Andropogon virginicus
Andropogon virginicus var. virginicus
broom sedge, broomsedge bluestem
broomsedge bluestem
40-210 cm;
internodes glaucous or not;
branches erect to ascending, usually straight, sometimes arching.
40-210 cm;
internodes green.
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.
green or slightly glaucous, glabrous or pubescent, at least on the margins near the collar.
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 2-5(7) rames; subtending sheaths (2.2)3.3-4.4(5.6) mm wide;
peduncles (2)3-6(12) mm;
rames (0.5)1.9-3.3(4.4) 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. virginicus
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. virginicus is the widespread and weedy variety of A. virginicus that grows as a native species from the central plains through Mexico and Central America to Colombia and, as a naturalized species, in California, Hawaii, Japan, and Australia.
Plants colonizing openings in mature vegetation created by disturbance have green culms and green, pubescent leaves. Those growing in poorly drained soils of pond margins, swales, and cutover flatwoods have glaucous culms and glabrous, green to somewhat glaucous leaves. Glaucous plants of A. virginicus var. virginicus differ from those of var. decipiens in having no exposed rames and, often, wider sheaths subtending the inflorescence units.
(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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