Contains 11 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
SCHIZACHYRIUM C. Nees von Esenbeck, in Martius, Fl. Bras. Enum. Pl. 2(1): 331. 1829.
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TYPE: Schizachyrium brevifolium (Swartz) C. Nees von Esenbeck ex Miquel (Andropogon brevifolius Swartz) Lectotypified by Nash, in Britton, N. Amer. Fl. 17: 100. 1912.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schizachyrium gracile | WIRE BLUESTEM | Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Schizachyrium littorale | SHORE BLUESTEM; DUNE BLUESTEM | Native FAC (NWPL) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Schizachyrium maritimum | GULF BLUESTEM | Native | ||
| Schizachyrium niveum | PINESCRUB BLUESTEM | Native Rare-State FAC (DEP) | ||
| Schizachyrium rhizomatum | SOUTH FLORIDA LITTLE BLUESTEM | Native | ||
| Schizachyrium sanguineum | CRIMSON BLUESTEM | Native FAC (DEP) | ||
| Schizachyrium scoparium var. divergens | Native | |||
| Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium | LITTLE BLUESTEM | Native FACU (NWPL) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Schizachyrium sericatum | SILKY BLUESTEM | Native Rare-State FAC (DEP) | ||
| Schizachyrium stoloniferum | CREEPING LITTLE BLUESTEM | Native FACU (NWPL) FAC (DEP) | ||
| Schizachyrium tenerum | SLENDER BLUESTEM | Native FAC (DEP) |
Identification Key
1. Leaf blade upper surface with a longitudinal strip of lighter colored, spongy tissue (of bulliform cells)
1. Leaf blade upper surface uniformly colored, lacking lighter colored spongy tissue
2
2. Stems often rooting and branching at the lower nodes in contact with the soil; leaf collars usually elongate (ca. 1-2 mm long) and narrowed relative to the sheath and blade; plants of sandy coastal habitats
3
2. Stems not rooting or branching at the lower nodes; leaf collars neither elongate (<1 mm long) nor particularly narrowed; plants of varied habitats
4
3. Ligules (0.5)1-2 mm long; pedicellate spikelets 1.5-5.5 mm long; east coast
3. Ligules 0.5-1 mm long; pedicellate spikelets 4.5-8.5 mm long; panhandle
4. Larger leaf blades 2.5-10 cm long, mostly spreading often nearly at right angles to the culm
4. Larger leaf blades 10-100 cm long, generally ascending to spreading
5
5. Rames appearing linear, the spikelets generally strict or appressed, the pedicel bases 0.2-0.5 mm wide, gradually widening to 0.3-1 mm distally, straight, often somewhat stiff, not tending to curve outward
5. Rames appearing somewhat open, the spikelets generally spreading or divergent, the pedicel bases 0.1-0.2 mm wide, flaring above midlength to about 0.5 mm wide, tending to curve outward
6
6. Leaf blades 1-4 mm wide, often involute or folded
7
6. Leaf blades 3.5-9 mm wide, usually flat
9
7. Plant rhizomatous
7. Plant cespitose
8
8. Plant gracile; leaf blades 0.5-1 mm wide; inflorescence with few branches, the rames with 7-10 spikelet pairs
8. Plant robust; leaf blades 0.5-4 mm wide; inflorescence with several branches, the rames with 10-13 spikelet pairs
9. Plant rhizomatous
9. Plant cespitose
10
10. Leaf sheath and blades usually densely pubescent throughout
10. Leaf sheath and blades usually glabrate, sometimes densely pubescent only near the base of the plant
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schizopogon | Schizopogon Reichenbach ex Sprengel, Gen. Pl. 1: 55. 1830. | TYPE: Non designatus. | |
| Ystia | Ystia Compère, Bull. Jard. Bot. Etat 33: 400. 1963. | TYPE: Ystia stagnina (Vanderyst) Compere (Andropogon stagninus Vanderyst) |