Aristida stricta, known as wiregrass or pineland three-awn grass, is a warm-season grass native to North America. The species dominates understory vegetation in sandhills and flatwoods coastal plain ecosystems of the Carolinas in the Southeastern United States.[1][2] Its appearance is characterized by villous bristles (indument) on each side of its midrib and on the back of the involute leaf blade.[3]
Taxonomy and etymology
The common name of Aristida stricta, wiregrass, gave rise to the naming of the Wiregrass Region in which it is located.[4] The species was first described by André Michaux in 1803.[5] In 1993, the southern population of the species was split off and described as Aristida beyrichiana because of geographic and morphological differences. The two species were treated as an "Aristida strictasensu latospecies complex".[1] However, a decade later, further anatomical studies suggested that the two species did not have sufficient morphological differences to be considered separate.[6] As of 2024, Plants of the World Online accepted Aristida beyrichiana as separate from A. stricta.[7]
Ecology
This is a fast-growing species that regenerates quickly after fires. The plant depends on regular summer burning in order to stimulate flowering and seed production.[8]
