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Big bluestem

Scientific Name: Andropogon gerardii Vitman
Common Name: Big bluestem, Turkeyfoot, Turkeyfootgrass

Morphological Characteristics:

Habit- Big bluestem is a native warm season perennial grass which grows between 4 and 6 feet tall. The plants begin producing seedheads (inflorescence) in late summer. This grass reproduces by seed and also rhizomes.

Leaves- The long, flat leaves are arranged alternately on the stems. The leaves are rough to the touch.

Seedhead – Big bluestem has a distinctive seedhead. The racemes are arranged in two or three per seedhead and resemble a turkey foot. The seedheads vary in color from green, yellowish, or purple.

Other- The basal shoots are usually flat. The collar and ligule have fine hairs.

Habitat and Range:

This grass is found in undisturbed areas and is an indicator of prairie remnants. This species is adapted to deep, fertile soils but also grows on shallow, gravelly ridges during wet periods.

Conservation Use:

Why collect this plant? This plant has been identified as a suitable species for livestock forage and wildlife habitat. Texas Plant Materials Centers have identified this plant as having potential benefits to the following conservation practice standards: 645 Upland Wildlife Habitat Management, 512 pasture and Hay Planting, and 528 Prescribed Grazing. Your assistance in collecting this plant helps support the NRCS conservation practice standards which are employed daily to conserve the natural resources of Texas!

Centers Requesting Seed:

Knox City Plant Materials Center

How to Collect Seed:

Identify native plant stands in your area. You can go to the following websites for helpful photos http://plants.usda.gov or http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/ or www.wildflower.org
Determine if seed is mature. Mature seed is typically dry and will easily separate from the seed head.
Hand strip mature seed by grasping the bottom of the seed head then gently pulling away from the base of the plant. Deposit seed in a brown paper sack. Collect seed from a minimum of 30 to 50 plants.
Label each collection as it is made so collections do not get mixed up. Information required includes: Collector’s name, number of plants collected, location (parish, city, highway, and GPS coordinates), site description (soil type, slope, and plants growing in association).
Complete NRCS-ECS-580; Plant Collection Information Form and mail with collected seeds to the NRCS Plant Materials Center requesting the species.

Refer to the Plant Material Collection Guide for more information on making plant collections.

Knox City Plant Materials Center
3776 FM 1292
Knox City, TX 79529-2514

Helpful Tips:

Look for superior plants that display differences in color, height, or forage abundance and record
observations. Differences in growing site or location should be made into separate collections if they are separated by more than 1 mile between sites.