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Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl ssp. jamaicense (Crantz) Kük.

Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassLiliopsidaMonocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
SubclassCommelinidaeDayflowers and spiderworts, and several others
OrderCyperalesFlowering plants including grasses
FamilyCyperaceaeSedge family
GenusCladiumFrom the Greek kladion, “a small branch”
SpeciesmariscusBorrowed from Ancient Greek μαρίσκος (marískos, “bog rush”)
ssp.jamaicenseOf or from Jamaica

About plant names...

Sawgrass. What a perfect name! The long straplike leaves are serrated on the sides, and capable of inflicting serious wounds. It forms nearly impenetrable stands, especially in the Florida Everglades. It is technically a sedge, one of a large group of grasslike species, most of which are modest in size. Sawgrass is native to the Caribbean islands and south­eastern United States. It prefers lime­stone soils at the edges of freshwaster and brackish marshes, lakes, streams, and ponds.

Plants: Culms (stems) are 3-9½′ (1-3 m) long × ⅛-⅜″ (5-10 mm) wide.

Leaves: Alternate, flat or almost flat, like a squished dia­mond in cross-section, ⅛-⅜″ (5-11 mm) wide, with parallel veins.

Flowers: Spikes 12-20″ (30-50 cm) in height display 6-9 brownish flower clusters. Flowers appear from July to October.

Fruits: Achenes are light greenish brown and ovoid in shape, about 1/16″ (2 mm) × 1/32″ (1 mm).

Online References:

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

JSTOR Plant Science

EFloras

Cladium mariscus (Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass)

4/10/2015 · Naples Botanical Garden, Naples, Florida · ≈ 1 × 2′ (39 × 59 cm)

Cladium mariscus (Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass)

4/12/2015 · Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 3½ × 6″ (9.6 × 14 cm)

Cladium mariscus (Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass)

4/10/2015 · Naples Botanical Garden, Naples, Florida · ≈ 1 × 2′ (39 × 59 cm)

Cladium mariscus (Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass)

4/11/2015 · Kirby Storter Park Boardwalk, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 28 cm)

Cladium mariscus (Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass)

4/14/2015 · Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 8 × 12″ (21 × 31 cm)

Cladium jamaicense Crantz

Cladium leptostachyum Nees & Meyen

Mariscus jamaicensis (Crantz) Britton

 

Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Cladium mariscus (Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass)

4/14/2015 · Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 10 × 15″ (25 × 37 cm)

Cladium mariscus (Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass)

4/15/2015 · Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge Marsh Trail, Florida · ≈ 1½ × 2½′ (53 × 79 cm)

Cladium mariscus (Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass)

4/15/2015 · Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge Marsh Trail, Florida · ≈ 5 × 3½′ (1.6 × 1 m)

Cladium mariscus (Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass)

4/11/2015 · Kirby Storter Park Boardwalk, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 28 cm)

Cladium mariscus (Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass)

4/11/2015 · Kirby Storter Park Boardwalk, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 28 cm)

Cladium mariscus (Jamaica swamp sawgrass, sawgrass)

4/12/2015 · Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 3½ × 6″ (9.6 × 14 cm)

Range: Zones 3-7:

About this map...