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Home , Andropogon, Andropogoneae, Andropogon ternarius, Andropogon virginicus, Arthraxon, Poaceae

[GRAMINEAE] – GRASS

Plant: annuals or perennials Stem: jointed stem is termed a culm – internodial stem most often hollow but always solid at node, mostly round, some with (creeping stem) or (underground stem) Root: usually fibrous, often very abundant and dense : mostly linear, sessile, parallel veins, in 2 ranks (vertical rows), sheath usually open or split and often overlapping, but may be closed : small in 2 rows forming a (1 to several flowers), may be 1 to many with pedicels or sessile to stem; each within a spikelet is between an outer limna (, with a midrib) and an inner palea (bract, 2-nerved or keeled usually) – these 3 parts together make the floret – the 2 bottom of the spikelet do not have flowers and are termed glumes (may be reduced or absent), the rachilla is the axis that hold the florets; and absent; 1-6 but often 3 stamens; 1 pistil, 1-3 but usually 2 styles, ovary superior, 1 ovule – there are exceptions to most everything!! : -like (seed usually fused to the pericarp (ovary wall) or not) Other: very large and important family; Group Genera: 600+ genera; locally many genera 2-3 slides per species WARNING – family descriptions are only a layman’s guide and should not be used as definitive POACEAE [GRAMINEAE] – TRIBE

Big Bluestem [Turkey Foot]; gerardii Vitman - Andropogoneae (Tribe) [Split] Splitbeard Bluestem; Michx. - Andropogoneae (Tribe) Broomsedge Bluestem; L. var. virginicus - Andropogoneae (Tribe) [Jointhead] Small Carpetgrass; hispidus (Thunb.) Makino (Introduced) – Andropogoneae (Tribe) Silver Beardgrass; laguroides (DC.) Herter - Andropogoneae (Tribe) Chinese Silvergrass [Plume Grass]; sinensis Andersson (Introduced) – Andropogoneae (Tribe) Silver Plume Grass; alopecuroides (L.) Nutt. – Andropogoneae (Tribe) Little Bluestem; scoparium (Michx.) Nash var. scoparium - Andropogoneae (Tribe) Indian Grass; nutans (L.) Nash - Andropogoneae (Tribe) Grain ; (L.) Moench ssp. Bicolor (Introduced, cultivated) – Andropogoneae (Tribe) ; Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. (Introduced) - Andropogoneae (Tribe) Eastern Gama Grass; dactyloides (L.) L. - Andropogoneae (Tribe) Corn; mays L. ssp. Mays (Introduced) - Andropogoneae (Tribe) Big Bluestem [Turkey Foot] – p1 USDA Andropogon gerardii Vitman Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) La Petite Gemme , Polk County, Missouri Notes: Plant perennial, caespitose, erect, to 2-3+ m; Culm terete, unbranched or few branches, mostly glabrous and often glaucous; Roots fibrous, rhizomes or not; Leaf Blades hairy at base, mid-vein thick, up to 1 cm wide; Leaf Sheaths hairy or not, pilose at collar, sheath open; Ligules membranous and ciliate; of 2-7+ (often 3) spike-like up 10+ cm; Spikelets in pairs (RAME structure) of 1 sessile fertile spikelet with up to 2+ cm and 1 pedicellate staminate spikelet without awn (spikelets 1+ cm in length), rachis (axis) and base of spikelets often very hairy; and ; summer to early fall Ligule membranous with (varieties present) hairy margin (ciliate), [V Max Brown, 2013] collar pillose Big Bluestem [Turkey Foot] – p2 Andropogon gerardii Vitman [V Max Brown, 2013]

Paired fertile (sessile) and staminate (pedicellate) spikelets (RAME structure) - separated from inflorescence in flipped photos below

Staminate floret on Sessile pedicel with Staminate perfect anther spikelet on spikelet with pedicel both anthers without awn and stigmas shown

Sessile perfect spikelet with 6-7 mm awn Big Bluestem [Turkey Foot] – p3 FALL – WINTER LOOK Andropogon gerardii Vitman [V Max Brown, 2013]

