Andropogon gracilis

Spreng.
Common names: Wire bluestem
Synonyms: Schizachyrium sericatum Schizachyrium gracile
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 25. Treatment on page 653.

Plants densely cespitose. Culms 20-60 cm, wiry, glabrous. Sheaths smooth; ligules to 1.4 mm; blades to 45 cm long, to 4 mm wide, involute and filiform, or folded. Inflorescence units 3-50+ per culm; peduncles 2-13.2 cm, with 1 rame; rames 2-4 cm, usually long-exserted at maturity; internodes densely pubescent, hairs to 8 mm. Sessile spikelets 4-6 mm; lower glumes scabrous in the distal 1/2; awns 11-20 mm. Pedicellate spikelets reduced to an awned or unawned glume, sterile. 2n = 40.

Distribution

Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Fla.

Discussion

Andropogon gracilis grows on oolite in openings and rocky margins of pine woodlands of southern Florida and the West Indies. Although not uncommon, it is frequently overlooked. It has sometimes been placed in Schizachyrium because of its solitary rames.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"decumbent" is not a number.

... more about "Andropogon gracilis"
3 +  and 1 +
anatomy +  and kranz +
Christopher S. Campbell +
Spreng. +
1 (?) +  and 3 (?) +
1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
terete +  and flattened +
slender +
keeled +  and rounded +
pseudopetiolate +  and branching +
divergent +  and parallel +
intravaginal +, extravaginal +, branching +  and basal +
swelling +
pseudopetiolate +
non-radiate +  and radiate +
well-developed +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (45 cm450 mm <br />0.45 m <br />) +
folded +  and filiform +
reduced +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
spikelike +
Wire bluestem +
purple +  and reddish +
20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br /> (60 cm600 mm <br />0.6 m <br />) +
not woody +
Puerto Rico +, Virgin Islands +  and Fla. +
capillary +
sometimes longer +
concealing +
compressed +  and terete +
shorter or longer +
subtending +
compressed +  and rounded +
unequal +
uncinate +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
bracteate +  and ebracteate +
pedunculate +  and multiple-stalked +
with inconspicuous veins +  and veined +
fimbriate +  and cupulate +
solid +  and hollow +
photosynthetic +
not aromatic +
coriaceous +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.14 cm1.4 mm <br />0.0014 m <br />) +
membranous +
inconspicuous +
2-9-veined +  and veined +
concave +, flat +  and 2-keeled +
complex +  and simple +
concealed +  and prominent +
sessile-pedicellate +
heterogamous +
not fused +
3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> (?) +
long-exserted +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (?) +  and 4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (?) +
dry +  and fleshy +
elongate +
pedicellate +  and sessile +
in triplets +  and paired +
well-developed +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
1 +  and 3 +
fused +  and free +
2 +  and 3 +
dome--shaped +  and triangular +
Schizachyrium sericatum +  and Schizachyrium gracile +
Andropogon gracilis +
Andropogon sect. Leptopogon +
species +
membranous +
sessile-pedicellate +
inconspicuous +
plant +  and cespitose +
aquatic +  and terrestrial +
dioecious +, monoecious +  and synoecious +