Synonymy: Refer to each varietal page
Lower Taxa: Five subspecies recognized by Freckman and LeLong and four by USDA Plants Database. Four subspecies found in New Jersey: P. rigidulum var. rigidulum; P. rigidulum var. pubescens; P. rigidulum var. elongatum; P. rigiulum var. condensum. Additional taxa south of New Jersey include P. rigiulum var. combsii; Freckman and LeLong desribe ssp. abscissum (Florida endemic) ; others exclude the later as a separate species.
Origin: Native, eastern North America, variety rigidulum has Pacific Coast distribution.
Habit: Herbaceous, clumping perennial grass
Range: At least on variety found in all New Jersey counties with the exception of Sussex Co.
Frequency: Common
Rank/Status: G5, S4/5; none
Wetland Status: FACW-OBL
Flowering & Reproduction: Flowering in July, spikelets mature in fall
Comments: A common grass associated with open wet and dry sandy sites and pond edges. A complex species with numerous morphological variations.
Reference Specimen: See Varietal Forms