Panicumamarum E11. - Bitter Panicum;Beach Panicgrass Figures27, 32; Plate X! Note: Recent taxonomic revision has placed Panicum amarulum Hitchc. and Chase in synonymywith Panicum amancm. Dif'ferences in seed production result from differences in the number of sets of chromosomes;Panicum amuum has six sets hexaploid! and Panicum amuulum has four sets tetraploid!. The form with six sets of chromosomes shouldbe avoidedbecause of low seedset; it is recognizableby being more prostrateand open-growing,and the inflorescenceis narrower and sparsely flowered. Northern populationsof P. amarulumare more erect and clumpy and have probably crossedwith Panicum virgatum L LANT EcologicalFunction/User Applications- sandtrapping and stabilization;food sourceand cover for birds and small mammals. Natural GeographicDistribution/Cold Hardiness- coastaldunes; Connecticut to Florida and Gulf states;tolerates lowest temperaturesthroughout Florida; zones2-7. Optimum Soil Type - well-drained, sandy soils. Resistance to Erosion - good, once established. Potential Growth Rate - rapid densecoverage in two to three growing seasons!. A AILAB NurserySources - liners,two- and four-inchpots; advancenotice of plant quantitiesand/or a growingcontract is necessaryfor the hexaploidform. Natural Sources- cuttings,seeds tetraploid form only!. PLANTIN E Elevation - abovelimit of waveuprush and highestspring tides. Ground Slope- up to 30' to 2!. Depth - top of root-ball four inches below sand surface. 37 Panicum amarum continued! PlantingWindow - March through November south of TampaBay/Cape Canaveral and April throughOctober northward. Density- small plants one and one-half feet O.C., large plants three feet O.C. NAN Watering- when planted, and during the first month unless heavy rainfall occurs. Fertilization- incorporate one teaspoon per plant of a balanced,time-release fertilizer 4- 14-14!when planted. Weeding- removeand control exotics. Pruning- lateralspread improved by clipping. [RelevantLiterature - 6, 18,20, 22, 46, 59, 64, 81, 92] 38 Paspalumvaginatum continued! MAINTENAN Watering- not required in moistsoils, but periodically during the first few weeks in drier soils if rain is lacking. Fertilization- responds well to balancedfertilizers. Weeding- removeand control exotics. Pruning- mowingresults in a low, densemat. [RelevantLiterature - 11, 18, 40] 40 Rhizophoramangle L. - Red Mangrove Figures5, 9; Plate I! PLANT RI EcologicalFunction/User Applications - shoreline protection and sediment stabilization; nurseryhabitat for birdsand marine life; contributionto detrital-basedfood web; aesthetics; water-quality maintenance. NaturalGeographic Distribution/Cold Hardiness - low-energy, coastal wetlands; throughout southernFlorida and tropicsnorth on the Atlantic coastto Poncede Leon Inlet and on the Gulf coastto CedarKey; difficult to establishnorth of Melbourneon the Atlantic coastand north of TampaBay on the Gulf coast,due to freezedamage in colderwinters; zones 4- 7. OptimumSoil Type - mixtureof sandand organics inundated regularly by tides. Resistanceto Erosion - poor for propagulesand small plants; large plants more resistant. Initial useof smoothcordgrass to stabilizeshorelines may encourage establishment of naturally colonizedand broadcastpropagules. PotentialGrowth Rate - shoot-lengthincrease of sixto twelveinches per year in nutrient- richsoils; moderate-nutrient substrates promote branching; low-nutrient substrates promote flower production. IDENT AVAILAB NurserySources - readilyavailable in two-inchpots up to three-galloncontainers; availability decreasesas plant size increases. NaturalSources - transplants rare dueto governmentregulations regarding natural populations;propagules available in early fall floatingor removed from trees!. Vegetative propagation possible, but difficult. PLANTIN E Elevation- just below MHW to summerspring-tide elevations for smallerplants; check localelevation range for naturallyestablished propagules to confirmoptimum elevation range. GroundSlope - up to 30' to 2!, but lessthan 10' to 5! is preferable. 