Staminate spikelet on pedicel without awn

Sessile perfect spikelet with awn

Callus hairs at base of Sessile spikelets but not stalked spikelet [Split] Splitbeard Bluestem – p1 USDA Andropogon ternarius Michx. Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) Near Praiarie State , Barton County, Missouri Notes: Plant perennial, caespitose, erect, to 1.1+ m; Culm terete, several short branches; Roots fibrous; Leaf Blades less than 4 mm wide, to 30+ mm long, mostly glabrous; Leaf Sheaths mostly glabrous or not; Ligules membranous and often slightly ciliate; Inflorescence of a cluster of usually 2 spike-like racemes, usually above leaf sheaths; Spikelets in pairs (RAME structure) of 1 sessile spikelet (1 lower sterile and 1 upper fertile floret) with upper lemma awn up to 2+ cm and 1 pedicellate staminate (or sterile) spikelet (pedicel usually shorter than sessile spikelet, nodes and pedicel of upper spikelet with white hairs up to 10 mm (see photos on p2); various habitats; late summer to fall (varieties present) [V Max Brown, 2013] [Split] Splitbeard Bluestem – p2 Andropogon ternarius Michx. Spikes tend to be nearly straight at maturity [V Max Brown, 2013]

Paired RAME structure – sessile spikelet (lower sterile and upper perfect floret) and a sterile pedicellate spikelet (spikelet reduced to a glume-like structure)

Spikes not hidden in leaf sheaths, at maturity these will split into 2 racemes

Reduced Pedicellate spikelet Abundant silver Upper floret lemma to grayish with awn – somewhat white hairs spiraled and bent Sessile Spikelet

5 mm Pedicel about as long or less than sessile spikelet

Usually 2 RAME spikes per peduncle at maturity Broomsedge Bluestem – p1 USDA Andropogon virginicus L. var. virginicus Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) Near Nixa, Christian County, Missouri Notes: Plant perennial, caespitose, erect, to 2 m, usually shorter; Culm terete, somewhat flattened, many short branches; Roots fibrous, rhizomes present or not; Leaf Blades with mid-vein thick, less than 10 mm wide, to 50+ mm long, glabrous or hairy, variable; Leaf Sheaths hairy or not, keeled, sheath open; Ligules membranous (<1 mm) and ciliate; Inflorescence of 2-5+ clusters (spike-like racemes), forming in multiple leaf sheaths on short branches; Spikelets in pairs (RAME structure) of 1 sessile spikelet (1 lower sterile and 1 upper fertile floret) with awn up to 2 cm and 1 pedicellate staminate (or sterile) spikelet, nodes and pedicel of upper spikelet with white hairs up to 10 mm (see photos on p2); various habitats; late summer to fall (several varieties present) [V Max Brown, 2013] Inflorescence of RAMES on a Broomsedge Bluestem – p2 usually slightly curved axis of Andropogon virginicus L. var. virginicus spike-like racemes [V Max Brown, 2013]

RAME (1 fertile sessile spikelet and 1 sterile or absent pedicellate spikelet) arrangement of A. virginicus

Awn of lemma of sessile spikelet, 10 to 20 mm long, not Pecidellate sterile twisted spikelet – absent or much reduced

Silver/white hairs from 5-10 mm

Inflorescence Pedicel of sterile develops in leaf spikelet, usually sheath, opens fully about twice as from sheath at long as sessile maturity, width of spikelet 3 mm leaf sheaths from 3-5 mm Sessile spikelet with 1 lower sterile floret (reduced) and 1 upper fertile floret

RAME internode Callus hairs – 1-3 mm Broomsedge Bluestem – p3 FALL – WINTER LOOK Andropogon virginicus L. var. virginicus [V Max Brown, 2013]

Spikelet pair with RAME internode

Pedicellate sterile spikelet – absent or much reduced

Silver/white hairs from 5-10 mm

Pedicel of sterile spikelet, usually about twice as long as sessile spikelet

RAME internode Sessile spikelet with 1 lower sterile floret (reduced) and 1 upper fertile floret, awn present Callus hairs – 1-3 mm [Jointhead] Small Carpetgrass – p1 USDA (Thunb.) Makino (Introduced) Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas Notes: Plant perennial, caespitose, spreading and branching, rooting, to 1 m; Culm terete, branching; Roots fibrous, rhizomes usually present; Leaf blades lanceolate to ovate, cordate base margins hairy, size variable; Leaf Sheaths hairy; Ligules membranous and ciliate; of palmate clusters of spike-like racemes of RAMES, both terminal and axillary; see p2 for photos and detailed description of RAME structures; various moist habitats such as pond margins and stream banks; fall [V Max Brown, 2016] Inflorescence a cluster of spike-like [Jointhead] Small Carpetgrass – p2 racemes with Rames (however the Arthraxon hispidus (Thunb.) Makino pedicellate spikelet of the pair is [V Max Brown, 2013] absent)

The RAME structure (the spikelet pair plus the internode) is represented here by the sessile spikelet and the internode as the pedicellate spikelet is absent

Near the base of the sessile spikelet there may be a short stalk (nub only) of the absent pedicellate spikelet (nub not present in this sample).

