by Terra Crampton, Native Plants Class 2003
Common names: little bluestem, broom bluestem, broom beardgrass,
Family: Poaceae
Synonymy: Andropogon scoparius Michx (4)
Etymology: From the Greek schizien, to split, and scopa, meaning thin branch or broom-like (5).

Identification
Growth form: Little bluestem is a medium height grass (to 3') with coarse stems and basal leaves (1,2). It is well adapted to fine, medium and coarse textured soils and grows at a moderate rate (2). Its shape and orientation is erect and grows actively in summer and fall (2). It is generally nonrhizomatous but may form an open or loose sod with short rhizomes connecting small tufts under wet conditions (3).
Roots: Little bluestem's root system is deep and fibrous with individual roots that are relatively fine with diameters ranging from 0.1-1mm. Most roots grow almost vertically downwards to depths of 1.3-1.75 m but some may extend laterally from the bunches (3).
Stem:
Leaves: Little bluestem has very flat bluish basal shoots (1). Foliage color is gray-green but often purplish at the base of the stem and the entire plant is reddish after frost. Leaves are 20-36 cm long and are flat, slender, and smooth but often covered with hair at the base next to the sheath. Leaves tend to fold with maturity (1, 2, 3).
Inflorescences/flowers:
Fruit: Little bluestem spikelets grow in pairs; 1 is sessile and 1 is pedicellate. The sessile spikelet is perfect and 2-flowered with the upper flower fertile. Pedicellate spikelets are staminate or neuter (3). Seeds are inconspicuous and brown in color (2).
Similar species: Three currently recognized varieties include Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium, Schizachyrium scoparium var. stoloniferum (Nash) J. Wipff, and Schizachyrium scoparium var. divergens (Hack.) Gould (4).

Ecology
Life history: Perennial
Native/introduced: Little bluestem is one of the most widely distributed native grasses in North America (1).
Photosynthetic pathway: C3
Phenology: The bloom period for little bluestem is summer with fruit and seed production periods in summer until fall (2). It is described as an early to mid-successional grassland species and seed is generally wind-dispersed. Compared to other Great Plains grass species, little bluestem is relatively tolerant of drought during seedling establishment (3). It has fair shade tolerance and will grow on a wide variety of soils but is well adapted to drained, medium to dry, infertile soils (1).
Distribution: Little bluestem is distributed throughout The United States, including Hawaii with the exception of Oregon, Alaska, and Nevada (1). Field germination appears to be relatively low with requirements of light, stratification, and daytime temperatures of 20-30 degrees Celsius to achieve high germination rates.

Uses
Little bluestem is a fair forage species and is readily grazed by livestock, deer and elk. It is also suitable for hay (1). It has medium protein potential and is considered a fodder product (2).

References
1. National Resources Conservation Services, USDA Plants website, http://plants.usda.gov/schizacyrium scoparium

2. http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=SCSC

3. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/schsco/botanical_and_ecological characteristics

4. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/schsco/introductory.html

5. http://www.winternet.com/~chuckg/dictionary.html