SPECIES: Schizachyrium scoparium
Schizachyrium scoparium: INTRODUCTORY

INTRODUCTORY

SPECIES: Schizachyrium scoparium
AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION:
Steinberg, Peter D. 2002. Schizachyrium scoparium. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [].

FEIS ABBREVIATION:
SCHSCO 

SYNONYMS:
Andropogon scoparius Michx.[142]

NRCS PLANT CODE [272]:
SCSC
SCSCS
SCSCD

COMMON NAMES:
little bluestem 
broom bluestem 
broom beardgrass 
creeping bluestem 

TAXONOMY:
The currently accepted scientific name of little bluestem is Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash. (Poaceae). Three currently recognized varieties are listed below [160]:

Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium
Schizachyrium scoparium var. stoloniferum (Nash) J. Wipff 
Schizachyrium scoparium var. divergens (Hack.) Gould 

Schizachyrium scoparium var. stoloniferum is called creeping bluestem, and S. s. var. divergens is referred to as pinehill bluestem. Frequent changes in taxonomy have resulted in a number of synonyms and taxa that are no longer recognized. When little bluestem was included in the Andropogon genus, many varieties were recognized. After its classification in the Schizachyrium genus, many of the varieties continued being recognized. There was difficulty in discerning varieties because of clinal variation and, subsequently, many varieties were reorganized into the 3 currently recognized varieties [127,160]. Additionally, some varieties became recognized as separate species.

Subspecies and varieties now included in S. s. var. scoparium include A. scoparium var. ducis Fern & Grisc., A. s. var. frequens F.T. Hubbard, A. s. var. neomexicanus (Nash) A.S. Hitchc. (later S. s. var. neomexicanum (Nash) Gould), A. s. var. polycladus Scribn. & Ball (later S. s. var. polycladum (Scribn. & Ball) C.F. Reed), A. s. var. septentrionalis Fern & Grisc., and S. praematurum (Fern.) C.F. Reed. A. scoparium var. divergens Hack., A. s. var. virilis Shinners (later S. s. var. virile (Shinners) Gould), and S. s. ssp. divergens (Hack.) Gould are now classified as S. s. var. divergens (Hack.) Gould. A. s. var. littoralis (Nash) Hitchc. (later S. s. ssp. littorale (Nash) Gandhi & Smeins) has been classified as a separate species, dune bluestem (S. littorale (Nash) Bickn.) [160]. 

LIFE FORM:
Graminoid

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS:
No special status

OTHER STATUS:
No entry

Complete FEIS review for Schizachyrium scoparium

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