St. Augustine Grass (Stenotaphrum)
St. Augustine Grass Genus Details
St. Augustine grass is an alien lawn grass that is cultivated from South Carolina to Texas and California. This turf grass escaped cultivation and became established in moist, mucky soils in waste sites. This coarse, broad-leafed grass is a low, creeping, perennial plant with short, flowering stalks. The leaves are 6 inches long and 1/3 inch wide. It is one of the best grasses for establishing lawns in warm tropical climates. Flowering and pollen shed occurs continuously from spring to fall but little pollen becomes airborne. This thick turf commonly contains a mold (Helminthosporium) that releases airborne allergenic spores when the grass is cut.
St. Augustine Grass Allergy Info
This genus is not commonly cited as a significant source of allergy in the US. However, it has become established in waste sites where pollen shed may be sufficient to cause midsummer allergy problems. Although reported in international literature as allergenic, this genus has been reported in Texas to rarely cause allergy problems.
St. Augustine Grass Pollen Description
Grains are spheroidal to ovoidal, sometimes elliptical. The exine is thin and the surface is granular to finely reticuloid. Pocaceae apertures are 1-porate, with the pores usually circular to ovoidal.
Grains are 22-122 micrometers in diameter.
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This plant belongs to the grass family. All pollen grains in this family are similar to the Poaceae (grass) grain pictured here. Herb. MIN
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This plant belongs to the grass family. All pollen grains in this family are similar to the Poaceae (grass) grains pictured here. Herb. MIN
Species in This Genus
Allergenicity Legend:
Mild Allergen |
Moderate Allergen |
Severe Allergen |
Allergy Test Available
Mild Allergen |
Moderate Allergen |
Severe Allergen |
Allergy Test Available
St. Augustine Grass (Stenotaphrum) is a genus of the POACEAE family.
This genus includes the following allergenic species:
This genus includes the following allergenic species:
