Andropogon barbinodis Lag., cane bluestem 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season, perennial bunch grass. 
Height: 2 to 4 feet. 
Leaf blade: Narrow; long; rough. 
Leaf sheath: Sparsely hairy at throat. 
Stem: Round; smooth; greenish yellow; often branching at 
nodes. 
Node: Enlarged; covered with short, silvery hair; identifies 
this grass if there is no seedhead. 
Seedhead: Raceme 3 to 5 inches long; silvery to creamy or 
silky white when ripe. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Growth starts when daily temperature reaches 65° to 70° F. 
Growing points stay close to the ground until midsummer when 
seedheads appear. At that time growing points are 2 to 4 inches 
above ground. Seed ripen in late summer and early fall. Domi- 
nates good sites. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Primarily western Oklahoma and Texas, west to Arizona, and 
to north-central Mexico. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Well adapted to sandy loam to loamy calcareous soils with a 
pH of 7.2 to 8.0, which overflow frequently. Grows on gravelly foot 
slopes that have a good soil-moisture relationship. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Cane bluestem is a choice forage grass. Cattle search it out dur- 
ing early growth. Because stems are not palatable in fall only 
leaves are eaten, causing livestockmen to misjudge its forage 
quality. It is used in mixtures for reseeding rangelands in west 
Texas. 
Periodic grazing deferments of 90 to 100 days during growing 
season are needed for maximum production, plant vigor, and den- 
sity of stand. No more than 60 percent of current year’s growth 
by weight should be grazed off. 
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