Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem

Taxobox
name = Big Bluestem



image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Cyperales
familia = Poaceae
genus = "Andropogon"
species = "A. gerardii"
binomial = "Andropogon gerardii"
binomial_authority = Vitman

Big Bluestem ("Andropogon gerardii") is a tall bunch grass native to much of the prairie and Great Plains regions of North America.

Description

Big bluestem is tolerant of a wide range of soils and moistures. Depending on soil and moisture conditions, it grows to a height of 1 – 3m (3 – 10 ft). The stem base turns to a blue-purple as it matures. The seed heads have three spike-like projections, resulting in another common name for big bluestem — "turkey foot." The roots are deep, and the plants send out strong, tough rhizomes, so it forms very strong sod.

Ecology

Big bluestem is a late-successional grass in prairie ecosystems. It grows in tall, dense stands that shade out other plant species. These stands tend to gradually increase in size over time, unless a disturbance (such as fire) allows other plant species to re-establish themselves.

Uses

Bluestem, which has many variants, is considered to be good forage for horses and cattle, and can also be cut and used for hay. It has a high protein level. While not considered the highest quality native forage found in the United States, it has long been considered a desirable and ecologically important grass by cattle ranchers and range-land ecologists. Bluestem grass is also used by landscapers and home owners who want to create a 'native' look in their lawns and gardens.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • big bluestem — aukštasis barzdotis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Miglinių šeimos pašarinis, dekoratyvinis augalas (Andropogon gerardii), paplitęs Šiaurės ir Centrinėje Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Andropogon gerardii angl. big bluestem; turkeyfoot pranc …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • big bluestem — noun Date: 1894 bluestem 1 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • big bluestem — noun Andropogon gerardii, a tall bunchgrass native to the North American prairies. See Also: little bluestem …   Wiktionary

  • big bluestem — noun : bluestem 1a …   Useful english dictionary

  • Bluestem grass — Bluestem can refer to various grasses: * Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) * Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and other species of the genus Andropogon * Cane bluestem and Caucasian bluestem of the Bothriochloa genus …   Wikipedia

  • bluestem — noun Date: circa 1852 1. a tall North American grass (Andropogon gerardii syn. A. furcatus) that has smooth bluish leaf sheaths and slender spikes borne in pairs or clusters, is a dominant grass of the originally tallgrass prairies, and is used… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • bluestem — /blooh stem /, n. 1. any of several prairie grasses of the genus Andropogon, having bluish leaf sheaths, now grown in the western U.S. for forage. 2. See dwarf palmetto. [1850 55, Amer.; BLUE + STEM1] * * * ▪ plant also called  beard grass   any… …   Universalium

  • bluestem — noun Any of various grasses, including little bluestem and big bluestem …   Wiktionary

  • Little bluestem — Taxobox name = Little Bluestem image width = 240px regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Liliopsida ordo = Poales familia = Poaceae genus = Schizachyrium species = S. scoparium binomial = Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem (… …   Wikipedia

  • little bluestem — noun A grass, Schizachyrium scoparium, native to North America. See Also: big bluestem …   Wiktionary

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