Introductory
SPECIES: Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii | Big Bluestem 



ABBREVIATION : 
ANDGERG

SYNONYMS : 
   Andropogon gerardii Vitman


SCS PLANT CODE : 
   ANGE


COMMON NAMES : 
   big bluestem
   tall bluestem
   turkey foot


TAXONOMY : 
Currently there is disagreement over the taxonomic treatment of the the
grasses traditionally known as big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman)
and sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii Hack.).  These two bluestems are
recognized either as distinct species [10,19,45,50] or as varieties
within a single species [44,63,101,137].  Artificial hybridization
experiments have shown that these two bluestems are completely
interfertile [101], with offspring showing intermediate morphological
characteristics [45,101].  These two bluestems, however, show clear
ecological differences:  big bluestem is widely distributed in North
America on moist prairie sites, while sand bluestem is restricted to
drier, sandy soils in the Great Plains [10].  Where their ranges
overlap, they freely interbreed.  In the Nebraska Sandhills, big
bluestem occurs only in low meadows, while sand bluestem is restricted
to upland sand dunes.  Hybrids are found in narrow zones 16 to 33 feet
(5-10 m) wide at the dune-meadow interface [10].  Because both bluestems
are morphologically similar and able to cross-pollinate to produce
intergrades, some authorities have recognized these entities as two
varieties of a single species [44,63,137].  This write-up follows their
treatment; thus the fully documented scientific name of big bluestem is
Andropogon gerardii Vitman var. gerardii.


LIFE FORM : 
Graminoid

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
Ronald Uchytil/September 1988


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Uchytil, Ronald J. 1988. Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii. In: Remainder of Citation

Related categories for Species: Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii | Big Bluestem