Turkey-foot grass among the tall-grass prairie species on World Peace Wetland Prairie

Please click on images to ENLARGE photos of big bluestem grass on World Peace Wetland Prairie on July 7, 2008. While big bluestem was native to the prairies around Fayetteville, Arkansas, these photos feature examples of Andropogon gerardii transplanted on WPWP a couple of years ago by Dr. Chuck West, a grass specialist at the University of Arkansas.

Up close, you can see the intriguing two flower parts: yellow hanging bits (male), and fuzzy bits (female)



Turkey-foot grass, or Big bluestem is part of the Poaceae (Grass) family. The flowering stalks average 3 to 6 feet tall but occasionally grow up to 9 feet tall. The flowers are usually in 3 dense, elongate clusters from a common point that resembles a turkey foot.
This plant grows in moist or dry open places and is a major constitutent of the tall-grass prairie. It can form extensive turfs and is used as a major forage and