Family: Poaceae
Author: (Sw.) Desv.
Bibliography: Nouv. Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris 2: 189 (1810)
Year: 1810
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Eustachys
Vegetable: False
Observations: SE. Pennsylvania to Colombia, Caribbean, Bolivia to Uruguay
Description
Pinewoods finger grass, scientifically known as Eustachys petraea, is a notable species within the Poaceae family. Originally described by Swedish botanist Olof Swartz and later classified by Desvaux, this species has a rich botanical heritage that dates back to its first documented description in “Nouvelles Bulletin de Sciences de la Société Philomathique de Paris” in the year 1810.
Characterized by its adaptability to diverse habitats, Pinewoods finger grass thrives across a wide geographical range. It is found from the southeastern regions of Pennsylvania extending down through Colombia in South America, making notable appearances in the Caribbean. Its southern distribution branches across Bolivia and reaches as far south as Uruguay.
The grass displays an intricate morphology typical of the Poaceae family, featuring slender, finger-like spikes that give rise to its common name. Adapted to pinewood ecosystems, Eustachys petraea plays a vital role in its natural habitat, contributing to the ecological balance and offering a food source for a variety of fauna.
Pinewoods finger grass is also significant in ecological studies and conservation efforts. Its presence across such varied climates and terrains provides insight into the adaptability and resilience of grass species to changing environmental conditions.
Understanding the distribution and characteristics of Eustachys petraea is essential for botanists and ecologists alike, especially in studying the dynamics of grassland ecosystems and their responses to climatic shifts.
Common Names
Eng: pinewoods fingergrass, pinewoods finger grass, west indian grass
En: Pinewoods finger grass, Pinewoods fingergrass, West Indian grass
Synonyms
- Aira complanata (Steud.)
- Schultesia petraea ((Sw.) Spreng.)
- Chloris dusenii (Ekman)
- Aira aegilopsoides (Walter)
- Agrostis complanata (Aiton)
- Chloris swartzii (Müll.Hal.)
- Chloris petraea (Sw.)
- Chloris swartziana (Döll)
- Chloris septentrionalis (Müll.Hal.)
- Chloroides petraeum (Fisch.)
Distribution
- Alabama (native)
- Argentina Northeast (native)
- Bahamas (native)
- Belize (native)
- Bermuda (native)
- Bolivia (native)
- Brazil South (native)
- Cayman Is. (native)
- Colombia (native)
- Costa Rica (native)
- Cuba (native)
- Dominican Republic (native)
- Florida (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Haiti (native)
- Honduras (native)
- Jamaica (native)
- Leeward Is. (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Mexico Gulf (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Southeast (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Nicaragua (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- Panamá (native)
- Paraguay (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Puerto Rico (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- Texas (native)
- Trinidad-Tobago (native)
- Turks-Caicos Is. (native)
- Uruguay (native)
- Windward Is. (native)
- Caroline Is. (introduced)
- Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
- Eritrea (introduced)
- Gilbert Is. (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Line Is. (introduced)
- Marianas (introduced)
- Marshall Is. (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Habit
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Forest & Kim Starr (cc-by)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Forest & Kim Starr (cc-by)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5289825)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1107464-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Eustachys petraea (Sw.) Desv.)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Graminoid