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- Dichotomous Key
- Poaceae
- Poaceae Group 9
- Andropogon
- Andropogon virginicus
Andropogon virginicus — broomsedge bluestem
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New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
Facts
Although it is native to North America and southern New England, broomsedge bluestem is sometimes considered a weed in the sense that it colonizes poorly-managed pastureland, and is considered low quality forage plant for cattle. The Cherokee used the stems, alone or with onion peels, to make a yellow die.
Habitat
Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), grassland, meadows and fields, wetland margins (edges of wetlands), woodlands
Characteristics
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Leaf blade width
- 1.7–6.5 mm
- Inflorescence branches
- the flowers are attached to branches rather than to the main axis of the inflorescence
- Spikelet length
- 2.6–4.7 mm
- Glume relative length
- both glumes are as long or longer than all of the florets
- Awn on glume
- the glume has no awn
- One or more florets
- there is one floret per spikelet
- Lemma awn length
- 6–21 mm
- Leaf ligule length
- 0.2–1 mm
- Anther length
- 0.6–1.5 mm
-
Flowers
- Anther length
- 0.6–1.5 mm
- Anther number
- 1
- Awn on glume
- the glume has no awn
- Floret lower bract texture
- the lemma is thin and flexible
- Floret number
- 1
- Floret types within spikelet
- there are at least two distinct forms of florets within one spikelet
- Glume relative length
- both glumes are as long or longer than all of the florets
- Glume shape
- the glume is flat or curved in cross-section
- Glume veins
-
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7 or more
- Inflorescence arrangement
-
- the plant has two types of spikelets with different reproductive structures
- the spikelets are uniform
- Inflorescence axis orientation
-
- the inflorescence axis is arched or curved outward
- the inflorescence axis is straight
- Inflorescence branches
- the flowers are attached to branches rather than to the main axis of the inflorescence
- Inflorescence crowding
- NA
- Inflorescence type (general)
- the spikelets are borne on stalks or on branches
- Inflorescence type (specific)
- the inflorescence has pairs (or trios) of spikelets, but with one always either missing a stalk or on a shorter stalk than the other
- Lemma awn base
- the awn is attached right at the tip of the lemma
- Lemma awn coiled
- the lemma awn is straight or twisted, but not coiled one half turn
- Lemma awn length
- 6–21 mm
- Lemma awn number
- the lemma has one awn on it
- Lemma cross-section
- the lemma is flat or rounded if you cut across the midpoint
- Lemma surface
- the surface of the lemma is relatively smooth (not counting any longitudinal veins or hairs)
- Lemma tip
- the lemma tip is split into two or more points
- One or more florets
- there is one floret per spikelet
- Spikelet axis tip
- there is no extension of the spikelet axis beyond the tip of the spikelet
- Spikelet disintegration
- the spikelet breaks off below the glumes
- Spikelet length
- 2.6–4.7 mm
- Spikelet number per node
- 0
- Spikelets per panicle branch
- 0
- Spikelets spiny
- the spikelets do not appear spiny
- Upper glume shape
- the upper glume is widest at or below the middle
-
Growth form
- Lifespan
- the plant lives more than two years
-
Leaves
- Leaf auricles
- the leaves do not have auricles
- Leaf blade length
- 11–52 cm
- Leaf blade width
- 1.7–6.5 mm
- Leaf ligule length
- 0.2–1 mm
- Leaf ligule type
- the leaf ligule is in the form of a membrane with fine hairs
- Leaf margin glands
- there are no glands along the edges of the leaf blade
- Leaf sheath closed around stem
- the margins of the leaf sheath are overlapping and not fused together except in the basal half (or less)
- Leaf sheath hairs
- there are no hairs on the surface of the leaf sheath
-
Place
- Habitat
- terrestrial
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Specific habitat
-
- edges of wetlands
- grasslands
- man-made or disturbed habitats
- meadows or fields
- woodlands
-
Stem, shoot, branch
- Stem orientation
- the stems are upright
- Stem spacing
- the stems grow close together in compact clusters or tufts
Wetland status
Usually occurs in non-wetlands, but occasionally in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACU)
New England distribution and conservation status
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- absent
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- absent
- Rhode Island
- present
- Vermont
- absent
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Massachusetts
- unranked (S-rank: SNR)
var. virginicus
- Massachusetts
- unranked (S-rank: SNR)
Native to North America?
Yes
Sometimes confused with
Family
Genus
From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae
3. Andropogon virginicus L. var. virginicus N
broomsedge bluestem. CT, MA, RI. Sandy fields, woodland openings, roadsides.