| Other Scientific Name:
Andropogon Scoparius
Other Common Names: Broom Beardgrass,
Wiregrass, Prairie Beardgrass
Family: Grass (Poaceae)
Height: 1 1/2 - 4 1/2'
(45 - 135 cm)
Flower Size: About 1"
(2.5 cm)
Flowering Season:
August - October
Ecological Preferences:
Wide range of moisture levels. Can tolerate alkaline
or saline soils.
Select Characteristics:
The stem base has a bluish green tint in the Spring.
The entire plant turns orangish, reddish and even
purplish with maturity. The mature seed head spike
is bent in a zigzag fashion and is fuzzy with fine
hairs.
Historical Significance:
Some Native American tribes used the stems and
leaves as insulation in their moccasins. Ashes from
the burned plant were used on syphilitic sores. The
plant was good forage for grazers and a good seed
source for a variety of birds.
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