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Species
Andropogon virginicus L. subvar. genuinus Hack.
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General: Grass Family (Poaceae). It is a native, warm-season, herbaceous, perennial bunch grass that begins its growth when the average daytime temperature is between 60° to 65° F. The slender, erect culms are up to 4 feet tall. The flattened sheaths are overlapping and with a few scattered hairs. The upper part of the plant is rounded and the lower part is slightly flattened and keeled. The blade is ⅛ to ¼ inch wide, 10 to 16 inches long and rough to the touch above. The ligule is small and membranous. The inflorescence has a panicle of two to four racemes about 1 inch long. The bases of the panicle branches are enclosed in an inflated, tawny spathe as long or longer than the spikelet. The upper lemma of the sessile spikelet has a straight awn that is ½ inch long. The pedicillate spikelet is absent. The seeds mature in 6 weeks to 2 months.
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This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):
More info for the term: hardwood
40 Post oak - blackjack oak
69 Sand pine
70 Longleaf pine
78 Virginia pine - oak
79 Virginia pine
80 Loblolly pine - shortleaf pine
81 Loblolly pine
82 Loblolly pine - hardwood
83 Longleaf pine - slash pine
84 Slash pine
97 Atlantic white-cedar
98 Pond pine
111 South Florida slash pine
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Broomsedge bluestem's vegetative growth begins in the winter or spring
when daytime temperatures average 60 to 65 degrees F (15-18 deg C) [18].
In North Carolina, flower stalks form by September, and seeds ripen by
late October [8,16]. At the end of the growing season, nearly all green
material dies, leaving a large accumulation of standing dead material
[8].
Phenology of broomsedge bluestem near Gainsville, Florida, was as
follows [28]:
flowering - late September to early October
seed dispersal - early October to mid-December
vegetative growth - February and March, June and July
leaves green - March to late November
drying - late November to mid-December
dormancy - January
Broomsedge bluestem's palatability to cattle is low [34].
Broomsedge, popotillo, whiskey grass, and yellow bluestem. Some botanists consider Andropogon glomeratus and Andropogon virginicus as one species. However, the two grasses are distinct and consistent in appearance and are currently recognized as separate species.
Broomsedge bluestem grows in a wide variety of open habitats, from
grassland and pastureland to open woodland. It is especially common in
oldfields, overgrazed pastures, and cut-over Southeastern pinelands, and
along roads and railroad tracks [9,11,25,33]. It is most common on
sandy soils but also grows on a variety of other soil textures [11,18].
It grows well on low-fertility soils, especially those on eroded,
"worn-out" fields [18].
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License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/13506888 |
Livestock: Broomsedge bluestem is grazed readily by cattle in the spring and early summer shortly after growth starts. The nutrition value is low except in early stages of growth. It is unpalatable when mature.
Ornamental Landscaping: Broomsedge bluestem is used as an ornament in landscapes. The infloresence is orange in the fall and remains throughout the winter. It provides color to the landscape.
Wildlife: Broomsedge bluestem benefits wildlife. Several species of birds and mammals eat the seeds in the winter when the seeds of other plants are not available. Several animals use the plants for cover and nesting sites (especially quail).
Erosion Control: Broomsedge bluestem is found on low fertile soils and prevents erosion when other plants can not be found.
Conservation Practices: Broomsedge bluestem, because of its growth habit, potentially has application when established with certain conservation practices; however, conservation practice standards vary by state. For localized information, consult your local NRCS Field Office.
Andropogon virginicus is a caespitose perennial bunchgrass which is native to the eastern United States. It has been introduced in many parts of its current range e.g., California, Hawaii, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Midway Atoll and French Polynesia, where it is weedy. The taxon is also found throughout Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and western South America (Hitchcock 1950, Clayton et al. 2002).
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/13506888 |
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This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):
FRES12 Longleaf - slash pine
FRES13 Loblolly - shortleaf pine
FRES14 Oak - pine
FRES15 Oak - hickory
FRES32 Texas savanna
FRES38 Plains grasslands
FRES39 Prairie