Plant ID help

[-2 brian]

I’ve had these plants (palms?) for a long time, cant remember where they came from but never had a real ID on them. They spread by underground and get to 24” - 36” tall & form a flower inflorescence with little yellow flower at the base. Never form any sort of a trunk. I originally thought it was some sort of ground palm (trunckless) but now I think it’s probably not a palm at all? I’ve seen what I believe to be the exact same plants down in Costa Rica around the Arenal Volcano area. Any help with their ID would be appreciated 

[Silas_Sancona]

21 minutes ago, -2 brian said:

I’ve had these plants (palms?) for a long time, cant remember where they came from but never had a real ID on them. They spread by underground and get to 24” - 36” tall & form a flower inflorescence with little yellow flower at the base. Never form any sort of a trunk. I originally thought it was some sort of ground palm (trunckless) but now I think it’s probably not a palm at all? I’ve seen what I believe to be the exact same plants down in Costa Rica around the Arenal Volcano area. Any help with their ID would be appreciated 

Looks like Curculigo capitulata.  Edit: Genus was changed to Molineria, Curculigo is an older  name.  Great plant, need to find more myself.

Edited August 18, 2019 by Silas_Sancona

[-2 brian]

On 8/18/2019 at 12:17 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Looks like Curculigo capitulata.  Edit: Genus was changed to Molineria, Curculigo is an older  name.  Great plant, need to find more myself.

Thanks so much for the ID! I’ve had this plant for years now & it has done well and spreads  readily for me, not even sure how it made it to the back yard! It’s nice to finally know what it is. The common name of palm grass really suits it. 

[Silas_Sancona]

4 hours ago, -2 brian said:

Thanks so much for the ID! I’ve had this plant for years now & it has done well and spreads  readily for me, not even sure how it made it to the back yard! It’s nice to finally know what it is. The common name of palm grass really suits it. 

  Its interesting since, at the same time, i also had a couple 1gals of Setaria palmifolia, which is also called " Palm Grass ".  Both look quite similar from afar and both make great understory compliment plants in shady spots below Palms and other bigger leaved tropicals. Was surprised the first time these flowered since i'd assumed any " flowers " wouldn't be much to look at, kind of like the flowers on Setaria p. which look like any typical grass. Quite the opposite.  Flowers might have had a scent if i remember right but its been awhile. Think i lost them to snails / cutworms while in Florida. Stinks since the one place i remember getting them from ( San Marcos Growers ) apparently isn't stocking them.