Andropogon gerardii
Andropogon liebmannii
Barbon de Gerard, big bluestem
Liebmann's bluestem, Mohr's bluestem
1-3 m, often glaucous.
20-170 cm;
internodes not glaucous;
branches mostly erect, straight.
glabrous or pilose;
ligules 0.4-2.5 mm;
blades 5-50 cm long, (2)5-10 mm wide, usually pilose adaxially, at least near the collar.
smooth;
ligules 0.7-1.2 mm, sometimes ciliate, cilia to 0.4 mm;
blades 3-35 cm long, 2.5-7.5 mm wide, sparsely to densely pubescent with spreading, shaggy hairs.
usually only terminal;
peduncles with 2-6(10) rames;
rames 5-11 cm, exserted at maturity, usually purplish, sometimes yellowish;
internodes sparsely to densely pubescent, hairs 2.2-4.2 mm, usually white, rarely yellowish.
7-50 per culm; subtending sheaths (4)4.9-7.4(10) cm long, (3)4.2-6.1(10.1) mm wide;
peduncles (10)24-68(130) mm, at least some extending beyond the subtending sheaths at maturity, with 2-13 rames;
rames (2)2.4-4(5) cm, usually exserted at maturity, pubescence increasing in density distally within each internode.
spikelets 5-11 mm, scabrous;
awns 8-25 mm;
anthers 3, 2.5-4.5 mm.
spikelets (3)4-4.5(6.9) mm;
keels of lower glumes scabrous above (and sometimes below) the midpoint;
awns 17-24 mm;
anthers 1, 0.7-1.4 mm, yellow.
spikelets 3.5-12 mm, usually well-developed and staminate.
spikelets vestigial or absent.
= 20, 40, 60 (usually), 70, 80.
= 20.
Andropogon gerardii
Andropogon liebmannii
Andropogon gerardii grows in prairies, meadows, and generally dry soils. It is a widespread species, extending from southern Canada to Mexico, and was once dominant over much of its range. It is frequently planted for erosion control, restoration, or as an ornamental; the records from Washington and central Montana reflect such plantings. It hybridizes with A. ballii, the two sometimes being treated as conspecific subspecies.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Andropogon liebmannii has two varieties. Andropogon liebmannii var. pungensis (Ashe) C.S. Campb., the variety found in the Flora region, differs from A. liebmannii Hack. var. liebmannii, which grows in Mexico, in having culms that are usually more than 80 cm tall, leaves that are more than 15 cm long, and sessile spikelets that are more than 4.2 mm long; in var. pungensis the culms are usually less than 90 cm tall, the leaves less than 15 cm long, and the sessile spikelets less than 4.2 mm long.
Andropogon liebmannii var. pungensis grows along the coastal plain of the southeastern United states in bog, swamp, savannahs, and flatwoods. It used to be treated as a species, which was known as A. mobrii. The English name "Mohr's Bluestem" reflects this treatment.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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