Andropogon ternarius Michx.

Natural range: Southeastern U.S., Mexico

Habitat: Dry sandy areas, dry pine woods, old upland fields

Florida status: Native, common

Recognition: Leaves narrow (3 mm). Racemes 3-4 cm long, uncrowded on peduncles 5-20 cm long. Spikelets (4.5)5-8.4 mm. Anthers 3. Pedicellate spikelet 3 mm long (presence of a pedicellate spikelet unusual among our species). Awn 10-25 mm.

Andropogon ternarius resembles A. floridanus but has shorter leaves (< 35 mm vs. often exceeding that), sparse inflorescence units (easy to count on one plant vs. numerous and congested), long spikelets (usually 5-8 mm vs. usually 4-4.8 mm), long awns (10-25 mm vs. < 15 mm), and 3 (vs. 1) anthers.