Andropogon cretaceus Weakley & Schori

Locations ofAndropogon cretaceus Weakley & Schori in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Poaceae
Botanical Name
Andropogon cretaceus Weakley & Schori
Common Name
Chalky Bluestem
Synonym(s)
Andropogon glomeratus (Walt.) Britt. var. glaucopsis (Elliott) A.S. Hitchcock; Andropogon glaucopsis Ell.
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Andropogon cretaceus Weakley & Schori
Comments
This taxon has been treated as a var. of both Andropogon glomeratus and A. virginicus, but is distinctive and easily recognized in the field by its combination of height (> 1 meter), strong bluish- or whitish-glaucous color, and semi-bushy inflorescences. The current map is unquestionably incomplete, and the species is probably more widespread in eastern Virginia, where it is reported to reach its northern limits. Additional field and herbarium work is needed.
The name Andropogon glaucopsis, widely in use for over a century, was found to be illegitimate and is now replaced by Andropogon cretaceus; see Weakley, et als, J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 12(1):56-57 (2018).
Habitat
Damp to wet flatwoods and clearings, ditches, tidal marsh edges, and interdune swales. Infrequent in the s. Coastal Plain, its distribution not well known; frequent in the vicinity of False Cape and Back Bay in far se. Virginia and locally abundant in some seasonally wet powerlines in flatwoods formerly dominated by longleaf pine. Recently collected in the eastern Piedmont of Spotsylvania County, suggesting a potentially much larger in-state range.
Native Status
Native

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