Nodal roots of St. Augustine grass, Stenotaphrum secundatum The adventitious roots of St. Augustine grass, Stenotaphrum secundatum (Family Poaceae), are formed at the nodes and are nodal roots. Nodal roots take up water that is delivered efficiently to the leaves of that node, and they are produced in this prostrate perennial grass as a means of anchoring the shoots to the substrate. This is a C4 grass used in the tropics and subtropics for lush lawns. It has a high photosynthetic rate that fuels its vigorous vegetative growth. The plant forms below-ground rhizomes and above-ground stolons.

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