Anatherum cretaceum (Weakley & Schori) Weakley & Schori. Common name: Purple Bluestem, Chalky Bluestem. Phenology: Aug-Nov. Habitat: Wet pine savannas, pine flatwoods, maritime forests, ditches, wet disturbed sites. Often becoming abundant in mesic or wet-mesic flatwood sites that are roller chopped or otherwise mechanically disturbed. Distribution: Se. VA south to c. peninsular FL and west to e. TX (Singhurst, Sorrie, & Holmes 2012).

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: Although sometimes included in the past in either A. glomeratus or A. virginicus, this species is distinctive and easily recognized in the field (even from a car at 60 m.p.h.) by the combination of blue color, height of well over 1 m (taller than the other glaucous bluestems), and semi-bushy inflorescence. See Weakley et al. (2018a) for explanation of the need for a new name for this species, A. glaucopsis being preoccupied.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Weakley et al (2024b) in Weakley et al (2024a); Andropogon macrourus Michx. var. glaucopsis (Elliott) Steud.; = Anatherum species 4; = Andropogon cretaceus Weakley & Schori — FlGr, K4, POWO, Sorrie (2020b) in Weakley et al (2020), Weakley & Schori (2018) in Weakley et al (2018a); = Andropogon glaucopsis Elliott ex Beal — GW1, S13, Va, Weakley et al (2011), misapplied; = Andropogon glomeratus (Walter) Britton, Sterns, & Poggenb. var. glaucopsis (Elliott ex Beal) Hitchc. — FNA25, NS, WH3, Campbell (1983); = Andropogon virginicus L. var. glaucopsis (Elliott) Hitchc. — F, HC; = n/a — C; < Andropogon glomeratus (Walter) Britton, Sterns, & Poggenb. — ETx1, S; < Andropogon virginicus L. — RAB; >< Andropogon virginicus L. var. glaucus Hack. — Ar, misapplied. Basionym: Andropogon cretaceus Weakley & Schori 2018 "Urbasionym:" Andropogon macrourus Michx. var. glaucopsis (Elliott) Steud. 1816

Links to other floras: = Andropogon glomeratus var. glaucopsis - FNA25

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (name change)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 9