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| leaves and habit--Tripsacum dactyloides is a large bunchgrass that grows in wet depressions or along creeks and streams | leaf closeup--note the strong midvein |
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| inflorescence in April--the flowers in the top 3/4 of the inflorescence are functionally male (see right), while the flowers in the bottom 1/4 are functionally female | young, fresh anthers (yellow) and older, dehisced anthers (brown) |
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| close-up of stigmas emerging below the anthers | stigmas again--these are feathery and very long. Why? |
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| young fruits--these fruits resemble hard, green corn kernels, which is no coincidence, because Tripsacum and Zea (which includes maize) are close relatives! | |
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