Appendices & Glossary - Botanical Research Institute of Texas

1280 APPENDIX NINETEEN/NATIVE PLANTS IMPORTANT TO WILDLIFE IN EAST TEXAS
SCIENTIFIC NAME WILDLIFE USE COMMON NAME
Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum *b,s ROSETTE GRASS, SCRIBNER’S
Digitaria cognata subsp. cognata *s WITCH GRASS, FALL
Eragrostis spp. LOVE GRASSES (NATIVE spp.)
Leptochloa spp. SPRANGLETOPS
Panicum capillare *s WITCH GRASS
Panicum hallii var. hallii *s PANIC, HALL’S
Paspalum floridanum *s PASPALUM, FLORIDA
Paspalum plicatulum *s PASPALUM, BROWN-SEED
Paspalum setaceum *s PASPALUM, THIN
Schizachyrium scoparium BLUESTEM, LITTLE
Setaria spp. *s BRISTLE GRASSES; FOXTAIL GRASSES (NATIVE spp.)
Sorghastrum nutans INDIAN GRASS, YELLOW
Sporobolus spp. DROPSEEDS
Tridens flavus PURPLETOP
MARSH PLANTS (INCLUDING WETLAND FORBS AND GRASSES)
Marsh plants have specialized adaptations for living in areas that have standing water for long periods,
but can undergo drought, and where the soil conditions are devoid of oxygen much of the time. These
plants occur in a variety of wetlands: marshes (wetlands dominated by water-adapted herbaceous
plants), edges of swamps (wetlands dominated by water-adapted trees and shrubs), bogs, flats, glades,
sloughs, bayous, backwaters, wet meadows, and beaver ponds.
These areas contain highly diverse distinctive plant communities that, in turn, provide food and
cover for a great variety of wildlife species. Marshes have complex edge zones and vertical and horizontal
strata that intensify their use by wildlife and fish (where there is permanent water). Marsh
plants are disproportionately more diverse than plants in most adjacent upland areas. Many wildlife
species are dependent on marshes, either directly or indirectly, since they reproduce in or near these
areas and/or live and feed there or in adjacent areas.
Underwater portions of many marsh plants support abundant aquatic invertebrates that are important
food of fish and wildlife. Also, they provide excellent foraging areas and spawning grounds for fish.
Some of these plants are very prolific and under some conditions can form dense stands and cover
large areas and thereby crowd out other plants thus decreasing the overall diversity of vegetation and
associated wildlife.
SCIENTIFIC NAME WILDLIFE USE COMMON NAME
Andropogon glomeratus BLUESTEM, BUSHY
Bacopa spp. *s,w WATER-HYSSOPS
Brasenia schreberi *s,w WEN-DOCK, PURPLE
Callitriche heterophylla *s,w WATERWORT, LARGER
Carex spp. *s SEDGES, CARIC
Ceratophyllum demersum *f COONTAIL
Cyperus spp. FLAT SEDGES
Dichanthelium scoparium ROSETTE GRASS, VELVET
Echinochloa spp. *s BARNYARD GRASSES (NATIVE spp.)
Echinodorus spp. BURHEADS
Eleocharis spp. *s,w SPIKE-RUSHES
Heteranthera dubia MUD-PLANTAIN, GRASS-LEAF
Heteranthera limosa MUD-PLANTAIN, BLUE
Justicia americana WATER-WILLOW, AMERICAN
Justicia ovata var. lanceolata WATER-WILLOW, LANCE-LEAVED
Juncus spp. RUSHES
Leersia oryzoides CUT GRASS, RICE