Sporobolus ozarkanus Fernald

Locations ofSporobolus ozarkanus Fernald in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Poaceae
Botanical Name
Sporobolus ozarkanus Fernald
Common Name
Ozark Dropseed
Synonym(s)
Sporobolus vaginiflorus (Torr. ex Gray) Wood var. ozarkanus (Fern.) Shinners; Sporobolus neglelctus Nash var. ozarkanus (Fern.) Steyerm. & C.L. Kucera
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Sporobolus ozarkanus Fernald
Comments
As shown by perusal of the synonymy, Sporobolus neglectus, S. vaginiflorus, and S. ozarkanus form a poorly understood complex of closely related taxa that needs additional study. This taxon, S. ozarkanus, was originally described as a species by Fernald, a treatment followed here and by the Flora of Virginia. However, distinguishing it from Sporobolus vaginiflorus in sw. Virginia has proven a vexing task due to the presence of many specimens exhibiting intermediate characters. Apparently, this is also the case over a broader geographic area, which led Peterson et al. (2003, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 41: 200-219) to demote it to a var. of S. vaginiflorus. On the other hand, Yatskievych (Flora of Missouri, Vol 1, 1999) follows the MS Thesis of Riggins (1969, The Annual Cleistogamous Species of Sporobolus, Iowa State Univ.) in according species status to all three taxa.
Habitat
Limestone and dolostone barrens, woodlands, and clearings. Rare, sw. mountains; known only from Lee County.
Native Status
Native

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