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broom sedge

Scientific Name: Carex scoparia var. scoparia

Family: Cyperaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth: Graminoid

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Broomsedge Bluestem (Andropogon virginicus)

Andropogon virginicus, commonly known as broomsedge bluestem, is a perennial grass native to North America. It is also known as yellowsedge bluestem, whiskey grass, broom grass, broom sage, and sage brush.

Considerations for Pets

  • This is a coarse grass, potentially unsuitable for forage.
  • The plant reseeds from heads, indicating the presence of small parts that could be ingested.

Considerations for Children

  • The plant reseeds from heads, indicating the presence of small parts that could be ingested.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Andropogon virginicus L.
  • Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
  • Synonyms/Common Names: Broomsedge, yellowsedge bluestem, Virginia bluestem, whiskey grass, broom grass, broom sage, sage brush, broomstraw, sagegrass.
  • USDA PLANTS Symbol: ANVI2

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the eastern United States.
  • Also found in California and southern New England.
  • Introduced in many other locations.
  • Grows in dry meadows, pastures, fields, along roadsides, and in openings to forests.
  • Found on abandoned coal-mined lands with acidic soils.

Ecological Role

  • Often considered a weed, particularly in poorly managed pastures.
  • Listed as a "Noxious Weed" by the USDA.
  • Can be invasive, especially in areas with low soil fertility or excessive grazing.
  • A sign of low soil fertility.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Perennial bunchgrass that forms clumps.
  • Grows to 1-3 feet tall, forming a dense erect tuft of flowering culms.
  • Seeds are evenly distributed along the 2-5 ft stems.
  • Striking golden copper fall color.
  • Flat base is usually yellow.

Quirky Facts

  • The name "Broom" comes from the culms which were used to make brooms in some southern states.
  • On late winter afternoons, a field of Broom Sedge can be a spectacle with glowing coppery foliage and silvery hairs that refract the sunlight.