| Andropogon gerardi | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
| Genus: | Andropogon |
| Species: | A. gerardi |
| Binomial name | |
| Andropogon gerardi | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
List
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Andropogon gerardi, commonly known asbig bluestem, is a species of tallgrass native to much of theGreat Plains andgrassland regions of central and eastern North America. It is also known astall bluestem,[4]bluejoint,[5] andturkeyfoot.[6]
Andropogon gerardi wasformally named in 1792 byFulgenzio Vitman.[2] It was named for French botanistLouis Gérard, who had first described the plant from specimens that had been cultivated inProvence, France.[7]
Kew'sInternational Plant Names Index andUSDAGermplasm Resources Information Network reject the spellinggerardii and provide reasoning forgerardi as being the correct spelling for the specific epithet of this taxon.[2][6]Andropogon gerardii still makes appearances in various literature, including other USDA publications.[8]
Big bluestem is aperennial warm-seasonbunchgrass. It is tolerant of a wide range ofsoil conditions. The mainroots are 6–10 ft (1.8–3.0 m) deep, and the plants send out strong, toughrhizomes, so it forms very strongsod.[4] Depending on soil and moisture conditions, it grows to a height of 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft). The stem base turns blue or purple as it matures.
Big bluestem blooms in the summer and seeds into the fall. Theinflorescence (cluster of flowers) is araceme of two to six, most commonly three, narrowspike-like racemes alternately arranged along the top of the stem.[9] It somewhat resembles awild turkey's foot.[4] Each raceme contains pairs ofspikelets. Each pair has a stalked spikelet with another stalkless spikelet at the base of the stalk. The stalkless spikelet usually has a fertile,perfectfloret (with both female and male parts) and anawn (bristle), and the stalked spikelet is awnless, and is sterile or has astaminate (male) flower.
_in_flower_Sand_Lake_Wetland_Management_District_01_(14635029543).jpg)
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Big bluestem is a mid-successional grass inprairie and other grassland ecosystems. It grows in tall, dense stands that can outcompete other plant species.[10] The stands grow until disturbance interrupts their spread. It is shade intolerant and isadapted to fire.
It is a host to larvae of several species of butterflies, including thearogos skipper,byssus skipper,cobweb skipper,common wood nymph,Delaware skipper, anddusted skipper.[11]
The larvae of the leaf beetleDiabrotica cristata feed on the roots and the adults visit the flowers of other species of prairie flowers.[7] Many ants decorate their nests with the seeds, includingFormica glacialis,F. montana, andF. subsericea.[7] Several species of ants, such asF. glacialis,F. montana,F. subsericea,Lasius minutus, andL. umbratus build nests around the base of this bunchgrass, forming large soil mounds. In larger mounds, the nest is shared by multiple species of ants, and is "likened to an apartment complex with each ant species in its own nest partition". Up to 12 species of ants have been recorded in mounds found in the Chicago region.[7]
The rust fungusPuccinia andropogonis forms blacktelia on the leaves.[7]
The grass and its variants are goodforage forhorses andcattle, and can also be cut and used forhay. The grass is high in protein. 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 andrangeland ecologists.[12][13]
Big bluestem is cultivated by specialtyplant nurseries for itsdrought tolerance and native status. It is often grown forwildlife gardens,natural landscaping, andgrasslandhabitat restoration projects.
Due to its highbiomass, big bluestem is being considered as a potential feedstock forethanol production.[14]
Andropogon gerardi is the state grass ofIllinois[15] andMissouri[16] and the official prairie grass ofManitoba.[17]
| Biofuels | |
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| Energy from foodstock | |
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| Technology | |
| Concepts | |
