Andropogon virginicus
Andropogon arctatus
broom sedge, broomsedge bluestem
pinewoods bluestem
40-210 cm;
internodes glaucous or not;
branches erect to ascending, usually straight, sometimes arching.
90-170 cm;
internodes occasionally somewhat glaucous just below the nodes;
branches straight, erect to ascending.
usually smooth, rarely somewhat scabrous;
ligules 0.2-1 mm, ciliate, cilia 0.2-1.3 mm;
blades 11-52 cm long, 1.7-6.5 mm wide, smooth and glabrous or sparsely to densely pubescent with spreading hairs.
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.
6-195 per culm; subtending sheaths (2.1)3.1-4.6(6.7) cm long, (1.7)3-3.8(5.6) mm wide;
peduncles usually (1)4-6(30) mm, with 2-7 rames;
rames (0.5)1.7-2.8(4.4) cm, sometimes exerted at maturity, pubescence sparse basally and increasing in density distally within each internode.
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.
spikelets (2.6)3.5-3.8(4.7) mm;
callus hairs 1-3 mm;
keels of lower glume usually smooth below midlength, scabrous distally;
awns 6-21 mm;
anthers 1(3), 0.6-1.5 mm, yellow or purple.
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 vestigial to absent.
spikelets vestigial or absent.
= 20.
= 20.
Andropogon virginicus
Andropogon arctatus
Andropogon virginicus is native from the southeastern United States to northern South America, but has become established outide its native range in California, Hawaii, Japan, and Australia. Three varieties are recognized, two of which contain morphologically distinct variants. Andropogon virginicus hybridizes with A. glomeratus and A. longiberbis (Campbell 1986).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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.)
1. Leaves bluish-green, more or less strongly glaucous | var. glaucus |
1. Leaves green, sometimes somewhat glaucous. | → 2 |
2. Sheaths subtending the inflorescence units (1.7)2.4-3.1(4) mm wide; inflorescences units usually with 2 rames; rames (1.3)1.5-2.3(3) cm long; peduncles (1) 4-9 (30) mm long | var. decipiens |
2. Sheaths subtending the inflorescences units (2.2)3.3-4.4(5.6) mm wide; inflorescence units with 2-5(7) rames; rames (0.5)1.9-3.3(4.4) cm long; peduncles (2)3-6(12) mm long | var. virginicus |
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