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 pedicelalte spikelet unsual 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.