Synonyms:

• (=) Andropogon furcatus Muhl. ex Willd.

Common names:

• big bluestem  (Source: World Econ Pl) - English
• turkeyfoot  (Source: Websters Dict) - English
• barbon de Gerard  (Source: F NAmer) - French
• popotillo gigante  (Source: Food Feed Crops US) - Spanish

Economic Importance:

• Environmental: erosion control (fide Grass VarUSA)
• Environmental: ornamental (fide F NAmer)
• Environmental: revegetator (for roadsides and prairies fide NRCS Cons Pl Mat 1999; Grass VarUSA)
• Environmental: wildlife habitat (fide Grass VarUSA)
• Animal food: fodder (fide Grass VarUSA)
• Animal food: forage (fide Grass VarUSA)
• Weed: potential seed contaminant (fide Weed CIBA)

Distributional Range:

Native

Northern America

• EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Ontario, Quebec (s.)]
• WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Manitoba (s.), Saskatchewan (s.e.)]
• 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 (http://tenn.bio.utk.edu/vascular/database/vascular-database.asp?CategoryID=Monocots&FamilyID=Poaceae&GenusID=Andropogon&SpeciesID=gerardii), Virginia]
• SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico, Texas]
• SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arizona, Utah (s.)]
• NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Coahuila, Durango, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Zacatecas]
• SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Chiapas, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla]

Southern America

• CENTRAL AMERICA: Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras


Cultivated

Northern America

• United States (c.)


Naturalized

Australasia

• AUSTRALIA: Australia

References:

1. Webster's third new international dictionary. 1961 (Websters Dict)
2. Alderson, J. & W. C. Sharp Grass varieties in the United States, U.S.D.A. Agric. Handb. 170, rev. ed. 1995 (Grass VarUSA)
3. CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) (Weed CIBA)
4. Davidse, G. et al., eds. Flora mesoamericana. (F Mesoamer)
5. Englert, J. M. et al. 1999. USDA-NRCS Improved conservation plant materials released by NRCS and cooperators. 1999- (NRCS Cons Pl Mat)
6. FNA Editorial Committee Flora of North America. 1993- (F NAmer)
7. Hanelt, P., ed. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6. 2001 (Mansf Ency)
8. Markle, G. M. et al., eds. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2. 1998 (Food Feed Crops US)
9. McVaugh, R. Flora Novo-Galiciana. 1983- (F NGalicia)
10. Randall, R. P. The introduced flora of Australia and its weed status. (Weed CRCAustralia)

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN-Taxonomy).
National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: http://germoplasma.iniaf.gob.bo/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=3215. Accessed 9 junio 2026.