Windmillgrass, Tumble Windmillgrass

Chloris verticillata Nutt.

Poaceae (Grass Family

▲ large cluster of windmillgrass

▲ seedling/young plant

▲▼ individual plants

▲▼ stem bases

▲▼ close-up of flattened stem bases

▲▼ "broom-like" emerging panicles

▲ plants with emerging and expanded panicles

▲▼ plants with expanded panicles

▲▼ expanded panicles

Windmill Grass: 

·         warm-season, simple perennial grass; bunch-type grass, but spreads with tillers (sideshoots)

·         has yellow-green, folded leaves, with flattened stem bases; upright to spreading growth habit; grows from 1-10" tall

·         inflorescence first looks like broom-like digitate panicle, but opens to typical panicle shape; when inflorescences dries, it breaks off from the plant, and tumbles along with the wind (sort of spinning like a windmill?)