Andropogon gerardii

American Indian Names

    No American Indian names could be found for big bluestem.

Description

 This grass has several different names.  It is sometimes called turkey feet because of the shape of the seed heads.  The name big bluestem comes from the fact that the grass can grow to be very big.  It can reach a height of 10 feet and it is not unusually to see it growing around 3 feet tall.  It grows in little hills and is referred to as a bunch grass. the seed heads are bronze, purple, or green.  The blades are blue-green in the summer.

Habitat and Location

Big bluestem is found in large wide-open areas.  Because it covers so much area other grasses and plants don't get much sun or moisture to grow.  The roots go very deep.  This kept the wind on the prairie from blowing away dirt.  It is found in the area of the old post office and the fields up by the police station on the reservation.

Uses

The big bluestem was an important food for the buffalo that roamed the plains becaue it was the bigges type of grass there was.  Because it was important to the buffalo it was very important to American Indians, especially those of the Midwestern praire such as the Omaha.

This Page was last update: Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 10:39:20 AM
This page was originally posted: 11/13/06; 11:21:49 AM.
Copyright 2008 Plants of the Omaha Indian Reservation

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