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GRASSES
Bluestem, Big ‘Bonilla’
Andropogongerardii‘Bonilla’
Description:Thiswarm-season,perennialtallgrasshasshortscalyrhizomes.Coarseseed
stalksreach3to7feet.Eachstalkproducesoneormorehairy,3to6"ingered“turkeyfoot”
spikes,typically1-1/2to4incheslong.Leavesarenumerous,large,¼to½inchwide,usu-
allywithcoarsehairs.Plantsremaingreenthroughoutthesummer,turningrustyredwith
maturity.
Distribution/Habitat:Bigbluestem,aNorthAmericannative,occursinallstatesexceptin
thefarWest.Itsprimaryrangeisthecentralandsouthernplainswhereittypi"ieslowland
tallgrasscommunities.ItisfoundstatewideinSouthDakota,abundantlyintheeasternpart
onunbrokensoilsaswellasintheSandhills.Fartherwestinthestateitoccupiessmallpro-
tectedareaswithfavorablesoilmoisture.
Credit: James E. Johnson & Gary E. Larson, Grassland Plants of South Dakota and the
Northern Great Plains. SDSU, Brookings, SD. B-566 (rev.) August 1999. Page 18.
Photo Credit: USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center & SDSU Ag Experiment Station
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