Lower Glume of Sessile spikelet – here about 3.5 mm (average length is 3-5.5 mm), has several veins with hairs, upper glume with 1-3 veins (not shown here). There are 2 florets, lower one sterile, upper floret fertile and often awned but not in this sample. Silver Beardgrass – p1 USDA (DC.) Herter Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) US HWY 13, Just N of Springfield, Greene County, Missouri Notes: Plant perennial, caespitose, erect, up to 1.2+ m; Culm mostly terete, glabrous, nodes with erect hairs or not; Roots fibrous; Leaf Blades less than 5 mm wide, to 30+ cm long, mostly glabrous with long hairs near base; Leaf Sheaths glabrous; Ligules membranous; Inflorescence a dense panicle to 12+ cm, ascending branches (abundant silver white hairs coloring panicle); Spikelets in pairs (RAME structure) of 1 sessile spikelet – 1 lower sterile floret and 1 upper fertile floret with fertile lemma having a spirally twisted awn (up to 20+ mm) on lemma of fertile floret and - 1 pedicellate spikelet, reduced and sterile, shorter than sessile spikelet (see photos on p2); various habitats; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2013] Silver Beardgrass – p2 Bothriochloa laguroides (DC.) Herter [V Max Brown, 2013]

Fertile Lemma awn up to Abundant silver 20+ mm, twisted and – white hairs bent give a cotton- like appearance

2+ mm

3+ mm Pedicellate Spikelet

Sessile Spikelet Sessile Spikelet

Pedicellate Spkelet, reduced and sterile, shorter than sessile spikelet Chinese Silvergrass [Plume Grass] – p1 USDA Andersson (Introduced) Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) Nixa, Christian County, Missouri Notes: Plant perennial, erect, to 3+ m, forms large clumps; Culm mostly terete, nodes hairy; Roots fibrous, with stout short rhizomes; Leaf blades glabrous to slightly hairy, 20 to 70 cm long, 6 to 15+ wide, margins rough and often curled under, mostly basal; Leaf Sheaths glabrous, pilose at collar, small ligules; Inflorescence an open panicle (up to 30+ cm), loose to dense with usually > 15 branches; each branch with unequal pairs of pedicellate spikelets (to 7 mm); callus hairs about as long as spikelets up to 12 mm, glumes 3 to 6 mm, fertile lemmas 2 to 3+ mm, lemma tips with 2 teeth, awn, bent and twisted, up to 15 mm; summer to early fall; cultivated (from SE ) and at least 40+ (or forms) known. [V Max Brown, 2018] Chinese silvergrass [Plume Grass] – p2 Miscanthus sinensis Andersson (Introduced) [V Max Brown, 2018] Chinese Silvergrass [Plume Grass] – p3 FALL – WINTER LOOK Miscanthus sinensis Andersson (Introduced) [V Max Brown, 2018] Glumes here about 4 mm Miscanthus sinensis Paired spikelets with pedicels of different length.

Short pedicel spikelet

Long pedicel spikelet

Close-up photo of a long pedicel spikelet – Glumes here about 4 mm in length Silver Plume Grass – p1 USDA Saccharum alopecuroides (L.) Nutt. Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) Near Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas Notes: Plant perennial, caespitose, erect, 1 to 3 m; Culm mostly terete, glabrous except near inflorescence with appressed silky hairs, nodes hairy; Roots fibrous with short thick rhizomes; Leaf Blades less than 30 mm wide, to 60+ cm long, mostly glabrous with long hairs near base; Leaf Sheaths glabrous; Ligules membranous and ciliate; Inflorescence a somewhat dense panicle with ascending branches (abundant silver white to tan hairs coloring panicle); Spikelets in pairs (RAME structure) of 1 sessile spikelet – 1 lower sterile floret and 1 upper fertile floret with fertile lemma having a spirally twisted awn (up to 20+ mm) on lemma of fertile floret and - 1 pedicellate spikelet similar to Ligule membranous the sessile spikelet (see photos on p2); various habitats; late with some hairs summer to fall (varieties present) [V Max Brown, 2013]

