Andropogon gerardii Vitman big bluestem, bluejoint, turkeyfoot
Global_ID_number40462
Description
flowers: july,august,september,spike,raceme,hypogynous,
Plant: perennial,herbaceous,grasslike ,autotrophic,not carnivorous,
other features: adventitious,
leaves: alternate,simple,entire,parallel,linear,
fruits: acorn,
Discussion: family Poaceae, grasses
One of the most robust Andropogon of Illinois, with the longest fertile spikelets.Spiklets in pairs; one sessile and perfect, the other pedicellate and staminate or sterile. Roots: rhizomes
Special_diagnostic_characters: Flower heads at top of tall stalks, has three dense finger-like forks ("turkey-foot"). Exhibits both bunching and spreading growth habits. Occasinally lower portions of stems blue-purple. Leaf sheath hairy at base of plant. Grows 3 to 6 (-9) feet.