41 Rhisophommangle continued! Depth- insertpropagules two to threeinches into soil surface;for rootedpropagules and large plants, root-ball evenwith soil surface. PlantingWindow - propagulesAugust through November correspondsto natural availability!;nursery plants after the lastfrost of the winter,and no later thanNovember; plantingin the northernmostpart of its rangeis not recommended zone 4!. Density- historically, three feet O.C. or lessfor smallplants legalrequirements will dictate maximumdistance!; denser plantings emulate natural recruitment and may improve overall quality of planting. MAINTENAN E Watering - not required. Fertilization- top growth increasedby light applicationof time-release,nitrogenous fertilizer incorporated when planted. Weeding- remove accumulated drift materialduring the first yearfollowing planting; some sea-grasswrack is desirable. Pruning- doesnot survivesevere pruning; even regular long-term clipping can cause death of plants;see state and local regulationsin GuidelineCategory Descriptions pp. 15-16!. [RelevantLiterature - 10,11, 13, 14, 21, 27, 32-35, 39, 41, 47-54, 57, 58, 62, 65, 66, 74, 76- 78, 80, 85-91, 96] 42 Spurfinaalternigom continued! Watering - not required. Fertilization- respondswell to time-release,nitrogenous fertilizer incorporated when planted. Weeding- removeaccumulated drift material during the first six monthsfollowing planting. Pruning- careful clipping can stimulate vegetative growth and spread of rhizomes;pruning while the plant is in flower can extendthe period of vegetativegrowth into late autumnand early winter; pruning during late winter or early springto removefrost-killed material can stimulatespring growth by reducingthe shadingof new tillers. [RelevantLiterature - 7, 8, 11, 13, 14,26, 27, 28, 31, 39, 45, 47-53,55, 56, 61, 66, 73, 75, 78, 85-91, 96] 44 Spartinapatens Ait.! Muhl. - Marsh-hay;Saltmeadow Cordgrass Figures26, 31; Plate IX! LAN'I EcologicalFunction/User Applications - shoreline protection and soil stabilization;forage. NaturalGeographic Distribution/Cold Hardiness - coastalhigh-marsh margins and dunes; Canada to Florida and Gulf states, but less common in south Florida; tolerates lowest temperatures throughout Florida; zones 2-7. OptimumSoil Yype - loose,sandy soils; toleratesa wide range of soils exceptvery fine- grained soils such as clay, mud and muck!. Resistanceto Erosion - good, once established. PotentialGrowth Rate - moderatelyrapid but tends to clump in wet soils; densecover possible in two growing seasons. PLANT A AILABILI'IV Nurser Sources- two- and four-inch pots. Natural Sources- bare-root, plugs, larger transplants;may be mistakenvegetatively for Spartina spartinae Grin.! Merr. PLANTIN E Elevation- above MHW to highestspring-tide elevation in marshareas; on uplandside of primary dune and in swales between dunes. GroundSlope - up to 15' to 4!. Depth - top of root-ball slightly below soil surface. PlantingWindow - Marchthrough November south of TampaBay/Cape Canaveral and April through October northward. Density- smallplants one foot O.C.,increased spacing with plant sizeup to two andone- half feet O.C. for four-inch plugs. 45 Spartinapattens continued! Watering- whenplanted in dune areasand until plantsare established;not generally required in high-marshareas. Fertilization- in dunes,one teaspoon per plant of a balanced,time-release fertilizer e.g., 14-14-14!,incorporated when planted; in marsh,incorporate one teaspoonper plant of a nitrogenous,time-release fertilizer when planted. Weeding- remove accumulated drift materialduring the first sixmonths following planting in marsh areas; remove and control exotics in dune areas. Pruning- respondswell to clippingor mowing,when done properly. [RelevantLiterature - 2, 6, 11,18, 26, 27, 30, 39, 46, 70-72, 81, 96] 46 Spombolusvirginicus L! Kunth - SeashoreDropseed Figures24, 30, 35; Plate VIII! LANT EcologicalFunction/User Applications - soil stabilization;food sourcefor birds and small mammals. NaturalGeographic Distribution/Cold Hardiness - coastal dunes, high marsh, and transition areas;Virginia to Floridaand Gulf states, and south to Brazil;tolerates lowest temperatures throughout Florida; zones 2-7. ColdHardiness - very good. OptimumSoil Type - moderatelywell-drained, silty sand. Resistanceto Erosion- very good, once established. PotentialGrowth Rate - rapid;dense cover possible in twogrowing seasons provided initial spacingis not greater than two feet O.C.!. PLANT A AIIABIIJTY NurserySources - limited availabilityin two- andfour-inch pots. Natural Sources- bare-root, plugs, seeds; vegetative state may be confusedwith some growth forms of Paspalumvaginatum and Distichlisspicata. Elevation- above MHW; tolerates occasional inundation, but maysuffer with regular inundation. GroundSlope - up to 30' to 2!, but plantswill growon steeperslopes. Depth- root-ballapproximately two inches below soil surface in moistsoil, deeper in dry soil; larger plants slightly deeper. PlantingWindow - March to Novembersouth of TampaBay/Cape Canaveral and April to October northward. 47 Spombolusviq,inicus continued! Density- bare-root six inches O.C., increased spacing for largerplants up to twofeet O.C. for six-inch plugs. Watering- when planted and periodically for thefirst fewweeks in drysoils, unless heavy rainfall occurs;not required in moist soils. Fertilization- incorporate one teaspoon per plant of a time-release,balanced fertilizer, e.g., 14-14-14!in dunesand nitrogenous fertilizer in wet soils.