Andropogon arctatus
Andropogon brachystachyus
pinewoods bluestem
shortspike bluestem
90-170 cm;
internodes occasionally somewhat glaucous just below the nodes;
branches straight, erect to ascending.
1.1-3.1 m;
internodes not glaucous;
branches arching.
smooth, rarely somewhat scabrous;
ligules 0.3-0.9 mm, sometimes ciliate, cilia to 0.5 mm;
blades 15-35 cm long, 3-8 mm wide, glabrous or densely pubescent, hairs spreading.
smooth;
ligules 0.2-0.5 mm, ciliate, cilia 0.6-1.5 mm;
blades 21-54 cm long, 2.3-6 mm wide, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, with spreading hairs.
5-45 per culm; subtending sheaths (3.3)3.8-6.8(9) cm long, (2.5)3.2-4(5) mm wide;
peduncles (9)26-66(115) mm, with 2(4) rames;
rames (2.2)2.6-4.3(5.3) cm, usually exserted at maturity, pubescence either evenly distributed or more dense distally within each internode.
12-190 per culm; subtending sheaths (2.1)2.4-3.5(4.1) cm long, (2.3)2.6-3(3.8) mm wide;
peduncles (13)20-31(43) mm, with 2(3) rames;
rames (1.2)1.5-2.1(2.6) cm, usually exserted at maturity, pubescence increasing in density distally within each internode.
spikelets (4.3)4.9-5.4(6.1) mm;
callus hairs 1.5-2.5 mm;
keels of lower glumes scabrous from below the midpoint;
awns 5-16 mm;
anthers 1(3), 2-3.5 mm, red.
spikelets (4.1)4.4-4.6(5) mm;
callus hairs 1-1.5 mm;
keels of lower glumes scabrous only above the midpoint;
awns 2-11 mm;
anthers 1, 1.4-2.4 mm, red.
spikelets vestigial or absent.
spikelets vestigial or absent.
= 20.
= 20.
Andropogon arctatus
Andropogon brachystachyus
Andropogon arctatus grows in flatwoods, bogs, and scrublands of southern Alabama and Florida. Its flowering appears to be stimulated by fire but, unlike other members of sect. Leptopogon in the Flora region, the effect lasts only one or two years, the plants then remaining vegetative until the next fire occurs. It is similar to A. ternarius, but differs in its long, usually solitary anther and shorter spikelets.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Andropogon brachystachyus grows in sandy, often seasonally wet soils of flatwoods, savannahs, pond margins, and scrublands of the southeastern United States. It sometimes forms large populations, but does not invade disturbed sites as do some morphologically similar forms of A. virginicus var. virginicus.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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