Common Name:
LITTLE BLUESTEM
Synonym:
Andropogon scoparius
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Coefficient of Conservatism:
5
Coefficient of Wetness:
3
Wetness Index:
FACU
Physiognomy:
Nt P-Grass
B. S. Walters
habitat
Andropogon scoparius of Michigan Flora.
A characteristic prairie species, but more often seen in Michigan on jack pine plains, sand dunes, and shores; dolomite pavements of Drummond Island; spreading along roadsides and railroads, in sandy old fields, etc. On sand dunes along Lake Michigan occurs subsp. littorale (Nash) Gandhi & Smeins, which is very glaucous, has decumbent bases that root from the lower nodes, and rather broad basal sheaths. This is known from Benzie, Berrien, Leelanau, Manistee, and Mason Cos. and presumably occurs elsewhere. This is sometimes recognized at species rank, but in addition to difficulties in distinguishing specimens, the plant was originally described from the East Coast of the US and it is not clear that Great Lakes dune plants are the same entity.