Disakisperma dubium

Green Sprangletop

Field view of Disakisperma dubium, common name Green Sprangletop.

Note the widely separated branches. The lower branches are quite perpendicular to the stem.

You will usually find the panicles wide open. The example on the left is immature.

The branches are seed-covered almost to their bases. This is a good field mark.

In a hand lens you can see the best field mark: square-tipped lemmas with a notch in the tip.

Many plants will have sparce branches like this.

Micro view shows the flat and slightly notched tips of the lemmas and paleas. The nail-like rachella (bottom left two) holds the next higher floret.

Best roots view I have--will try for a better.

How to Identify Green Sprangletop

  This tall grass nods up and down in the breeze--I guess the clustered seeds make it top heavy! Look for the nodding panicles with rather evenly-spaced branches, seeded to the base. Then use your hand lens to see the square tops of the lemmas, usually with a notch in the middle.

Similar Species

  The common Bearded Sprangletop (Diplachne fusca) looks a lot like Green Sprangletop, but the lemmas have pointed apices instead of square. Not much to go on, I know, but it is my best field mark. In addition, Bearded Sprangletop branches tend to project upwards instead of straight out like most Green Sprangletop. The photo here is of Bearded Sprangletop. It is a micro view of the whole spikelet (left). To the right are the glumes, a pointed lemma, an oval caryopsis (seed) and a tiny anther.