Andropogon virginicus
Andropogon virginicus var. glaucus
broom sedge, broomsedge bluestem
40-210 cm;
internodes glaucous or not;
branches erect to ascending, usually straight, sometimes arching.
60-180 cm.
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.
bluish-green, more or less strongly glaucous.
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.
with 2(3) rames; subtending sheaths (2.7)3.1-3.8(5.5) mm wide;
peduncles (2)3-4(10) mm;
rames (1.4)1.7-3(4) cm, not exserted.
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 vestigial to absent.
= 20.
Andropogon virginicus
Andropogon virginicus var. glaucus
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 virginicus var. glaucus grows on moist or dry soils of the coastal plain, from southern New Jersey to eastern Texas. Plants growing on sandy, well-drained soils differ from those on poorly drained slopes in being glabrous (rather than pubescent) beneath the subtending sheaths of the inflorescence units, and in tending to have shorter rames.
(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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