''Zizaniopsis miliacea'' is a species of
flowering plant in the grass family,
Poaceae
Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns an ...
.
[ It is known by the common names giant cutgrass, water millet, and southern wildrice. The name giant cutgrass refers to the plant's large, rough-edged leaves, and the name southern wildrice refers to its resemblance to wildrice (''Zizania'' spp.).][Fox, A. M. and W. T. Haller. (2000)]
Production and survivorship of the functional stolons of giant cutgrass, ''Zizaniopsis miliacea'' (Poaceae).
''Am J Bot'' 87(6) 811-18. It is native to the southeastern United States and it can also be found in central Mexico.[''Zizaniopsis miliacea''.]
Grass Manual Treatment.
This perennial grass grows from rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
s, producing stems up to 4 meters tall and 3.5 centimeters wide. The stems root at nodes that come in contact with the substrate.[ It also spreads via functional ]stolon
In biology, stolons (from Latin '' stolō'', genitive ''stolōnis'' – "branch"), also known as runners, are horizontal connections between organisms. They may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton; typically, animal stolons are external s ...
s (decumbent rooting stems) and vegetative buds that erupt from the stems.[Holmes, W. C. and D. T. Stalling. (1990)]
Studies on the reproductive strategy of ''Zizaniopsis miliacea'' (Michx.) Doell. & Asch. (Gramineae: Tribe Oryzeae).
''Castanea'' 55(2) 113-21. The blue-green leaves are up to a meter long and 3 centimeters wide. The panicle
A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...
s may exceed 80 centimeters long and are usually up to 20 centimeters wide.[
This plant grows in aquatic habitat, such as marshes and riverbanks. It is also common in former rice paddies.][ This grass forms large colonies by spreading via its stolon-like stems and rhizomes.][ It grows in fresh and brackish water,][ tolerating some salt in the water. It is sometimes planted for erosion control in wetlands.][''Zizaniopsis miliacea''.]
USDA NRCS Plant Fact Sheet. Large stands of the plant are sometimes considered to be a nuisance, providing "poor wildlife habitat";[Birch, J. B. and J. L. Cooley. (1982)]
Production and standing crop patterns of giant cutgrass (''Zizaniopsis miliacea'') in a freshwater tidal marsh.
''Oecologia'' 52(2) 230-35. however, it does provide nesting sites, cover, and food for animals.[''Zizaniopsis miliacea''.]
University of Florida, IFAS.
References
External links
USDA Plants ProfileNatureServe
{{Taxonbar, from=Q8072922
Oryzoideae
Taxa named by André Michaux
Taxa named by Paul Friedrich August Ascherson