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Plant Profile

Florida Gamagrass (Tripsacum floridanum)

This picture shows Florida gamagrass growing at the Fairchild Tropical Garden. Photo Credit: Jennifer Possley
  • Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
  • Legal Status: N/A
  • Family: Poaceae
  • State: FL
  • Nature Serve ID: 134851
  • Lifeform: Graminoid
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987
Description:

Tripsacum floridanum is a smaller relative of the more common T. dactyloides (Eastern Gamagrass), distinguished primarily by slightly wider leaf blades, usually less than one meter (three feet) tall and usually having solitary spikes (Hitchcock 1951). In southern Florida, T. floridanum is listed as being present in low rocky pinelands (Hitchcock 1951) usually in the shallow soil of crevices (Long and Lakela, 1971). It is also known from Cuba and perhaps other Caribbean islands (de Wet et al. 1976). Interestingly, and importantly, the genus Tripsacum is known to hybridize with the genus Zea, which is the genus that corn belongs to. The unique genetic traits in the rare Tripsacum floridanum have already been used to develop a strain of corn that is resistant a type of leaf blight. (de Wet et al. 1976, Dewald et al. 1999)

Where is Florida Gamagrass (Tripsacum floridanum) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Tripsacum floridanum can be found in the shallow soil of rock crevices in low, rocky pinelands of the Miami Rock Ridge (Hitchcock 1951, Long and Lakela 1971, Wunderlin 1998).

Distribution:

Dade, Collier and Monroe counties in southern Florida (Hitchcock 1951, de Wet et al. 1976, Wunderlin 1998). May also be known in Cuba (de Wet et al. 1976).

States & Provinces:

Florida Gamagrass can be found in Florida

Which CPC Partners conserve Florida Gamagrass (Tripsacum floridanum)?

  • Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

    Not Sponsored
    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 02/21/23
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    Tina Stanley
    • 05/11/2023
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    According to a March 2023 extract of the Florida Plant Rescue Database, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden holds 1 accessions of Tripsacum floridanum totalling approximately 50 seeds representing 10 maternal lines.

    • 10/09/2020
      • Genetic Research

    Tripsacum floridanum has been used in genetic studies to help produce disease-resistant strains of crops (Dewald et al. 1999).

    • 10/09/2020
      • Propagation Research

    Fairchild Tropical Gardens is currently propagating this species.

    • 10/09/2020
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    Currently, Fairchild Tropical Gardens has an ex situ collection from several sources.

    • 10/09/2020
      • Seed Collection

    Currently, Fairchild Tropical Gardens has an ex situ collection from several sources.

    Meghan Fellows
    • 01/01/2010

    Threats to Tripsacum floridanum include urbanization, fire suppression and invasion of exotic species.

    Meghan Fellows
    • 01/01/2010

    Approximately 500 individuals are known from 20 sites.

    Meghan Fellows
    • 01/01/2010

    Tripsacum floridanum has been used in genetic studies to help produce disease-resistant strains of crops (Dewald et al. 1999). Fairchild Tropical Gardens is currently propagating this species.

    Meghan Fellows
    • 01/01/2010

    Current management includes prescribed fires and removal of exotic species.

    Meghan Fellows
    • 01/01/2010

    Research needs include further understanding the impact of fire patterns on Tripsacum floridanum and general reproductive biology.

    Meghan Fellows
    • 01/01/2010

    Currently, Fairchild Tropical Gardens has an ex situ collection from several sources.

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Tripsacum floridanum
    Authority Porter ex Vasey
    Family Poaceae
    CPC Number 4345
    ITIS 41288
    USDA TRFL4
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names Florida gama grass | Florida mock gamagrass
    Associated Scientific Names Tripsacum floridanum
    Distribution Dade, Collier and Monroe counties in southern Florida (Hitchcock 1951, de Wet et al. 1976, Wunderlin 1998). May also be known in Cuba (de Wet et al. 1976).
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Florida S2
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    This picture shows Florida gamagrass growing at the Fairchild Tropical Garden. Photo Credit: Jennifer Possley

    This is a closeup of one of the solitary flower spikes growing on this grass. Photo Credit: Jennifer Possley

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