Sphenopholis intermedia

Illustrator: Hana Pazdírková, Linda Ann Vorobik

Copyright: Utah State University

Culms (5)30-120 cm. Sheaths smooth or scabridulous, sometimes pubescent; ligules 1.5-2.5 mm, erose-ciliate, often lacerate; blades 8-15 cm long, (1)2-6 mm wide, flat to slightly involute. Panicles (2)7-20 cm long, (0.5)1-3 cm wide, usually nodding, not spikelike, spikelets usually loosely arranged. Spikelets 2.1-4 mm. Lower glumes less than 1/3 as wide as the upper glumes; upper glumes 1.9-2.9 mm, oblanceolate to obovate, not subcucullate, width/length ratio 0.23-0.35, apices acute, rounded, or subtruncate; lowest lemmas 2.1-3 mm, smooth or scabridulous; distal lemmas usually smooth on the sides, rarely scabridulous near the apices, unawned; anthers 0.2-0.8 mm. 2n = 14.

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Conn., N.J., N.Y., Wash., Del., D.C., Wis., W.Va., Mass., Maine, N.H., R.I., Vt., Fla., Wyo., Utah, N.Mex., Tex., La., Tenn., N.C., S.C., Pa., Nev., Va., Colo., Alaska, Ala., Kans., N.Dak., Nebr., Okla., S.Dak., Ark., Ill., Ga., Ind., Iowa, Ariz., Idaho, Md., Ohio, Mo., Minn., Mich., Mont., Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Labr.), N.S., N.W.T., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon, Miss., Ky., Oreg.

Discussion

Sphenopholis intermedia grows at 0-2500 m in wet to damp sites, sites that dry out after the growing season, and sites with clay soils that retain moisture. Restricted to the Flora region, it is found in forests, meadows, and waste places throughout most of the region other than the high arctic. It differs from Koeleria macrantha (p. 754), with which it is sometimes confused, in its more open panicles and in having spikelets that disarticulate below the glumes.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.