Scientific Name:
ANDROPOGON GERARDII VAR. PAUCIPILUS
Common Name:
SAND BLUESTEM
Erosion Index:
GOOD
Erosion Index Value:
6.19
Wildlife Index:
GOOD
Wildlife Index Value:
5.38
Ecological Distribution:
ROLLING PLAINS, HIGH PLAINS, TRANS-PECOS
Topographic Tolerance:
UPLAND
Elevation Tolerance:
SEA LEVEL - 2000', 2000' - 4000', 4000' - 6000'
Slope Tolerance:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE SLOPE RANGE
Aspect Tolerance:
TOLERANT ACROSS RANGE
Light Tolerance:
TOLERANT TO FULL SUN
Wetland Regional Indicator:
FACULTATIVE UPLAND
Physical Form:
GRASS
Habit:
DECIDUOUS
Life Cycle:
PERENNIAL
Seed Age:
1 YEAR OR LESS
Seed Interval:
1 YEAR OR LESS
Growth:
RAPID GROWTH, LONG-LIVED, SOD-FORMING, DEEP ROOTED
Hardiness:
DROUGHT TOLERANT, GRAZING TOLERANT, FIRE TOLERANT, INSECT TOLERANT, DISEASE TOLERANT, COLD TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period:
FROST FREE PERIOD
Flowering Period:
JUL, AUG, SEP
Fruiting Period:
AUG, SEP
Soil Moisture:
WELL-DRAINED ONLY
Soil Texture:
TOLERANT TO SANDY SOILS
Soil Fertility:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE FERTILITY RANGE
Parent Material:
TOLERANT OVER WIDE RANGE
Soil pH:
SLIGHTLY ACIDIC, NEUTRAL, SLIGHTLY ALKALINE
Optimum pH:
NEUTRAL
Soil Depth:
WIDE RANGE OF SOIL DEPTHS
Salinity:
OBLIGATE TO NON-SALINE (FRESH) SOIL/WATER CONDITIONS
Short-term Biomass:
MEDIUM
Short-term Pest:
NONE KNOWN
Long-term Biomass:
MEDIUM
Long-term Pest:
NONE KNOWN
Dominance Characteristics:
DOMINANT
Honeybee Relations:
NOT HONEY PRODUCING
Parasite Host Potential:
NONE KNOWN
Food for Wildlife/Livestock:
SMALL MAMMALS, LARGE MAMMALS, CATTLE, HORSES
Small Mammal Food:
FAIR
Large Mammal Food:
GOOD
Upland Game Birds Food:
FAIR
Waterfowl Food:
FAIR
Nongame Birds Food:
FAIR
Small Mammal Cover:
GOOD
Large Mammal Cover:
FAIR
Upland Game Birds Cover:
GOOD
Waterfowl Cover:
FAIR
Nongame Birds Cover:
GOOD
Toxicity Potential:
NONE KNOWN
Toxicity Season:
Effectiveness Period:
LONG-TERM ONLY
Raindrop Impact:
LOW
Erosion Hardiness:
MEDIUM
Ease of Propagation:
MEDIUM
Soil Binding:
MEDIUM
Soil Enrichment Potential:
UNKNOWN
Nitrogen Fixation Potential:
LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production:
UNKNOWN
Source Availability:
COMMON LOCAL RETAIL NURSERY OR SEED OUTLET
Seed Germination Ratio:
MEDIUM
Reproduction:
SEEDS, RHIZOMES
Seed Dispersal Success Potential:
BIRDS, WIND
Seed Establishment Success Potential:
UNKNOWN
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential:
HIGH
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential:
MEDIUM
Establishment Time Interval:
1 YEAR OR LESS
Recommended Establishment:
CUTTINGS
Relative Expense:
INEXPENSIVE
Notes:
- Forms dense colonies 15-20 feet across.
- One of the most important grasses on loamy to sandy soils west of the
30-inch rainfall belt.
Associated Species:
CATCLAW
ACACIA
CHICKASAW PLUM
FRAGRANT
SUMAC
HAIRY GRAMA
HAVARD
OAK
HONEY MESQUITE
ILLINOIS
BUNDLEGRASS
INDIANGRASS
LEADPLANT
LITTLE BLUESTEM
SAND
DROPSEED
SAND
LOVEGRASS
SIDEOATS
GRAMA
SILVER BLUESTEM
SLICKSEED
WILDBEAN
SLIMLEAF
SCURFPEA
SUNFLOWER
SPP.
SWITCHGRASS
WILD
BLUE INDIGO