Big Bluestem
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| Big Bluestem | ||||||||||||||
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| Andropogon gerardii Vitman |
Big Bluestem is a tall bunch grass native to much of the prairie and Great Plains regions of North America.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
Big bluestem was the dominant plant species of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem in North America, before grazing animals and tillage were introduced there. It is the dominant grass in the largest protected tract of remaining tallgrass prairie in the world in Osage County, Oklahoma on the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. Big Bluestem was very common in the Blackland Prairie Region of the state of Texas before the development of rangelands in to cropland and the implementation of conventional farming practices. Remanants can be found along roadsides and undeveloped rangelands, especially in Navarro County.
[edit] 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.
