Bluestem, known as bluejoint in the Montana region and some- 

 times called Colorado bluestem, Smith bluejoint, and western wheat- 

 grass, is one of the commonest and most abundant of the western 

 wheatgrasses. It is a perennial from creeping rootstocks, and under 

 the most favorable conditions may grow in dense patches or even 

 form a compact sod. It occurs from southern Ontario and northern 

 Minnesota west to British Columbia and south to west central Cali- 

 fornia, western Texas, northwestern Arkansas, and Indiana. Blue- 

 seem grows in a great variety of soils and withstands drought well. 

 It is best adapted to well-drained bottom lands, but is commonly 

 found on open plains, hillsides, and benchlands. It is alkali-endur- 

 ing and often occupies lands inhabited by few other grasses. It 

 occurs in considerable abundance, and on adobe soils is often the 

 dominant grass over large areas. In Montana this grass is often 

 the first to appear in quantity on abandoned, dry farm lands. 



Bluestem is one of the most valuable native forage plants of the 

 West. It is an important constituent of numerous spring, summer, 

 and early fall ranges. Despite the stiff leaves the plant rarely be- 

 comes sufficiently coarse and rank to prevent sheep from grazing 

 it. Sheep are particularly fond of the heads. It cures well on the 

 ground, makes very good winter forage and also yields excellent 

 hay of high feeding value. The limited seed supply usually ma- 

 tures late but this handicap is offset by vigorous reproduction from 

 rootstocks. The species has been tried experimentally under cultiva- 

 tion, with moderate success. Very little seed, however, is available 

 commercially. Bluestem is rated as a choice forage plant for elk 

 and deer. 



The plants are covered with a bluish or whitish waxy bloom 

 (glaucous) ; the erect, rigid stalks, 1 to 5 feet high, have enlarged 

 joints darker in color than the rest of the stalk. The spikes are 

 erect with unawned or awn-pointed spikelets rather close together. 



