✕

Andropogon tenuispatheus (Nash) Nash

synonyms: Andropogon glomeratus var. pumilus, Andropogon glomeratus [sensu Hawaiian botantists]


beardgrass, bushy bluestem


Info

Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus etymology: Andropogon = "man's beard" [Greek] refering to the long hairs (bearded) pedicels
Species etymology: tenuispatheus = "narrow spathe" [Latin] refering to the inrolled spathes
Photosynthetic type: C4 (warm season)
Nativity: naturalized - accidental
First recorded in Hawaiʻi: 2002

Map

Distribution of Andropogon tenuispatheus in Hawaiʻi.
Distribution of Andropogon tenuispatheus in Hawaiʻi.

Inflorescence

Andropogon tenuispatheus Inflorescence
Andropogon tenuispatheus Inflorescence
Andropogon tenuispatheus Inflorescence
Andropogon tenuispatheus Inflorescence
Andropogon tenuispatheus Inflorescence
Andropogon tenuispatheus Inflorescence
Andropogon tenuispatheus Inflorescence
Andropogon tenuispatheus Inflorescence
Andropogon tenuispatheus Inflorescence

Plant

Andropogon tenuispatheus Plant
Andropogon tenuispatheus Plant
Andropogon tenuispatheus Plant

Spikelets

Andropogon tenuispatheus Spikelets
Andropogon tenuispatheus Spikelets
Andropogon tenuispatheus Spikelets

Culm base

Andropogon tenuispatheus Culm base

Description

Plants oblanceolate to obpyramidal in the upper portion. Culms to 2.5 m, but as short as 20 cm in poor soils; internodes not glaucous. Leaf sheaths usually smooth; ligules ciliate, cilia 0.2-0.9 mm; blades green, smooth or pubescent. Subtending sheaths of inflorescence units (2)2.9-4.3(5.2) cm long, 1.5-3 mm wide; peduncles (2)8-15(40) mm; rames 1.3-3 cm, exerted. Keels of lower glumes usually smooth below midlength, scabrous distally; anthers often retained within the spikelets.
(Description source: Barkworth, M.E., Capels, K.M., Long, S. & Piep, M.B. (eds.) 2003. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 25. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, Part 2. Oxford University Press, New York. 783 pp http://floranorthamerica.org/Andropogon_virginicus )