Gymnopogon ambiguus

Common Names

Bearded Skeletongrass, Bearded Skeleton Grass, Eastern Beard Grass

Summary

Gymnopogon ambiguus, commonly known as Bearded Skeletongrass, is a native perennial grass (Poaceae) of the southeastern United States, it forms erect to ascending culms 20–100 cm tall with distichous linear to lanceolate leaves and a ciliate membranous ligule about 0.2 mm long, the inflorescence is a raceme 3–24 cm long, with spikelets distantly arranged on a central axis, glumes persist, the fertile lemma is keeled and awned (3.8–9.6 mm), and the fruit is a 2–3 mm caryopsis, short rhizomes accompany the plant, and habitats include prairies, glades, barrens, dry pinelands and woodlands, and dry fields, Cultivation and practical considerations: thrives in dry to mesic, well-drained sites and tolerates a range of moisture, native occurrences documented in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and other southeastern states, flowering or detectable activity occurs from August through November

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

8 inches-3.5 feet

Spread

4.5-14.5 inches

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun.

Soil Type

Dry soils

Soil Drainage

Dry soils

Bloom Color

Brown (incl. Maroon) and Green

Bloom Time

Summer and Fall

Leaf Lifecycle

Other

Growth Rate

Not specified in sources

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Fall