Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.

This is one of several NC bluestems with glaucous (chalky white or bluish white) stems and leaves. This species is taller and leafier than A. capillipes and A. dealbatus and not so white. Read more at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.

Although sometimes included in the past in either A. glomeratus or A. virginicus, this species is distinctive and easily recognized in the field (even from a car at 60 m.p.h.) by the combination of blue color, height of well over 1 m (taller than the other glaucous bluestems), and semi-bushy inflorescence. Read more in Weakley's Flora (2023).

Andropogon: A new name for a chalky bluestem (Weakley & Schori, 2018) explains the need for a new name for this species, A. glaucopsis being preoccupied.

Andropogon capillipes, A. dealbatus, and A. cretaceus have culm sheaths and leaf blades that are strongly glaucous; this is usually very obvious, but can be tested for by running the finger along the surface of the leaf (a white coating of wax will come off on the finger). Read more in Weakley's Flora (2023).

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SYNONYMOUS WITH (MISAPPLIED) PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Andropogon glaucopsis   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 25 (2003)

Andropogon glomeratus var. glaucopsis

SYNONYMOUS WITH (MISAPPLIED) Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)

Andropogon glaucopsis

SYNONYMOUS WITH Systematics of the Andropogon virginicus complex (Gramineae) (Campbell, 1983)

Andropogon glomeratus var. glaucopsis

INCLUDED WITHIN VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 029-87-007?:

Andropogon virginicus   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Gray's Manual of Botany (Fernald, 1950)

Andropogon virginicus var. glaucopsis

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)

Andropogon virginicus var. glaucopsis

INCLUDED WITHIN Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)

Andropogon glomeratus

 

COMMON NAME:
Chalky Bluestem, Purple Bluestem, Coastal Bluestem, Big Chalky Bluestem

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         To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

 

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/14/23):
Andropogon cretaceus   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH (MISAPPLIED) PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Andropogon glaucopsis   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 25
Andropogon glomeratus var. glaucopsis

SYNONYMOUS WITH (MISAPPLIED) Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Andropogon glaucopsis

SYNONYMOUS WITH Systematics of the Andropogon virginicus complex (Gramineae) (Campbell, 1983)
Andropogon glomeratus var. glaucopsis

INCLUDED WITHIN VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 029-87-007?:
Andropogon virginicus   FAMILY Poaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Gray's Manual of Botany (Fernald, 1950)
Andropogon virginicus var. glaucopsis

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Grasses of the US (Hitchcock & Chase, 1950)
Andropogon virginicus var. glaucopsis

INCLUDED WITHIN Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Andropogon glomeratus