Schizachyrium scoparium

Species category

Agricultural, Revegetation or Rangeland

Common name

little bluestem

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

SpikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.

Shape

Lanceolate

Size

  • Length 6–7.5 mm 
  • Width 0.7–1 mm 
  • Thickness 0.7–1 mm 

Color

Brown

Texture

Smooth

Lemma

Covered by glumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.

Palea

Covered by glumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.

Other structures

Rachis segmentRachis segment:
A segment of the central axis of the inflorescence (rachis). In some species (e.g. Andropogon) separation of the sessile spikelets occurs when the rachis disarticulates at the spikelet bases leaving the segment of the rachis between spikelets attached to the lower spikelet.
and pedicelPedicel:
The stalk within an inflorescence supporting a single flower or spikelet.
present.

Identification notes

Dorsal glumeGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
is longitudinally convex. Appendages are hairy. PedicelPedicel:
The stalk within an inflorescence supporting a single flower or spikelet.
never bears a fertile spikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
, only a small vestige of one. An awnAwn:
A narrow, bristle-like organ, as on the glumes or lemmas of grasses (Poaceae).
from the lemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.
protrudes out through the tips of the glumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Included

Nomenclature

Family

Poaceae

Valid name

Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash

 Schizachyrium scoparium.  Spikelets with an awn from the lemma protruding out through the tips of the glumes. 
Schizachyrium scoparium. Spikelets with an awn from the lemma protruding out through the tips of the glumes. 
From Left to Right: 1.  Andropogon gerardii  2.  Andropogon hallii  3.  Sorghastrum nutans  4.  Schizachyrium scoparium  5,  Bothriochloa ischaemum .
From Left to Right: 1. Andropogon gerardii 2. Andropogon hallii 3. Sorghastrum nutans 4. Schizachyrium scoparium 5, Bothriochloa ischaemum.