Meet Andropogon gerardi - commonly known as big bluestem,
turkeyfoot, tall bluestem, and bluejoint.
It is a native species of tall grass common to the prairies of the Great
Plains. When protected from grazing - as the photo above - it
can reach a height of 6 to 8 feet. Birds and mammals use big bluestem for nesting
and escape cover in summer and winter.
It resists lodging under snow cover like switchgrass – as a consequence
it makes for excellent spring nesting habitat. The seed heads normally have 3 spikelets that appear like a ‘turkey foot’.
It also happens to be the official state
grass of Illinois and Missouri and the official prairie grass of the province
of Manitoba.
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