General: Grass Family (Poaceae). Deergrass is a perennial bunchgrass obtaining heights of 5 feet when in bloom. It is part of the largest genus of warm season grasses in North America. The bunchgrass is found in dense, large clumps, but can occur as a continuous cover, in areas that are subjected to light, frequent ground fires. The culms are slender, narrow spike-like panicles, 9 to 12 dm. in length and less than 1.2 cm. wide. The numerous, small spikelets each have one awnless floret, with a 3-nerved lemma. The ligules are firm and truncate, 2-3 mm long. The leaves are 1.5 to 6 mm wide. The seeds are small, requiring about 2.5 million to make one pound. The dense, basal foliage is tufted and these large tufts, up to six feet across, are a distinguishing feature of the grass, along with the whip-like flower stalks.