Aristida chaseae

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Cladus: Commelinids
Ordo: Poales

Familia: Poaceae
Subfamilia: Aristidoideae
Tribus: Aristideae
Genus: Aristida
Species: Aristida chaseae
Name

Aristida chaseae Hitchc., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 22: 575 (1924).
Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Southern America
Regional: Caribbean
Puerto Rico

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Hitchcock, A.S., 1924. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 22: 575.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Aristida chaseae in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Dec 16. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Aristida chaseae. Published online. Accessed: Dec 16 2019.
Tropicos.org 2019. Aristida chaseae. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 16 Dec 2019.
Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Smithsonian Institution 22:575. 1924
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Aristida chaseae in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.

Vernacular names
English: Chase's threeawn

Aristida chaseae is a rare species of grass known by the common name Chase's threeawn. It is endemic to Puerto Rico, where it is known from two locations in the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge and the Sierra Bermeja.[1] It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States. It cannot compete with introduced species of grasses, such as Brachiaria subquadripara, which are invading its habitat.[1]

This is a perennial grass producing a tuft of stems up to half a meter high or a bit taller. Plants occurring in the deep soils of Cabo Rojo tend to be more robust than those growing in the poorer soils of the Sierra Bermeja.[2] Cabo Rojo plants occur in coastal grassland habitat, and those in the Sierra grow in acidic clay soils with many rocky outcrops.[2] Development of the Sierra Bermeja is a potential threat for the grass and many other endemic plant species.[2]
References

USFWS. Determination of Endangered Status for Three Puerto Rican Plants. Federal Register April 27, 1993.
Silander, S. (1995). Sierra Bermeja Plants Recovery Plan. USFWS.