are only 5 cm or less long. The inflorescence is tiny, 6-8 mm long, composed of 3-4 florets, and held just at or above the water surface.
Taxonomic CommentsIn some texts treated as Hydrochloa fluitans.

Other Common Name(s)None
State RankS1S2 [S2]
Global RankG5
State Status[SR-P]
US Status
USACE-agcpOBL link
USACE-empOBL link
County Map - click on a county to view source of record.
Photo Gallery
photographercommentsphoto_linkcountyobsType
Eric UngbergNew Hanover County; flooded part of powerline clearing on the US 421 Sand Ridge; 30 July 2022 New HanoverPhoto_natural
B.A. SorrieRichmond County, 2011, W end McKinney Lake. RichmondPhoto_natural
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