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Limnodea

Limnodea, with the common name Ozark grass, is a genus of North American plants in the grass family. The type species is Greenia arkansana Nutt..

Last revised
Jun 17, 2026
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Ozark grass
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Supertribe: Poodae
Tribe: Poeae
Subtribe: Agrostidinae
Genus: Limnodea
L.H.Dewey
Species:
L. arkanasana
Binomial name
Limnodea arkanasana
Synonyms1
  • Greenia Nutt. 1837, illegitimate homonym not S. Wallman 1791
  • Sclerachne Torr. ex Trin. 1841, illegitimate homonym not R. Br. 1838
  • Thurberia Benth. 1881, illegitimate homonym not A. Gray 1854
  • Greenia arkansana Nutt.
  • Limnas arkansana (Nutt.) Trin. ex Steud.
  • Sclerachne arkansana (Nutt.) Torr. ex Trin.
  • Thurberia arkansana (Nutt.) Benth. ex Vasey
  • Cinna arkansana (Nutt.) G.C.Tucker
  • Sclerachne pilosa Trin.
  • Limnas pilosa (Trin.) Steud.
  • Muhlenbergia hirtula Steud.
  • Stipa demissa Steud.
  • Thurberia pilosa (Trin.) Vasey
  • Limnodea arkansana var. pilosa (Trin.) Scribn.

Limnodea, with the common name Ozark grass,2 is a genus of North American plants in the grass family.3456 The type species is Greenia arkansana Nutt..37

The only known species of the annual bunchgrass is Limnodea arkansana.

Distribution

Limnodea arkansana is native to northeastern Mexico in Coahuila and Tamaulipas states; and to the South-Central/Midwestern and Southeastern United States, in Arkansas (including the Ozarks), Oklahoma, East Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and the Florida Panhandle.1891011

It grows in dry and usually sandy soils, in prairie, open woodland, and river bank habitats; and in disturbed areas. Along the Gulf Coast, it is found on upper beaches where shells accumulate, and on maritime shell mounds and middens.

References

References

  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. US Department of Agriculture plant profile, Limnodea arkansana (Nutt.) L.H. Dewey, Ozark grass
  3. Nuttall, Thomas. 1835. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, new series 5(6[1]): 142–143 generic description in Latin, specific description and commentary in English
  4. Dewey, Lyster Hoxie. 1894. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 2(3): 518 in English
  5. Bentham, George. 1881. Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany 19: 58 in English
  6. Grassbase - The World Online Grass Flora
  7. International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Melbourne Code) see § 7.3
  8. Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map
  9. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
  10. Alabama Plant Atlas
  11. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas
External links