Leptochloa dubia (H. B. K.) Nees, green sprangletop 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season, short-lived, perennial bunch grass. 
Height: 1 to 3 feet. 
Leaf blade: 6 to 18 inches long; usually flat; sometimes 
folded. 
Leaf sheath: Sometimes longer than inter nodes; flattened; 
often purplish. 
Ligule: Hairy. 
Seedhead: Spreading, open, nodding panicle 4 to 12 inches 
long, consisting of 5 to 20 slender, well separated 
branches 2 to 5 inches long; each spikelet 5- to 8-flowered. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Growth starts about April. If moisture is scarce, may become 
semidormant in summer and make new growth after fall rains. 
Becomes dormant in late fall. May produce two seed crops — one 
in spring and one in fall. Seedhead turns pale and droops at ma- 
turity. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Best adapted to deep sandy soils in Florida and to rocky hills 
and canyons in the rest of range. Seldom found on deep clay or 
deep sandy soils in western part of range. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Green sprangletop is grazed readily by all livestock, especially 
when green and succulent. During dormant season, it furnishes 
good quality forage but should be supplemented with a protein 
concentrate. It is used in range seeding mixtures. 
When this grass is a key management species, no more than 50 
percent of current growth by weight should be removed at any 
season. Summer and fall grazing deferments of at least 90 days 
improve vigor, increase seed production, and provide forage for 
winter use. 
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