Andropogon virginicus
| Andropogon virginicus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo by the Atlas of Florida Plants Database | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Liliopsida - Moncots |
| Order: | Cyperales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Andropogon |
| Species: | A. virginicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Andropogon virginicus L | |
| |
| Natural range of Andropogon virginicus from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common Name(s): smooth bluestem, deceptive bluestem, old-field broomstraw, broomsedge, sedge grass, sage grass[1], broomsedge bluestem[2]
Contents
Taxonomic Notes
Varieties: A. virginicus var. virginicus; A. virginicus var. decipiens;[1][2] A. virginicus var. 1[1]
Description
Andropogon virginicus is a monoecious perennial graminoid.[2] It reaches 2-5 ft (0.61-1.52 m) in height and bunches together producing clumps (i.e. bunchgrass).[3]
Distribution
Ecology
Habitat
Andropogon virginicus is commonly found in longleaf pine savannas, savannas, flatwoods, maritime wet grasslands, disturbed pinelands, other wetlands, old fields, roadbanks, and disturbed sites.[1] With such a wide range of habitats, A. virginicus has been shown to adapt to ecotones of varying water availability; in granite outcrops A. virginicus is more resistant to water loss than in old field habitat.[4]
Fire ecology
A. virginicus is a pyrophyte that helps create a fire driven system by adding fuel to the fire, promoting increases in fire frequency and size.[5] It maintains extremely high dead:live biomass ratios during most of the year at 80-90%. Additionally, it can burn at high relative humidity (85-90%) and fuel moisture (20-25%). When burned, it recovers quickly and with increased vigor.[6] Densities peak in the second growing season following burns.[7]
Use by animals
A. virginicus can encompass 2-5% of the diet for large mammals and terrestrial birds as well as occasionally being used as cover for terrestrial birds.[2]
Conservation and Management
A. virginicus is considered a noxious weed in Hawaii submontane zones[6] where it was introduced[2] and spread in the 1960's and 1970's.[5] Part of its successful invasion could be due to its ability to quickly invade disturbed lands, including those recently burned.[3]
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
References and notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Weakley A. S.(2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Herbarium.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 USDA, NRCS. (2016). The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 30 November 2017). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Plant database: Andropogon virginicus. (12 December 2017).Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. URL: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ANVI2
- ↑ Chapman R. H. and Jones, Jr. S. B. (1975). Ecotypic differentiation in Andropogon virginicus (Gramineae). Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 102(4):166-171.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Fire and alien plants in Hawai'i: Research and management implications for native ecosystems. Alien plant invasions in native ecosystems of Hawaii: management and research. Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, Honolulu 394-408.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hughes F., Vitousek P. M., and Tunison T. (1991). Alien grass invasion and fire in the seasonal submontane zone of Hawai'i. Ecology 72(2):743-747.
- ↑ Lemon P. C. (1949). Successional responses of herbs in the longleaf-slash pine forest after fire. Ecology 30(2):135-145.
