Flora of the Southeastern United States

Coleataenia abscissa (Swallen) LeBlond. Common name: Cutthroat Grass. Phenology: Jan-Dec. Habitat: Most frequent in pineland seepage slopes, moist flatwoods, and depressions, where often the dominant herbaceous plant; also occasionally in dry sandy sites. Most often associated with wet Pinus densa savannas and seepage slopes, where it is often the dominant ground-layer species. See Bridges and Orzell (1998) for more information about the community types of this species. Distribution: Endemic to central Florida peninsula, also known from a few sites on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge.

ID notes: There is no question as to the distinctiveness of this species from C. rigidula. The narrow blade base, broad and auricled sheath summit, and minute (0.3 mm) membranous ligule quickly distinguish this species. It is also often a conspicuous and dominant species in wet Pinus densa savannas of c. and s. FL, where the maroon spikelets and fresh green foliage emerging soon after fire contrast sharply with the surrounding scorched ground.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy ⓘ: = FlGr, K4, POWO, Weakley et al (2011); = Coleataenia longifolia (Torr.) Soreng ssp. abscissa (Swallen) Soreng — Soreng (2010); = Panicum abscissum Swallen — HC, K1, NS, WH3; = Panicum rigidulum Bosc ex Nees ssp. abscissum (Swallen) Freckmann & Lelong — FNA25. Basionym: Panicum abscissum Swallen 1940

Links to other floras: = Panicum rigidulum ssp. abscissum - FNA25

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW

Heliophily ⓘ: 9