Photo by: Paul Rebman

Nomenclature

Common Name:

toothache grass

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Ctenium aromaticum

Family:

Poaceae (Gramineae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

grass

Size:

Foliage short (about 6 inches) with bloom stalks 3-5 ft tall.  Clumps about 3-5 ft wide.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

green

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Flowers summer-fall.

Noted For:

Showy Fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Restoration of savannas. Curiosity in the wildflower garden.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Birds

it is the larval host plant of arogos skipper ( Atrytone arogos ) butterflies.

Small birds consume seed. 

Native Habitats:

Cutthroat seeps, wet flatwoods, savannas.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments: