Taxon: Andropogon gerardi Vitman

Summary

Genus:

Andropogon

Family:

Poaceae (alt. Gramineae)

Subfamily:

Panicoideae

Tribe:

Andropogoneae

Subtribe:

Andropogoninae

Nomen number:

3215

Place of publication:

Summa pl. 6:16. 1792

Comment:

the original spelling is permissible under Shenzhen ICN Rec. 60C.2, since the given name Gerard or Gérard, which dates at least to the Early Middle Ages when Latin was the international language of Europe, has a well-established latinized form and is not correctable under Shenzhen ICN Art. 60.8

Verified:

07/11/1997 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

1512 (1239 active, 152 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Autonym(s)
Andropogon gerardi Vitman subsp. gerardi
Andropogon gerardi Vitman var. gerardi

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Andropogon furcatus Muhl. ex Willd.

No images

Links

Forestry Images – from www.forestryimages.org
Spikelets and/or florets – Seed ID Workshop image, from Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Ohio State University

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Alderson, J. & W. C. Sharp. 1995. Grass varieties in the United States, U.S.D.A. Agric. Handb. 170, rev. ed. CRC Press. Note: Revised version of AH 170
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. 1980. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) 1:3. Note: lists as "Andropogon gerardii"
Cronquist, A. et al. 1972-. Intermountain flora.
Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
Englert, J. M. et al. 1999. USDA-NRCS Improved conservation plant materials released by NRCS and cooperators
Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
Gould, F. W. 1975. The grasses of Texas
Hammel, B. E. et al., eds. 2003-. Manual de plantas de Costa Rica
Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Hitchcock, A. S. 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States, ed. 2.
Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
Mejía-Saulés, M. T. & P. Dávila A. 1992. Gramíneas Útiles de México. Cuad. Inst. Biol. 16 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, Mexico.
National Herbarium of New South Wales. 1961-1984. Flora of New South Wales.
Randall, R. P. 2007. The introduced flora of Australia and its weed status.
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
Welsh, S. L. et al. 1993. A Utah flora.
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).
Wunderlin, R. & B. Hansen. Atlas of Florida vascular plants (on-line resource).
1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	big bluestem	1	Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
English	turkeyfoot	1	1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
French	barbon de Gerard	2	Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
Spanish	popotillo gigante	2	Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Québec	s.	Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Kansas		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Minnesota		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	North Dakota		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	South Dakota		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Wisconsin		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Connecticut		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maine		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Massachusetts		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Hampshire		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Jersey		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Ohio		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Pennsylvania		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Rhode Island		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Vermont		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	West Virginia		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Coahuila de Zaragoza		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Durango		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	San Luis Potosí		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sinaloa		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Zacatecas		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Colorado		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Montana		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Wyoming		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	New Mexico		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Alabama		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Delaware		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maryland		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Mississippi		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	North Carolina		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	South Carolina		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Tennessee		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Virginia		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Chiapas		Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guanajuato		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Hidalgo		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Jalisco		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	México		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Michoacán de Ocampo		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Morelos		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Oaxaca		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Puebla		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Arizona		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Utah	s.	Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Manitoba	s.	Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Saskatchewan	s.e.	Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Belize			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Costa Rica			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Honduras			Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
2	Cultivated	Northern America		United States		c.	Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
4	Naturalized	Australasia	Australia	Australia			Randall, R. P. 2007. The introduced flora of Australia and its weed status.

Native
Northern America

EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Québec (s.), Ontario]
WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Saskatchewan (s.e.), Manitoba (s.)]
NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin]
NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Colorado, Montana, Wyoming]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico, Texas]
SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arizona, Utah (s.)]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Zacatecas]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Chiapas, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla]

Southern America

CENTRAL AMERICA: Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras

Cultivated
Northern America

REGION: United States (c.)

Naturalized
Australasia

AUSTRALIA: Australia

Reference(s)

Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana.
Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana.
Randall, R. P. 2007. The introduced flora of Australia and its weed status.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Animal food	fodder		Alderson, J. & W. C. Sharp. 1995. Grass varieties in the United States, U.S.D.A. Agric. Handb. 170, rev. ed. CRC Press. Note: Revised version of AH 170
Animal food	forage		Alderson, J. & W. C. Sharp. 1995. Grass varieties in the United States, U.S.D.A. Agric. Handb. 170, rev. ed. CRC Press. Note: Revised version of AH 170
Environmental	erosion control		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
Environmental	erosion control		Alderson, J. & W. C. Sharp. 1995. Grass varieties in the United States, U.S.D.A. Agric. Handb. 170, rev. ed. CRC Press. Note: Revised version of AH 170
Environmental	ornamental		Campbell, C. S. 1993-. In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 25:653. Note: as "Andropogon gerardii"
Environmental	ornamental		Alderson, J. & W. C. Sharp. 1995. Grass varieties in the United States, U.S.D.A. Agric. Handb. 170, rev. ed. CRC Press. Note: Revised version of AH 170
Environmental	revegetator	for roadsides and prairies	Englert, J. M. et al. 1999. USDA-NRCS Improved conservation plant materials released by NRCS and cooperators
Environmental	wildlife habitat		Alderson, J. & W. C. Sharp. 1995. Grass varieties in the United States, U.S.D.A. Agric. Handb. 170, rev. ed. CRC Press. Note: Revised version of AH 170
Weed	seed contaminant	potential	CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. 1980. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) 1:3. Note: lists as "Andropogon gerardii"

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=3215. Accessed 12 May 2026.