Anatherum cretaceum (Weakley & Schori) Weakley & Schori
Detail
- Family
- Poaceae
- Botanical Name
- Anatherum cretaceum (Weakley & Schori) Weakley & Schori
- Common Name
- Chalky Bluestem
- Synonym(s)
- Andropogon cretaceus Weakley & Schori; Andropogon glaucopsis Ell.; Andropogon glomeratus (Walter) B.S.P. var. glaucopsis (Elliott ex Beal) Hitchc.
- Flora of Virginia Name/Status
- Andropogon cretaceus Weakley & Schori
- Comments
- Note that recent phylogenetic work by Vorontsova et al. (Syst. and Biodiv. 21(1), 2023) and Weakley et al. (J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 18(1), 2024) has transferred most study-area Andropogon spp. to the genus Anatherum. This taxon was formerly 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, which was widely used for over a century, was found to be illegitimate and was replaced by Andropogon cretaceus, prior to the transfer to Anatherum; see Weakley, et al., 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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