Schizachyrium scoparium

Little Bluestem

Field view of Schizachyrium scoparium, common name Little Bluestem. Red in autumn.

Another view shows the whole plant. Sometimes the leaves have tiny hairs. Green in summer.

The branches are short and well separated.

The short, separated branches of the seedheads.

The seedheads are sparce and here mostly enclosed in sheaths. However, one is in anthesis with anthers showing.

Short branches have spikelets emerging from sheaths. Sometimes these branches are a bit longer, up to an inch or two.

T  The branches are very separated along the stem. The spikelets appear rather messy.

The sparce seedheads with short, separated branches are perhaps the best way to identify Little Bluestem.

These spikelets up close show their bent awns and hairy spikelets.

The branches have both sessile spikelets (directly on the branch) and thin hairy side spikelets on pedicels (miniscule branches).

In this closer view you can see the hairs and the bent awn protruding from the sessile spikelet.

Roots of Little Bluestem.

How to Identify Little Bluestem

  Little Bluestem is a perennial bunchgrass that usually grows from hip to head high, sometimes less. The seedhead has short branches, often widely separated along the rachis. For each pair of spikelets, there is a fertile spikelet that is sessile and a sterile spikelet on a slender pedicel. The branches are usually less than 2 inches long and partially enclosed in the leaf sheaths. This causes the seedheads to appear quite sparce, looking somehow incomplete or scraggly. Looking closely with hand lens, the spikelets appear hairy. For more pictures and information, try this website.

Similar Species

  Do not confuse Little Bluestem with Blue Grama. The only tough look-alike is Schizachyrium sanguineum. It is much scarcer and half as tall. Its branches are twice as long as S. scoparium's, up to 6 inches.
  Bent awns occur on grass species of several genera (plural of genus) including: Achnatherum, Danthonia, Avena, Arrhenatherum, and Bothriochloa. In addition, any grass can appear sparce when it is dry and old, having lost some spikelets or branches.