Andropogon virginicus
Andropogon liebmannii
broom sedge, broomsedge bluestem
Liebmann's bluestem, Mohr's bluestem
40-210 cm;
internodes glaucous or not;
branches erect to ascending, usually straight, sometimes arching.
20-170 cm;
internodes not glaucous;
branches mostly erect, straight.
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;
ligules 0.7-1.2 mm, sometimes ciliate, cilia to 0.4 mm;
blades 3-35 cm long, 2.5-7.5 mm wide, sparsely to densely pubescent with spreading, shaggy hairs.
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.
7-50 per culm; subtending sheaths (4)4.9-7.4(10) cm long, (3)4.2-6.1(10.1) mm wide;
peduncles (10)24-68(130) mm, at least some extending beyond the subtending sheaths at maturity, with 2-13 rames;
rames (2)2.4-4(5) cm, usually exserted at maturity, pubescence increasing in density 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 (3)4-4.5(6.9) mm;
keels of lower glumes scabrous above (and sometimes below) the midpoint;
awns 17-24 mm;
anthers 1, 0.7-1.4 mm, yellow.
spikelets vestigial to absent.
spikelets vestigial or absent.
= 20.
= 20.
Andropogon virginicus
Andropogon liebmannii
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 liebmannii has two varieties. Andropogon liebmannii var. pungensis (Ashe) C.S. Campb., the variety found in the Flora region, differs from A. liebmannii Hack. var. liebmannii, which grows in Mexico, in having culms that are usually more than 80 cm tall, leaves that are more than 15 cm long, and sessile spikelets that are more than 4.2 mm long; in var. pungensis the culms are usually less than 90 cm tall, the leaves less than 15 cm long, and the sessile spikelets less than 4.2 mm long.
Andropogon liebmannii var. pungensis grows along the coastal plain of the southeastern United states in bog, swamp, savannahs, and flatwoods. It used to be treated as a species, which was known as A. mobrii. The English name "Mohr's Bluestem" reflects this treatment.
(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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