|                    Variable witchgrass
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                |                    Dichanthelium commutatum  
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                |                    Poaceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Identified by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden as a native that does especially well in shade in this brochure. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Grown by enthusiasts and occasionally by native plant nurseries.  | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
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                 Small herbaceous grass. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
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                 About 3-6 inches tall.  As broad as tall except when in flower. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
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                 Fast. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
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                 Southeastern United States west to Texas and south to Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland; Greater Antilles, Mexico and Central America. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 A wide variety of forests. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Light shade to moderate shade. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
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                 Brownish inflorescence. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
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                 Inconspicuous. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
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                 Spring-fall. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Inconspicuous caryopsis. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                | Comments: | 
               
              
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