Biology:Andropogon glomeratus

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Short description: Species of plant

Andropogon glomeratus
Starr 071222-0259 Andropogon glomeratus.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus: Andropogon
Species:
A. glomeratus
Binomial name
Andropogon glomeratus
(Walt.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.
Synonyms

Andropogon marcrourus Michx.

Andropogon glomeratus is a species of grass known by the common names bushy bluestem and bushy beardgrass. This bunchgrass is native to the Americas, where it is widespread.[1] It has also naturalized in other areas.

The genus name Andropogon comes from the Greek words 'aner' or 'andros' meaning "man" and 'pogon' meaning "beard", in reference to the hairs on the spikelets of certain species in this genus. The specific epithet glomeratus means "bunched", in reference to the species' bushy and broom-like inflorescences.[2]

Description

This grass reaches heights approaching two meters (6 feet) and has large, fluffy cream-colored inflorescences.[3] Each dense, tufted inflorescence has several pairs of hairy spikelets. The leaves may reach over a meter in length and are typically blue-green in the summer and coppery-red in the fall.[1]

Cultivation

This plant does best in moist soils, and is found naturally in areas such as swamps, wet savannas, pine flatwoods, bogs, and fens.[4] It prefers full sun, and is best suited to USDA hardiness zones 5–9.[3]

Uses

It is cultivated as an ornamental grass. This species also has potential as a noxious weed and is easily spread via seed contamination. It has been declared a weed in Puerto Rico and a potentially invasive weed in Mexico.[5]

The seeds are eaten by songbirds and small mammals, while the larvae of certain butterflies feed on the plant.[6]

References

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q2112970 entry