keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

ANTHENANTIA/POACEAE
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to be the etymologically correct version of the three alternate spellings used by Palisot de
Beauvois, the author of the genus (Clayton & Renvoize 1986; Wipff 2003g). The following key
and descriptions are modified from Kral (2004). (Greek: anthos, flower, and enantios, contrary,
“the spikelet having given Palisot de Beauvois some problems in interpretation”—Wipff 2003g)
(subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae)
REFERENCES: Webster 1988; López-Ferrari & Espejo 2000; Wipff 2003g; Kral 2004.
1. Adaxial (upper) surface of leaf blades with erect or variously directed hairs; principal leaves with
blades shallowly auricled, only slightly angled outward from their sheaths; longer main panicle
branches 1/3–1/2 as long as whole panicle, usually naked-based; glume and lower lemma often
with longitudinal reddish bands ______________________________________________________ A. texana
1. Adaxial surface of leaf blades lacking hairs, though sometimes scabrid; principal leaves EITHER
strongly auricled and angled outward from their sheaths OR lacking auricles and erect to gradually
bowed outward; lower main panicle branches less than 1/3 panicle length OR branching
near base; glume and lower lemma with OR without red longitudinal bands.
2. Principal leaves with blades strongly auriculate and diverging at a definite angle from their
sheaths, marginally ciliate basally; leaves, spikelets, and spikelet hairs with little or no red pigmentation;
anthers brown at flowering; lemma and palea of fertile floret brown _______________ A. villosa
2. Principal leaves with blades weakly, if at all, auriculate and gradually flowing or continuing in
� the same plane as their sheaths, marginally ciliate basally OR lacking cilia basally; leaves,
spikelets, and spikelet hairs variously reddish or purplish; anthers dark brown at flowering;
lemma and palea of fertile floret darker red-brown to nearly black _____________________________ A. rufa
Anthenantia texana R. Kral, (of Texas), TEXAS SILKYSCALE. Perennial (45–)60–100(–120) cm tall;
leaves (15–)20–40(–60) cm long, the blades lance-linear, 4–7(–10) mm wide; ligule (0.5–)1(–1.5)
mm long; panicle 7–15(–20) cm long; spikelets 3–4 mm long, reddish and green at anthesis, with
red to pale pink or purple hairs. Sands, sandy clay loam, sandy peat, or silts of pine flatwoods,
pine-oak barrens, bog margins, ditch banks and clearings (Kral 2004); Angelina, Freestone, Jasper,
Liberty, Newton, Robertson, Tyler (BRIT), Hardin (VDB), Houston (VDB—Type), and Austin
(TEX) cos. in the se part of East TX; also Aransas, Calhoun, Nueces (TEX), Jackson (BRIT), and
Harris (Kral 2004) cos. in the Gulf Prairies and Marshes; w of the Mississippi Embayment in
AR, LA, and TX. Mid-Jul–Oct. This is the most recently described new species in the East TX
flora (Kral 2004). It has in the past typically been treated as part of A. villosa. Where Kral
(2004) observed A. texana and A. villosa occurring together, A. villosa tended to occupy sandier,
slightly higher areas, with A. texana in close proximity on slightly moister substrates.
Anthenantia villosa (Michx.) P. Beauv., (softly hairy), GREEN SILKYSCALE. Similar to A. texana; perennial
(50–)60–130 cm tall; leaves 15–40 cm long; leaf blades 4–9(–15) mm wide; inflorescence
(5–)10–20(–25) cm long; spikelets 3–4 mm long, green or pale green at anthesis, with silvery or
pale hairs. Pinelands, pine-oak areas, bog margins, ditch banks, savannahs, roadsides, and sandy
clearings, sometimes in relatively dry situations; Jasper, Newton (BRIT), and Hardin (TAES) cos. in
the s Pineywoods; se U.S. from NC s to FL w to TX. Mid-Jul–Nov. This species in the past has been
considered to occur broadly in the s part of East TX and the Gulf Prairies and Marshes (e.g.,
Turner et al. 2003), primarily because of confusion with the recently described A. texana. While
additional TX collections will probably be made, since the species is currently known from the
state from only three counties (Kral 2004), we are considering it of conservation concern in TX. �
Anthenantia rufa (Nutt.) Schult., (red), PURPLE SILKYSCALE. Though this species has in the past
been widely reported for TX (e.g., Turner et al. 2003), no definitive TX specimens are known (Kral
2004). However, Kral noted that it is “possibly” in East TX. The taxon is thus included in the key to
species and here as a note for completeness and to alert collectors. Wet habitats (wet pine
flatwoods and savannahs, sphagnous streamheads, and pitcher plant bogs); se U.S. from NC s to