Andropogon virginicus
L.
Poaceae
Anatherum virginicum Spreng.
Andropogon capillipes Nash
Andropogon curtisianus Steud.
Andropogon dealbatus (C.Mohr ex Hack.) Weakley & LeBlond
Andropogon dissitiflorus Michx.
Andropogon eriophorus Scheele
Andropogon glaucescens Schltdl. ex Hack.
Andropogon glaucus Muhl.
Andropogon louisianae Steud.
Andropogon macrourus viridis Vasey
Andropogon pauciflorus Salzm. ex Steud.
Andropogon tetrastachyus Elliott
Andropogon vaginatus Elliott
Cinna lateralis Walter
Cymbopogon glaucus Schult.
Dimeiostemon tetrastachys Raf.
Dimeiostemon vaginatus Raf.
Holcus virginicus Steud.
Sorghum virginicum (L.) Kuntze
Common Name: Broomsedge Bluestem
Growing plant, prior to flowering
Photograph by: Harry Rose
General Information
Andropogon virginicus is a hebaceous, perennial grass forming a tight clump of culms 50 - 120cm tall from a rhizomatous rootstock[
1050- Title
- Fire Effects Information System
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and dye. It can be used to reclaim mine-spoil sites.
The plant has become an invasive weed in many regions, including Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii[
,
413- Title
- Global Invasive Species Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range.
]. It was inadvertantly introduced to the Hawain Islands in 1932 and has spread widely there. It is considered to be one of the most threatening of exotic species, invading native habitats and altering the fire and hydrology regimes[
274- Title
- Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
- Publication
-
- Author
- Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J
- Website
- http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm
- Publisher
- Botanical Research Institute, Texas.
- Year
- 1999
- ISBN
- 1-889878-01-4
- Description
- An excellent flora, which is also available on-line.
]. It invades forest and other native vegetation, along tracks - nearly pure stands can persist as a result of competition and allelopathy[
413- Title
- Global Invasive Species Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range.
]. It is spread by seeds that are transported by wind and also by catching in clothing or in the fur of animals[
413- Title
- Global Invasive Species Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
236- Title
- Manual of the Grasses of the United States
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hitchcock. A. S.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications. New York.
- Year
- 1971
- ISBN
- 0-486-22717-0
- Description
- A nice and comprehensive flora, though a bit dated. Good line drawings of each plant, plus a brief idea of the habitat and a few notes on plant uses. Not for the casual reader.
Range
N. America - Iowa to Massachusetts, south to Mexico, Texas and Florida; C. America - south to Paama; Caribbeam; S. America - Venezuela
Habitat
Open ground, old fields, open woods, sterile hills and sandy soils[
236- Title
- Manual of the Grasses of the United States
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hitchcock. A. S.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications. New York.
- Year
- 1971
- ISBN
- 0-486-22717-0
- Description
- A nice and comprehensive flora, though a bit dated. Good line drawings of each plant, plus a brief idea of the habitat and a few notes on plant uses. Not for the casual reader.
].
Properties
Medicinal Rating | |
Other Uses Rating | |
Habit | Perennial |
Height | 0.80 m |
Pollinators | Wind |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Requires a light porous sandy soil in full sun[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Plants are often found in very acid soils in the wild[
236- Title
- Manual of the Grasses of the United States
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hitchcock. A. S.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications. New York.
- Year
- 1971
- ISBN
- 0-486-22717-0
- Description
- A nice and comprehensive flora, though a bit dated. Good line drawings of each plant, plus a brief idea of the habitat and a few notes on plant uses. Not for the casual reader.
]. They grow well on low-fertility soils, especially those on eroded, 'worn-out' fields[
1050- Title
- Fire Effects Information System
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants
].
The plant usually starts flowering in its second or third year of growth from seed[
1050- Title
- Fire Effects Information System
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants
].
At the end of the growing season, nearly all green material on the plant dies, leaving a large accumulation of standing dead material which is easily set on fire[
1050- Title
- Fire Effects Information System
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants
].
The plant sometimes forms continuous cover in boggy, open mesic or dry habitats. It releases highly persistent allelopathic substances which inhibit competition. The dead material provides an excellent fuel for fires, whilst the plant itself is stimulated by the fire, it thus increases its coverage of the area dramatically with each fire. In areas where it occurs, both fire intensities and acreage burnt have increased[
413- Title
- Global Invasive Species Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.issg.org/database/welcome/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Very detailed information on almost 400 species (with more being added) of plants that have become weeds in areas outside their native range.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
A decoction of the roots is used in the treatment of backaches[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0395467225
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
].
A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of diarrhoea[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0395467225
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
].
Applied externally, it is used as a wash for frostbite, sores, itching, piles and poison ivy rash[
222- Title
- A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Foster. S. & Duke. J. A.
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0395467225
- Description
- A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.
,
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
The plant is a common invader of abandoned coal strip mines and quarries, and frequently becomes the dominant ground cover[
]. It can be used in soil restoration projects, though should only be used within its native range because of its propensity to become an invasive weed[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Plants are often seen as an indicator of poor soils[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Other Uses
A yellow dye is obtained from the stems[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
]. Onion skins are sometimes added when making the dye[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Propagation
Seed - surface sow in early spring in a greenhouse. A period of cold stratification improves germination times and rates[
1050- Title
- Fire Effects Information System
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.feis-crs.org/feis/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line information site with comprehensive information on over 1,100 species of plant. Mainly developed to supply information on the effects of fire on plants and animals, it also contains a wealth of other information on the plants
]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for the first winter in a cold greenhouse. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring.
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.