Sporobolus junceus (Michx.) Kunth, piney woods dropseed 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season , perennial bunch grass. 
Height: 2 to 3 feet. 
Leaf blade: Primarily basal; less than 1/6 inch wide; 8 to 15 
inches long; distinctive blue green; a few hairs at base; 
upper blade rolls inward, resembling a long pine needle. 
Leaf sheath: Rounded; longer than internodes. 
Seedhead: Open panicle bronze to purple, 4 to 6 inches long; 
branches in regular whorls around stem; 1 to 3 seedstalks 
produced from each bunch. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Grows during late winter and spring. Vegetative growth is gen- 
erally completed when seedheads appear in late April and May. 
Grows mostly in shaded areas. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Throughout Coastal Plain from Virginia to east Texas. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Adapted to fairly well drained sandy loam soils. Seldom grows 
on wet or flooded sites. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Pineywoods dropseed is grazed mostly by livestock and deer 
during spring. 
Studies in central Louisiana show that this grass makes up 
only 1 percent of plant composition and provides only 3 to 5 per- 
cent of livestock diet on well-managed ranges. It increases, how- 
ever, when more palatable associated grasses are grazed out. An 
abundance of this grass indicates a deteriorating range. It is not 
easily damaged by fire. 
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