Plant Guide

Coelorachis cylindrica (Michx.) Nash
cylinder jointtail grass
COCY

Summary
Duration	Perennial
Growth Habit	Graminoid
U.S. Nativity	Native to U.S.
Federal T/E Status
National Wetland Indicator	FACU-, FAC

Morphology/Physiology
Active Growth Period	Spring
After Harvest Regrowth Rate	Slow
Bloat	None
C:N Ratio
Coppice Potential	No
Fall Conspicuous	No
Fire Resistant	No
Flower Color	Green
Flower Conspicuous	No
Foliage Color	Green
Foliage Porosity Summer	Porous
Foliage Porosity Winter	Porous
Foliage Texture	Fine
Fruit/Seed Color	Brown
Fruit/Seed Conspicuous	No
Growth Form	Rhizomatous
Growth Rate	Moderate
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (feet)
Height, Mature (feet)	3.2
Known Allelopath	No
Leaf Retention	No
Lifespan	Moderate
Low Growing Grass	Yes
Nitrogen Fixation
Resprout Ability	No
Shape and Orientation	Erect
Toxicity	None

Growth Requirements
Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Fine Textured Soils	Yes
Adapted to Medium Textured Soils	Yes
Anaerobic Tolerance	None
CaCO3 Tolerance	Medium
Cold Stratification Required	No
Drought Tolerance	High
Fertility Requirement	Low
Fire Tolerance	None
Frost Free Days, Minimum	160
Hedge Tolerance	None
Moisture Use	Low
pH, Minimum	4
pH, Maximum	7
Planting Density per Acre, Minimum
Planting Density per Acre, Maximum
Precipitation, Minimum	30
Precipitation, Maximum	60
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)	6
Salinity Tolerance	None
Shade Tolerance	Intermediate
Temperature, Minimum (°F)	-23

Reproduction
Bloom Period	Summer
Commercial Availability	No Known Source
Fruit/Seed Abundance	Low
Fruit/Seed Period Begin	Summer
Fruit/Seed Period End	Fall
Fruit/Seed Persistence	No
Propagated by Bare Root	No
Propagated by Bulb	No
Propagated by Container	No
Propagated by Corm	No
Propagated by Cuttings	No
Propagated by Seed	Yes
Propagated by Sod	No
Propagated by Sprigs	No
Propagated by Tubers	No
Seed per Pound	275000
Seed Spread Rate	Slow
Seedling Vigor	Low
Small Grain	No
Vegetative Spread Rate	Moderate

Suitability/Use
Berry/Nut/Seed Product	No
Christmas Tree Product	No
Fodder Product	No
Fuelwood Product	None
Lumber Product	No
Naval Store Product	No
Nursery Stock Product	No
Palatable Browse Animal	Medium
Palatable Graze Animal	Medium
Palatable Human	No
Post Product	No
Protein Potential
Pulpwood Product	No
Veneer Product	No

Kingdom Plantae -- Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta -- Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta -- Flowering plants

Class Liliopsida -- Monocotyledons

Subclass Commelinidae

Order Cyperales

Family Poaceae -- Grass family

Genus Coelorachis Brongn. -- jointtail grass P

Species Coelorachis cylindrica (Michx.) Nash -- cylinder jointtail grass P

Alternate Names

Manisuris campestris, Manisuris cylindrica, Carolina jointtail grass, Carolina jointtail

Uses

Cylinder jointtail grass is grazed readily by all livestock.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

Description

Grass Family (Poaceae). Cylinder jointtail grass is a native, warm‑season, rhizomatous perennial grass. The height is between 1 and 3‑1/2 feet. The leaf blade is slender; pointed, 8 to 14 inches long, flat at first, then rolled inward at maturity. The basal blades are shorter than those higher on the stem. The leaf sheath is rounded, about as long as the internodes. The stem is erect with swollen, purplish node. The seedhead is a raceme, cylindric, slightly curved; seedhead 2 to 6 inches long. The spikelets are sessile, awnless, and in pairs at the nodes of a thickened rachis.

Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Management

This grass is never abundant enough to be a key management species. Proper use and management of associated grasses maintain it in the plant community.

Establishment

Cylinder jointtail grass growth starts in early spring. It produces seedheads in May and June and seeds disseminate in early summer. It becomes dormant in the fall. It reproduces from short, bulb‑shaped rhizomes. It does not grow in pure stands, but is scattered throughout a plant community and grows best on well‑drained soils.

Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Please contact your local NRCS Field Office.

Reference

Leithead, H.L., L.L. Yarlett, & T.N. Shiflett. 1976. 100 native forage grasses in 11 southern states. USDA SCS Agriculture Handbook No. 389, Washington, DC.

Prepared By & Species Coordinator:

Percy Magee, USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Edited: 13may02 ahv; jul03 ahv; 20sep05 jsp; 070116 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS Web site<https://plants.usda.gov> or the Plant Materials Program Web site <https://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov>

Attribution: U.S. Department of Agriculture