Nodes usually with spreading hairs

Mature leaves with thick midrib

Rhizomes short and thick Hairs of Silver Plume Grass – p2 inflorescence silver Saccharum alopecuroides (L.) Nutt. white to light tan [V Max Brown, 2013]

Awns of perfect lemmas of both spikelets 2 to 4 times longer than spikelet, spirally twisted especially toward base

RAME structure – both sessile and pedicellate spikelets with upper perfect floret and Lower sterile floret

Pedicellate Spikelet

Upper Culm, below Inflorescence, with appressed silky Spikelet Sessile hairs – lower culm 5.5 mm Spikelet mostly glabrous

Pedicel length Callus hairs less than much longer spikelet length than spikelet Little Bluestem – p1 USDA (Michx.) Nash var. scoparium Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) La Petite Gemme Prairie, Polk County, Missouri Notes: Plant perennial, caespitose, erect, to 2 m, usually shorter; Culm terete, branching at upper nodes; Roots fibrous, rhizomes present or not; Leaf Blades with mid-vein thick, less than 10 mm wide, 30-60-90 mm long, glabrous or hairy, variable; Leaf Sheaths hairy or not, pinched at collar, sheath open; Ligules membranous and ciliate; Inflorescence of many terminal spike-like racemes up to 6+ cm from branches; Spikelets in pairs (RAME structure) of 1 sessile to short-stalked fertile spikelet with awn up to 2+ cm and 1 pedicellate staminate (or sterile) spikelet with or without shorter awn on lemma, nodes and pedicel of upper spikelet with white hairs (up to 4-5 mm); prairies and other habitats; summer to fall (several varieties present) [V Max Brown, 2013] Little Bluestem - p2 Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash var. scoparium [V Max Brown, 2013]

Inflorescence composed of paired spikelets (RAME structure), lower floret fertile, upper pedicellate floret sterile or staminate or absent – highly variable species

7 mm

Upper sterile or staminate spikelet

Lower sessile (or short stalked) spikelet with 1 perfect floret, awn to 20+ mm – some may have a sterile floret present as well

Abundant white hairs at node (base Pedicel of sessile or short of upper stalked spikelet) spikelet and on pedicel of upper spikelet Single compact Little Bluestem – p3 FALL – WINTER LOOK Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash var. scoparium [V Max Brown, 2013]

Upper sterile or staminate spikelet

RAME internode

Pedicel of upper spikelet

Lower sessile (or short stalked) spikelet with awn to 20+ mm Indian Grass – p1 USDA (L.) Nash Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) La Petite Gemme Prairie, Polk County, Missouri Notes: Plant perennial, caespitose, erect, to 2+ m; Culm terete, somewhat flattened, glabrous; Roots fibrous, short thick rhizomes present; Leaf Blades less than 10 mm wide, to 60+ mm long, mostly glabrous, sharp pointed auricles at base; Leaf Sheaths hairy or not; Ligules membranous and ciliate; Inflorescence a dense panicle, 50-60+ cm long, golden yellow in color; Spikelets in pairs (RAME structure) of 1 sessile spikelet – 1 lower sterile floret and 1 upper fertile floret with an awn (up to 20mm) on lemma of fertile floret and - 1 pedicellate staminate (or sterile) spikelet but only the pedicel is present (see photos on p2), sessile spikelet 4 to 8 mm long; various habitats, particularly tall grass prairie; late summer to fall [V Max Brown, 2013]

Node densely hairy

Infl. Golden yellow

rhizomes Lower surface auricles

Auricles and membranous Upper surface ligule, ciliate Indian Grass – p2 Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash [V Max Brown, 2013]

Yellow anther and transparent stigma

Awn of lemma of upper fertile floret, twisted and often bent toward base

6.5 mm

Lower glume

Hairy Upper Glume Pedicel of second spikelet of RAME struct., Sessile spikelet – 1 lower spikelet absent reduced sterile floret and 1 upper fertile floret Indian Grass – p3 FALL – WINTER LOOK Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash [V Max Brown, 2013]

Auricle of leaf sheath Pedicels of stalked spikelets (spikelets sterile or absent) RAME internode

Sessile spikelet (has awn but missing here) Grain Sorghum - p1 USDA Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. Bicolor (Introduced, cultivated) Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Stoddard County, Missouri Notes: Plant annual, mostly erect, from 0.5 to 2.5 (5-6) m, clump forming or not; Culm terete; Roots fibrous, without rhizomes; Leaf Blades up to 6+ cm wide, to 1 m long, quite variable with cultivars; Leaf Sheaths often glabrous; Ligules membranous; Inflorescence a panicle up to 60+ cm tall, branched; Spikelets arranged in the RAME structure (1 sessile perfect floret and 1 pedicellate sterile floret); up to 6 mm, somewhat ovate to nearly circular; summer to fall (many variants or cultivars) [V Max Brown, 2013] Grain Sorghum – p2 Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. Bicolor (Introduced) Pedicellate sterile floret [V Max Brown, 2013]

