. Common plants of longleaf pine-bluestem range. Plant ecology; Grasses; Forage plants. FINELEAF BLUESTEM Andropogon subtenuis Nash Fineleaf bluestem is among the smallest southern bluestems. It is fairly common and widely distribu- ted, but its low habit and narrow leaves make it relatively inconspicuous. It occupies a variety of sites, but grows best on well-drained ridges, mounds, and slopes. In cutover areas it may com- prise 25 percent of the grass stand, but generally much less. Like slender bluestem, it tolerates heav- ier use than taller, broad-leaved grasses. Mature plants are 16 to 2
. Common plants of longleaf pine-bluestem range. Plant ecology; Grasses; Forage plants. FINELEAF BLUESTEM Andropogon subtenuis Nash Fineleaf bluestem is among the smallest southern bluestems. It is fairly common and widely distribu- ted, but its low habit and narrow leaves make it relatively inconspicuous. It occupies a variety of sites, but grows best on well-drained ridges, mounds, and slopes. In cutover areas it may com- prise 25 percent of the grass stand, but generally much less. Like slender bluestem, it tolerates heav- ier use than taller, broad-leaved grasses. Mature plants are 16 to 28 inches tall and leaves are less than 1/8 inch wide. Lower leaf sheaths are laterally flattened, as in many bluestems. Foli- age is similar to that of slender bluestem. Under a hand lens, fineleaf bluestem is distinguishable by its pointed ligule, the ligule of slender bluestem being short and blunt. Seed heads are borne in slender, slightly inflated spathes, with at least some of the slender, silky racemes protruding. Seed heads may be confused with those of Elliott bluestem, which intergrades with fineleaf bluestem. Spathes of Elliott bluestem are distinctly inflated; they are also longer, more numerous, and more closely crowded. In forage quality, fineleaf bluestem is similar to slender bluestem. Of the two, fineleaf bluestem matures later and therefore is more palatable in summer. Because plants are generally small and widely scattered, fineleaf bluestem is a minor part of the cattle diet. Range: Louisiana to northern Florida. Perennial. Culms erect, in small tufts, very slender, some- what compressed, 40-70 cm. tall, sparingly branched above; sheaths keeled, wider than the blade, generally glabrous, but occasionally densely long-villous; ligule mm. long, sharply pointed; blades mm. wide, flat or folded, scabrous, generally with long scattered hairs on the margins near the ligule, occasionally densely long-villous as the sheaths; racemes two. 2-3 cm. long, flex
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, booksubjectforageplants, booksubjectgrasses
