Oxycaryum cubense (Poepp. & Kunth in Kunth) Lye is widespread in the tropics of both old and new worlds.  In the United States it occurs in Texas, Louisiana, southern Alabama, southern Georgia and Florida where it forms floating mats in swamps and ponds.  In the southeastern United States there are two allopatric forms differing only in gross inflorescence features.  Oxycaryum cubense forma cubense with its characteristic open umbellate inflorescence is restricted to peninsular Florida. Oxycaryum cubense forma paraguayense (Maury) Pederson has a distinctive capitate (head-like) inflorescence and is more widespread ranging from Texas through northern Florida into southern Georgia.  Photographs (click to enlarge) of O. cubense forma paraguayense were taken in Lowndes County, Georgia.  Photographs by R. Carter.