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Leander, Bruce

Piptochaetium avenaceum

Piptochaetium avenaceum (L.) Parodi

Blackseed Speargrass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s): Stipa avenacea

USDA Symbol: PIAV

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Perennial grass that grows to three feet in height with slender leaves. Distinctive twisted, hair-like, two to three inch long awns. The inflorescence branches are very thin creating the effect of spikelets that appear to be floating in mid air.

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 40 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Canada: ON
Native Habitat: Dry woods, rocky slopes, outcrops, and clearings.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	UPL				UPL	UPL		FACU	FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-1012 Collected 2007-04-12 in Montgomery County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Piptochaetium avenaceum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Piptochaetium avenaceum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Piptochaetium avenaceum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-09-28
Research By: DEW

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