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Leptochloa virgata (L.) P. Beauv.
Tropical spangletop

Leptochloa virgata

Family: Poaceae

Group: Monocot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Herb

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: Southeastern United States, the West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America.

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

Florida Natural Areas Inventory State Status: Not listed

IRC SOUTH FLORIDA Status: Critically Imperiled

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Native

South Florida History and Distribution: Ranked as critically imperiled in Rare Plants of South Florida (Gann et al. 2002; pp 270-272) based on two occurrences from one conservation area (Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park) and one non-conservation area (Pelican Marsh) in Collier County. It has also been historically collected in Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County Keys. The Pelican Marsh site has been developed but it is possible some plants remain. There are also no recent records from the Fakahatchee (M. Owen, email comm. 2022), but this was collected by George Wilder on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus in 2006 (26153 SWF), and there is a recent report from Miami-Dade County on iNaturalist.

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Not Cultivated

Comments: For images, visit the Plants of Saint Lucia.

Synonyms: L. domingensis.

Other data on Leptochloa virgata available from :

Leptochloa virgata has been found in the following 2 conservation areas :
Occurrence Native Status
Everglades National Park Recorded as Present in Error
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park Possibly Extirpated Possibly Extirpated

Leptochloa virgata has been found in the following 4 counties :
Occurrence Native Status
Collier County Possibly Extirpated Possibly Extirpated
Lee County Native
Miami-Dade County Native
Monroe County (Keys) Presumed Extirpated Presumed Extirpated

Leptochloa virgata has been found in the following 4 habitats :
Depression Marsh
Disturbed Upland
Disturbed Wetland
Sinkhole

All Images:

Leptochloa virgata