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Piptochaetium avenaceum (Linnaeus) Parodi. Common name: Eastern Needlegrass, Black Oatgrass, Blackseed Speargrass. Phenology: Mar-Jun. Habitat: Upland woodlands and forests, sometimes abundant or even dominant in xeric hardpan forests over granitic or mafic rocks in the Piedmont. Distribution: MA, KY, s. IL, and c. OK, south to c. peninsular FL and s. TX; disjunct near the Great Lakes in n. IN and w. MI.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, ETx1, FlGr, FNA24, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, Tn, Va, WH3; = n/a — Il; = Stipa avenacea L. — F, G, HC, RAB, S, S13, SFla, Tat, Tx, W, WV. Basionym: Stipa avenacea L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Piptochaetium avenaceum - FNA24

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: UPL
  • Great Plains: UPL
  • Midwest: FACU
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 6

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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Height: 3 ft.

plant sale text: This perennial bunchgrass is common across Eastern North America. Its thin branches supporting its spikelet flowers are difficult to see from a distance, giving the spikeletes the appearance of floating midair. Blackseeded speargrass grows in open oak pine woods within the coasal plain of easter North Carolina. tolerates sandy soils.

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cultural notes:

germination code: 2

native range: eastern North America



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