Schizachyrium gracile (Sprengel) Nash var. gracile . Wire Bluestem. Phen: Late May-Dec. Hab: Pine rocklands, marl prairies, disturbed areas over limestone. Dist: S. peninsular FL; West Indies.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: A second variety, var. firmior A.S. Hitchcock, is endemic to Hispaniola. The generic placement of this species has controversial (Andropogon vs. Schizachyrium); it is deeply embedded in a clade of many species of Schizachyrium, close to the type of Schizachyrium, and well away from any of the various clades of Andropogon, so it seems likely to be best placed in Schizahyrium (Welker et al. 2020).

Synonymy: = WI; = Andropogon gracilis Spreng. – K4; < Andropogon gracilis Spreng. – FNA25, HC, S; < Schizachyrium gracile (Spreng.) Nash – Bah, S13, WH3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily: 9