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LITTLE BLUESTEM
Schizachyrium sco-parium
Description
Little bluestem is a medium height grass with coarse stems and basal leaves. As a warm sea-son grass it begins growth in late spring and continues through the hot summer period until the first killing frost. It is easily mistaken for common broomsedge. Little bluestem has very flat bluish basal shoots. Plants are green, but often purplish at base of stem and the entire plant has a reddish cast after frost. Leaves are smooth, but frequently are covered with hair at the base next to the sheath. Leaves tend to fold with maturity. Seed head clusters about three inches long. The cluster stems are hairy. Plant height varies from 18 inches on droughty sites to 3 feet on deep, fertile soils. There are 255,000 seeds per pound.
Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus) has a straight awn and has two or more stalked seed clusters per branch. Little bluestem has a twisted, bent awn and a single cluster of seeds per branch. Seacoast bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium var. littorale) occurs only in the coastal
Uses
Pasture/range/hayland: Little bluestem is a fair forage species and is readily grazed by live-stock, deer, and elk. It is also suitable for hay.
Erosion control: Because of its growth habit and adaptability to a wide range of soil condi-tions, little bluestem is useful as a component of revegetation mixes. It is especially well-suited for use on thin upland range sites.
Wildlife: Little bluestem seed is eaten by songbirds and upland gamebirds. The plant provides
