Schizachyrium tenerum
slender bluestem, slender little bluestem
60-100 cm, sometimes reclining or decumbent, glabrous.
3-5 mm, glabrous.
not elongate, about as wide as the blade;
ligules to 0.5 mm, ciliolate;
blades 5-15 cm long, 0.5-2 mm wide, involute or flat, glabrous or sparsely hairy basally, with a wide central zone of bulliform cells evident on the adaxial surfaces as a longitudinal stripe of white, spongy tissue.
2-6 cm, eventually long-exserted;
internodes 2-4 mm, straight, glabrous.
spikelets 3.5-4.5 mm;
calluses 0.5-1 mm, hairs to 1.2 mm;
lower glumes glabrous;
upper lemmas acute, entire;
awns 6-10 mm.
spikelets usually as long as or slightly longer than the sessile spikelets, sterile, unawned.
= 60.
Schizachyrium tenerum
Schizachyrium tenerum is an uncommon species in the southeastern United States, where it grows on sandy soils in pine forest openings and coastal prairies. Its range extends through Central America into South America.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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