Brachyelytrum aristosum (Michaux) Palisot de Beauvois ex Trelease. Northern Shorthusk. Phen: Jul-Aug. Hab: Moist forests, mostly at moderate to high elevations, such as northern hardwoods and spruce-fir. Dist: NL (Newfoundland), QC, ON, and MN south to n. NJ, PA, n. OH, n. IN, and s. WI, and in the mountains to sw. NC, e. TN, nw. SC, and ne. GA.

ID notes:In MI, B. aristosum flowers about 10 days before co-occurring B. erectum, with strongly synchronized anthesis of each species occurring on a single day (Stephenson 1971). Reputed intermediates and hybrids between the two taxa are apparently based on the use of ambiguous characters.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy: = FNA24, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, Tn, Va, Saarela et al (2003); = Brachyelytrum erectum (Schreb.) P.Beauv. var. glabratum (Vasey ex Millsp.) Koyama & Kawano – C; = Brachyelytrum erectum (Schreb.) P.Beauv. var. septentrionale Babel – F; = Brachyelytrum septentrionale (Babel) G.C.Tucker – K1, K3, Tucker (1988); > Brachyelytrum aristosum (Michx.) P.Beauv. ex Trel. var. glabratum Vasey – WV; < Brachyelytrum erectum (Schreb.) P.Beauv. – G, HC, RAB, S, S13, W

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily: 2