dactyloides

Dactyloides is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae. It is a small group that, in most classifications, is monotypic, containing a single extant species, Dactyloides virginicus. The species is native to North America, with a distribution across the southeastern United States and adjacent regions, and reports of occurrence in parts of Mexico and the Caribbean; exact ranges vary by source.

Dactyloides virginicus is a perennial, warm-season bunchgrass. It forms tufts of erect culms with narrow, linear leaves. The inflorescence is an open panicle bearing small spikelets arranged along delicate branches. The species reproduces by seed and can colonize locally through tillers or short rhizomes. It is drought-tolerant and adapted to sunny, well-drained habitats.

In ecology and use, Dactyloides virginicus occurs in prairies, open woodlands, grasslands, and disturbed sites such as roadsides. It is valued in native-plant landscaping and restoration projects for erosion control and habitat for wildlife. As with many grasses, it can be seasonally vigorous and may respond positively to fire or mowing at times.

Taxonomic notes: The status of Dactyloides as a distinct genus is accepted by many authorities, but some classifications place the species in related genera or treat the genus as having different delimitations. Molecular and morphological studies continue to refine grass systematics.