Big
Bluestem Andropogon gerardii
Other Name:
Description:
Big Bluestem is a native, warm-season perennial tall grass. It begins
growth in late April, attaining heights up to 8 feet or sometimes more,
including flower stalks.
Leaf: The lower leaf sheath of young growth has long
hairs. The young shoots are somewhat flattened and the young culms are oval in
cross-section.
Flower: The 3-part seed head, resembling a turkey
foot explains the common name, ‘turkey foot.’
Blooming months: August-early September
Stem: The solid stems grow in large clumps. A slightly flattened lower stem and hairy, lower leaves help to identify the young plant.
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10-7 |
10-7 |
Seed heads: Top 10-7 Bottom 8-20 |
Discussion:
This was a chief component of the original prairie. The dense sod formed
by big bluestem is the basis for the high yields of corn that
now dominate where big bluestem was ounce ‘King.’ Big Bluestem is one of
the best quality forage grasses due to its high protein content.
Big bluestem sod, with its coarse rootstocks, was a
favorite for building sod houses. Sod was cut 1 by2 feet. Walls were two sods
wide and the next higher course was put at right angles to the first. This
sealed all joints and made a wall 2 feet thick. The floor was sprinkled with
salt and became hard like linoleum. Native Americans used big blue stem to
treat indigestion, stomach ache, wounds, and fevers.
Distribution: Big Bluestem is a lowland dominant. It grows in moist soil, sometimes on the
lower slopes and sparingly on uplands. This species caused the eastern, humid
prairies to be called ‘bluestem prairie.’ It is a major dominant in the true
prairie. It is found in Mixed prairie in ravines and
valley bottoms. It is also found southward into the Texas Prairie.
Native
or Introduced to
Location:
N41048.677’ W089040.972’
Copyright:
© 2004 Nancy Trainor,
References:
Keller, Carolyn. Prairie Plants of
Ladd, Doug. Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers, The Nature Conservancy, 1995.
Peterson, Roger Tory. Wildflowers Northeastern/North Central
Mohlenbroch, Robert H., and John W. Voigt. Prairie
Plants of
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