Taxonomy
Family: Poaceae
Most authorities now call this plant Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash.
Habitat
Wide-ranging, a plant of dry soils. Major component of tall-grass and mixed-grass prairies.
Associates
Distribution
New Brunswick and Quebec west to Alberta, south to FL and Mexico.
Morphology
A low, perennial bunch grass 0.5-1.2 m tall. Blades to 10" long, 1.5" wide, slightly folded, sheathe stem at base. Racemes solitary at the ends of peduncles.
Notes
Flowers early August to late September.
Wetland indicator: Facultative Upland -
There are many cultivars of this species. The typical species is quite ornamental, with blue-green foliage in spring, showy flowers in summer and reddish-brown fall color.
References
Gleason, Henry A.
and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States
and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY
Swink, F. and G.
Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
© Michael Hough 2004 |