HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



13b. Stalked spikelet staminate, similar to the sessile one but awn- 

 less; racemes green or purplish in color, not feathery with fine 

 hairs. Fig. 347. 



BIG BLUESTEM Andropogon gerardi Vitman 



Perennial; tufted or with short rhi- 

 zomes; plants green or reddish, 1 — 2 m. 

 tall or even taller; foHage sometimes 

 hairy. The plants bear 3 — 6 reddish 

 racemes at the tip of the culm, and usu- 

 ally some smaller inflorescences from 

 the axils of the leaves. Big bluestem 

 was one of the principal grasses of the 

 tall grass prairie which produced the 

 rich soils of our com belt. Very Httle 

 of such grassland still exists, but this 

 species is still very common on untilled 

 land in the prairie area. Farther east 

 it is less common, but occurs on steep 

 slopes, in meadows, and along river 

 banks. This is an important forage 



species, and still provides much wild hay from native prairie. August 



— October. Also known as A. furcatus and A. provincialis. 



Andropogon hallii Hack. (SAND BLUESTEM) has more elongated 



rhizomes and yellowish spikelets. Sandhills of the Great Plains and 



Rocky Mountain area. 



14a. Inflorescence of two to four racemes, which are inclosed at their 

 bases by a leaf sheath. Fig. 348. 

 BROOMSEDGE 



Figure 347 



Fern.). 



Andropogon vjrginicus L. 



Perennial; tufted; 50—100 cm. tall; foli- 

 age smooth or somewhat hairy, often red- 

 dish; culms bearing feathery-hairy inflor- 

 escences at the tip and from the axils of 

 the leaves of the upper half of the culm. 

 Broomsedge is a plant of sterile open hill- 

 sides, abandoned fields, and thin woods. 

 It usually indicates poor soil. The forage 

 value is apparently low, especially when 

 the plants are mature. August — October. 



About fourteen other similar species or 

 varieties occur in the southeastern states, 

 mostly on the coastal plain. Most striking 

 of these is the following. 



Andropogon glomeratus (Walt.) B. S. P. 



(A. virginicus, var. abbreviatus (Hack.) 



the inflorescences are condensed into a dense, broom-Hke 



Figure 348 



All 



181 



