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Floristic Inventory of the Florida Keys Database Online

Schizachyrium gracile (Spreng.) Nash
Wire bluestem

Schizachyrium gracile
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley

Family: Poaceae

Group: Monocot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Herb

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: South Florida and the West Indies.

IRC SOUTH FLORIDA Status: Secure

Map of select IRC data for peninsular Florida

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Native

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Cultivated

Comments: Visit our Natives For Your Neighborhood website for more information and images.

FLORIDA KEYS Occurrence: Present

FLORIDA KEYS Native Status: Native

IRC FLORIDA KEYS Status: Apparently Secure

Map of select IRC data for the Florida Keys

Florida Keys History and Distribution: Not reported for the Florida Keys by John Kunkel Small in 1913, but apparently native to pinelands and thickets in the lower Keys. Also collected in the historical pineland on North Key Largo by A.F. Bellenger in 1966 (471, FTG). Probably spreading as a weed in the middle Keys and lower sandy Keys. We consider this native and extant in the upper Keys (Key Largo) and lower Keys. This is almost certainly more common than it was historically, spreading along roadsides and in other disturbed areas.

Other data on Schizachyrium gracile available from :

Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

Schizachyrium gracile has been reported from the following 13 conservation areas in the FLORIDA KEYS :
Occurrence Native Status
Bahia Honda State Park Present Native
Big Torch Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Native
Curry Hammock State Park Present Doubtfully Native
Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks Botanical State Park Possibly Extirpated Possibly Extirpated
Dove Creek Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Native
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Present Native
Key West National Wildlife Refuge Present Native
Little Hamaca Park Present Native
Middle Torch Hammocks Parcel 3063, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Native
National Key Deer Refuge Present Native
Ramrod Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Native
Spoonbill Sound Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Native
Sugarloaf Hammocks, Florida Keys Wildlife and Environmental Area Present Native




Schizachyrium gracile has been reported for the following 2 habitats in THE FLORIDA KEYS :
Disturbed Upland
Pine Rockland


All Images:

Schizachyrium gracile
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley
Schizachyrium gracile
Copyright by: Eric Fleites
Schizachyrium gracile
Copyright by: Keith A. Bradley