Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Section: Common Name: Scientific Name: Family:
Account for Broomsedge -- smooth variant - Andropogon virginicus var. 1  
Members of Poaceae:
Members of Andropogon with account distribution info or public map:
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DistributionDocumented from Bladen County (Campbell 4213 GH), New Hanover County (photos and specimen by Eric Ungberg in 2021), and Pender County (LeBlond 4919 NCU).

Southeastern NC to central FL and southern MS. A Coastal Plain endemic.
AbundanceOnly 3 records are known. The NCNHP added the taxon to its Watch List (W2) in late 2022, with a State Rank of S1S2. The website editors suggest a state rank of S1.
HabitatMoist to wet Longleaf Pine savanna (Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co.); natural depression pond in old dunes (Carolina Beach SP, New Hanover Co.).
Phenology
IdentificationSee key in Weakley (2020) and discussion in Campbell (1983).
Taxonomic CommentsThe following quote is from Edwin Bridges in 2021: "This unnamed species is common in sandy depression marshes in peninsular Florida, just above and within the Hypericum fasciculatum zone. It is typically the only Andropogon in these habitats, sometimes mixed with the very different Andropogon perangustatus near the upper edges of the depressions. It occasionally occurs in wetland pine savannas and wet open grasslands, where it overlaps with several other Andropogon species. This is the last of the clearly obvious Andropogon species of the southeast US that does not yet have a name. Study of this one has been hampered by the widespread range of Andropogon virginicus, and its wide array of ecological forms (or varieties!). Andropogon virginicus 'Smooth Variant' is very uniform in morphology in the sandy depression marshes where it is most prevalent, but may hybridize with other Andropogon species in wetland pine savannas and seepage slopes, including perhaps with other unnamed varieties of Andropogon virginicus."

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)Smooth Bluestem
State RankS1S2 [S1]
Global RankG5TNR
State StatusW2
US Status
USACE-agcp
USACE-emp
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Eric UngbergCarolina Beach SP, Nov 2021, natural depression pond. New HanoverPhoto_natural
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