Flora of the Southeastern United States

Muhlenbergia sericea (Michaux) P.M. Peterson. Common name: Dune Hairgrass, Sweet Grass. Phenology: Aug-Dec. Habitat: Maritime dry grasslands, maritime wet grasslands, interdune swales, low dunes, sometimes edges of freshwater or brackish marshes, northwards in its distribution (in NC and SC) apparently limited to the barrier islands (sometimes in close proximity with M. capillaris), sometimes locally abundant. Distribution: NC (slightly north of Oregon Inlet, Dare County, south of Nags Head) south to s. FL and west to s. TX, primarily on barrier islands (some portions of the distribution on the Gulf Coast may be by introduction only).

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Other Comments: This species is a very conspicuous part of the Outer Banks flora in the autumn, especially showy and abundant between Rodanthe (Chicamacomico) and Avon (Kinnakeet), Dare County, NC, and also abundant on Ocracoke Island, Hyde County, NC. The capillary pedicels and awns of its purple inflorescences are so light as to be moved by the slightest breeze. By December or January they fade to tan, but remain showy. This grass is a major component of baskets made in the Low Country of SC by the Gullah, who call it "sweet grass." I agree with Curtis (1843), Blomquist (1948), Pinson & Batson (1971), Gould (1975), and others who consider M. sericea (as M. filipes) a species distinct from M. capillaris. In addition to a discussion of its relationship to M. capillaris, Pinson and Batson (1971) and Morden & Hatch (1989) provide descriptions, not elsewhere available. See M. capillaris for a discussion of recent studies on this complex.

Synonymy ⓘ: = FNA25, K4, Gustafson & Peterson (2007); = Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. var. filipes (M.A.Curtis) Chapm. ex Beal — HC, S, WH3, Morden & Hatch (1989); = Muhlenbergia filipes M.A.Curtis — S13, SFla; < Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. — GW1, RAB, Tx; < Muhlenbergia sericea (Michx.) P.M.Peterson — FlGr; Stipa sericea Michaux. Basionym: Stipa sericea Michx. 1803

Links to other floras: = Muhlenbergia sericea - FNA25

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 9