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Andropogon virginicus

Andropogon virginicus

9.9
A tall grass that grows in clumps in the southeastern United States and people call broomsedge
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Andropogon virginicus
  • Andropogon virginicus thrives in poor, sandy soils throughout the southeastern United States.

Examples

  • Fire can help manage fields overrun by Andropogon virginicus populations.

  • Many farmers use Andropogon virginicus for erosion control.

  • Farmers often remove Andropogon virginicus to improve the quality of their pastures.

  • The Andropogon virginicus grows abundantly in the fields.

  • Andropogon virginicus is a common sight in the fields of the southeastern United States, especially in poor soil conditions.

  • The tall Andropogon virginicus grass provides habitat for various wildlife in its native environment.

  • Gardeners often find Andropogon virginicus beneficial for improving soil health in their landscapes.

Synonyms

broom sedge
vsAndropogon virginicus
  • US
9.0

A tall grass that grows in many clumps in old fields in the southeastern United States

is the formal scientific label for the same grass
broomstraw
vsAndropogon virginicus
  • Specialized
9.9

A coarse grass that grows in fields and pastures in the southeastern United States

identifies the precise species rather than a general coarse grass term

Surface Forms

Morphology

Andropogon + virginicus

This is a Linnaean binomial: 'Andropogon' names a genus of grasses and 'virginicus' is a Latin epithet meaning 'of Virginia' (i.e., origin). Together they compositionally denote a particular species of Andropogon (a grass), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Andropogon virginicus gets its name from old Greek words: andro- meaning 'man' and -pogon meaning 'beard', because the plant's fluffy seed heads look like a beard, and 'virginicus' points to Virginia. So the name gives a simple picture of a tall, beard-like grass from Virginia.