Allolepis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allolepis |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Allolepis
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| Species: |
texana
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Allolepis is a group of plants in the grass family. These plants are found in North America. The only known type of plant in this group is called Texas false saltgrass, or Allolepis texana.
This special grass grows naturally in western Texas and northern Mexico. You can find it in Mexican states like Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, and Tamaulipas.
About Texas False Saltgrass
Texas false saltgrass is a plant that lives for many years. It is a type of dioecious plant. This means it has separate male and female plants. It spreads by using special stems called stolons. These stolons grow along the surface of the ground.
What it Looks Like
The stems of Texas false saltgrass are smooth. They can grow up to 70 cm (28 in) (about 27 inches) tall. The leaves are usually flat, but sometimes they are a bit folded. They can be up to 43 cm (17 in) (about 17 inches) long and 6 mm (0.24 in) (about 0.2 inches) wide.
The flowers of this grass grow in a tight cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster is a type of panicle and can be up to 6 cm (2.4 in) (about 2.4 inches) long. It has between 5 and 70 small flower groups called spikelets.
How it Reproduces
In the United States, most of the Texas false saltgrass plants found are staminate (male). This means they have male flowers but no female flowers. Because of this, they usually reproduce without seeds. Instead, they spread using their stolons, which are like runners that grow along the ground.
Male plants can have up to 20 flowers in each spikelet. Female plants, which are less common, have fewer flowers, usually only 5 to 9 per spikelet.
Where it Grows
This grass likes to grow in sandy and silty soils. You can often find it in river bottoms and areas that sometimes flood.
Texas false saltgrass is similar to other grasses in the Distichlis group.
