BUSHY BLUESTEM (Andropogon sp. likely glomeratus) GRASS

WHAT FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT IS BLOOMING TODAY™?: BUSHY BLUESTEM (Andropogon sp. likely glomeratus)

Very tall, showy native bunch grass. Leave in place to dry over the winter as food for flocks of birds. The warblers will latch on and sway as they dine. Provides cover for wildlife.

Several varieties of this species are native to Florida. This one is most likely A. glomeratus var. pumilus

I cut some to use as a free alternative to cornstalks as Halloween decorations,

Larval Host: Possible larval host plant for Delaware skipper (Anatrytone logan), Georgia satyr (Neonympha areolata), neamathla skipper (Nastra neamathla), swarthy skipper (Nastra lherminier) and twin-spot skipper (Oligoria maculata) butterflies (source: http://www.fnps.org/plants/plant/andropogon-glomeratus)

Learn: http://floridagrasses.org/Grass_data/An_glomeratus.html

Native American Ethnobotany for this genus: http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Andropogon+glomeratus

Where does it grow in Florida? http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=3364

My take: http://web.archive.org/web/20130902073424/http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/arranging-native-plants/

Seeds available: http://www.floridawildflowers.com/products/Andrapogon-glomeratus-%252d-Bushy-Bluestem.html

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