Tripsacum dactyloides L.

Culms 1–3 m, in large clumps from thick rhizomes; blades elongate, often to 2 cm wide; spikes 1–4, 10–25 cm, the lower fourth or third pistillate; spikelets 7–10 mm; first glume of the pistillate spikelets toward the outside of the pit, indurate, ovate, acute; both staminate spikelets of a pair sessile or subsessile, the outer glumes oblong; 2n=18,36, 45, 54, 72, 90, 108. Swamps and wet soil; trop. Amer., n. in e. and c. U.S. to Mass., s. Mich. (only casual), Io., and Nebr.

Swales, moist fields, woodland edges and shores. Water courses and limestone outcrops.

The seeds are used for food. They can be popped.

Can be grown by cuttings, divisions or seedlings.