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Morphology
- Culm
- Erect, solid, branching above, slightly flattened, bluish green to purplish, waxy.
- Blades
- Folded or sometimes rolled backward, 2 to 12 inches long, less than 1/4 inch wide, glabrous to hairy, somewhat rough above near bases; tips tapered to sharp points.
- Sheath
- Shorter than internodes, usually glabrous, keeled.
- Ligule
- Fringed membranes.
- Inflorescence
- Racemes, spike-like, numerous, on slender stalks, 1 to 2.5 inches long, zigzag when mature.
- Spikelets
- In pairs, 1 sessile, fertile, 1 stalked, staminate or sterile; rachis and spikelet stalks hairy; upper lemma awn of sessile spikelet to 3/5 inch long, bent and twisted.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Prairies, dry hills, and open woods.
- Distribution
- Throughout Kansas.
Practical Information
- Forage Value
- It provides very nutritious grazing prior to maturity.
Additional Notes
Comments
Tufted. State grass of Kansas. Little bluestem is one of the most abundant grasses in Kansas, and it has significant economic importance in the Flint Hills region. Its roots, which grow 5-8 feet long, enable it to resist moderate drought conditions. The plant turns a red or bronze-orange cast after frost.
Synonyms
Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.
Scientific Name: Andropogon scoparius
Full Citation: Andropogon scoparius Michx.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Grass
- Family
- Poaceae - Grass Family
- Life Span
- Perennial
- Height
- 2-4 feet
- Last Updated
- 2007-09-09
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: July, August, September