Tridens chapmanii (Small) Chase

Locations ofTridens chapmanii (Small) Chase in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Poaceae
Botanical Name
Tridens chapmanii (Small) Chase
Common Name
Chapman's Purpletop, Chapman's Redtop
Synonym(s)
Tridens flavus (L.) A.S. Hitchc. var. chapmanii (Small) Shinners
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Tridens chapmanii (Small) Chase
Comments
Although FNA treats this taxon as a variety of Tridens flavus, it seems abundantly distinct and we therefore follow Flora of the Southeastern U.S. and Flora of Virginia in treating it as a species. Tridens chapmanii is similar to T. flavus but has stiff panicle branches, long-pedicelled spikelets, and densely pubescent pulvini, and is never weedy. The two species are easily discernable when growing in close proximity. Although many Virginia records are from sandy habitats, this taxon is known from Coastal Plain calcareous woodlands in both Virginia and Maryland.
Habitat
Dry, open sandy forests (including maritime forests), sandhill woodlands, sandy clearings, and dry, calcareous shell-marl slopes. Rare, s. and c. Coastal Plain, and extreme e. Piedmont (Chesterfield Co.). Known from historical collections in Southampton County and from the cities of Suffolk and Virginia Beach, Tridens chapmanii was recently rediscovered in a dry, calcareous, shell-rich woodland in James City County; a dry, sandy, fluvial terrace woodland with some shell middens in New Kent County; and a dry granitic woodland in Chesterfield County.
Native Status
Native

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