Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Section: Common Name: Scientific Name: Family:
Account for Wetland White Bluestem - Andropogon dealbatus   (Mohr) Weakley & LeBlond
Members of Poaceae:
Members of Andropogon with account distribution info or public map:
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Section 5 » Family Poaceae
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Author(Mohr) Weakley & LeBlond
DistributionMostly the outer southern Coastal Plain, ranging inland to southeastern Cumberland County and coastally north to Onslow County. Recently split from A. capillipes (LeBlond and Weakley 2011).

Coastal Plain, NC to southern FL and eastern TX; southern NJ; Bahamas.
AbundanceUncommon. As this species was only recently pulled from A. capillipes, there is uncertainty about its abundance level, especially as both species have similar ranges, though this species occurs farther inland than does A. capillipes. The NCNHP has added it to its Watch List (W7) in late 2022, with a State Rank of S2S4.
HabitatExposed shores of sinkhole ponds, depression meadows, wet pine savannas -- strictly a wetland species, as opposed to the other species, which often occurs in uplands.
PhenologyFlowering and fruiting September-October.
IdentificationThis is one of several NC bluestems with glaucous (chalky white or bluish white) stems and leaves. It is very similar to A. capillipes, from which it has been split off. A. dealbatus differs in growing in wetter habitats, has longer spikelets (mostly 3.5-3.9 mm long vs. 3.2-3.5 mm long in A. capillipes), and has broader leaves (averaging 5.0 mm wide vs. averaging 3.5 mm wide).
Taxonomic CommentsFormerly included within A. capillipes.

While the genus Andropogon is quite easy to recognize in the field, ID of species is not so easy and there are no shortcuts. Readers are strongly advised to read the introductory paragraphs in Weakley (2018) and to use his key. Once one has successfully keyed out several species, or compared collections with verified specimens, one can learn to recognize them in the field.
Other Common Name(s)None
State RankS2S4
Global RankGNR
State StatusW7
US Status
USACE-agcp
USACE-emp
County Map - click on a county to view source of record.
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B.A. SorrieSame data New HanoverPhoto_natural
B.A. SorrieCarolina Beach SP, natural depression pond, Aug 2013. New HanoverPhoto_natural
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