Sorghastrum secundum

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Sorghastrum secundum
Sorghastrum secundum resized.jpg
Photo by Kevin Robertson
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Liliopsida - Moncots
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Sorghastrum
Species: S. secundum
Binomial name
Sorghastrum secundum
(Elliott) Nash
SORG SECU DIST.JPG
Natural range of Sorghastrum secundum from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common Name(s): lopsided indiangrass[1][2]

Taxonomic Notes

Synonym(s): Andropogon secundus[2]

Description

Sorghastrum secundum is a monoecious perennial graminoid[2] that grows to 3-6 feet (0.91-1.83 m).[3]

Distribution

S. secundum occurs from southern South Carolina, south to southern Florida, and westward to southern Alabama.[1]

Ecology

Habitat

This species is found on sandhills.[1]

Seed bank and germination

In south Georgia, S. secundum buried in seed bags had a 26% germination rate after one year, 34% after two, and 9% after four.[4]

Use by animals

S. secundum consists of 2-5% of the diet for terrestrial birds.[5]

Diseases and parasites

Its seeds are more prone to mold destroying it prior to germination compared to other seeds.[4]

Conservation and Management

Cultivation and restoration

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Weakley AS (2015) Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Herbarium.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 USDA NRCS (2016) The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 16 January 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
  3. Plant database: Sorghastrum secundum. (16 January 2018) Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. URL: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SOSE5
  4. 4.0 4.1 Coffey KL, Kirkman LK (2006) Seed germination strategies of species with restoration potential in a fire maintained pine savanna. Natural Areas Journal 26(3):289-299.
  5. Miller JH, Miller KV (1999) Forest plants of the southeast and their wildlife uses. Southern Weed Science Society.