Fruit

Sessile perfect floret Johnson Grass – p1 USDA Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. (Introduced) Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) Nixa, Christian County, Missouri Notes: Plant perennial, erect, to 2+ m; Culm terete, nodes swollen and greenish; Roots fibrous, with stout white rhizomes; Leaf blades glabrous, up to but usually less than 1 m, up to 4 cm wide; Leaf Sheaths glabrous, sheath open; Ligules membranous with hairs (ciliate); Inflorescence an open panicle (up to 10 to 50+ cm tall, about half as wide), spreading at maturity; 1-5 spikelet pairs (RAME structure), sessile spikelet – up to 7 mm, perfect, glumes hard, shiny with appressed hairs, lemma thin and membranous (hyaline) and awned or not, pedicellate spikelet – a little shorter but thinner, Ligule membranous and ciliate staminate, pedicel about 2 to 3+ mm; Glumes enclose florets; Paleas absent; spring to summer [V Max Brown, 2013]

Large white rhizomes Johnson Grass – p2 Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. (Introduced) [V Max Brown, 2013]

Exposed style

2nd pair of spikelets (RAME structure)

Exposed style staminate spikelet of Exposed anther 1st pair

rachis Pedicel of staminate spikelet

perfect, sessile spikelet of 1st pair Johnson Grass – p3 FALL – WINTER LOOK Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. (Introduced) [V Max Brown, 2013]

Terminal spikelets with 2 pedicellate spikelets

Pedicellate staminate spikelet

Sessile bisexual spikelets

RAME Pedicel internode Eastern Gama Grass – p1 USDA (L.) L. Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) Nixa Area, Christian County, Missouri Notes: Plant perennial, erect, to 2+ m, forms clumps; Culm terete, nodes slightly swollen and greenish; Roots fibrous with short rhizomes; Leaf Blades mostly glabrous, up to 70+USDA cm; Leaf Sheaths mostly glabrous; Ligules membranous and ciliate; Inflorescence of 1 to several (usually 2 or 3) terminal spikelet racemes; Plant monoecious; 1 pistillate spikelet – with 2 florets, one sterile and one fertile, a hard glume surrounds the florets at maturity; Staminate spikelets - paired spikelets, sessile or with very small pedicel, glumes from 0.5 to 1.0+ cm, lemmas smaller and thin; spring to summer [species somewhat variable] [V Max Brown, 2013] Ligule membranous with hairs (ciliate) Eastern Gama Grass – p2 Terminal Spikelike racemes Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L. [V Max Brown, 2013]

Monoecious (Imperfect) plant – pistillate spikelets below with Staminate spikelets above

Paired Staminate Anthers Spikelets, sessile or with very short pedicels

Styles

Pistillate Spikelets

Feathery styles Lower Glume covers 2 florets, 1 of pistillate floret sterile and 1 fertile pistillate floret Corn – p1 USDA Zea mays L. ssp. Mays (Introduced) Poaceae (Grass Family); Andropogoneae (Tribe) Near Strafford, Dallas County, Missouri Notes: Plant annual, monoecious; Culm mostly terete, glabrous to hairy, erect, internodes with pith; Roots fibrous, prop roots usually present at lower nodes, height varies; Leaf Blades up to 12+ cm wide, up to75+ cm long; Leaf Sheaths opened, long hairs on edges; Ligules membranous, often lacerated; staminate Inflorescence of 4+ racemes (palmate or pinnate), terminal, spikelets paired with 2 florets; pistillate inflorescence of 1 to 3 spikes (cobs or ears of corn), each covered by bract-like structures (husks), each cob (axis) with many rows of sessile spikelets, 2 florets (1 sterile, 1 fertile), styles (silk) very long and protrudes from ear; summer (cultivated plant) [V Max Brown, 2013] Corn – p2 Zea mays L. ssp. Mays (Introduced) [V Max Brown, 2013]

Paired Staminate Spikelets Terminal Staminate inflorescence (tasels) 2 pistillate structures (ears) with styles (silk) protruding

Pistillate structure (“kernels” of corn) Staminate florets