Schizachyrium sanguineum

Family: Poaceae Genus: Schizachyrium Species: sanguineum

Synonyms: Andropogon caespitosus, Schizachyrium sanguineum subvar. hirtiflorum, Schizachyrium semiglabrum, Pollinia fulta, Schizachyrium sanguineum subvar. riedelii, Schizachyrium sanguineum subvar. semiberbe, Schizachyrium semiberbe var. flocculiferum, Andropogon myosurus, Andropogon acuminatus, Schizachyrium sanguineum var. hirtiflorum, Schizachyrium paucispiculatum, Streptachne domingensis, Andropogon lumeneensis, Schizachyrium semiberbe var. pilosum, Sorghum sanguineum, Andropogon tener, Andropogon hirtiflorus, Andropogon riedelii var. genuinus, Andropogon myosurus var. feensis, Sorghum myosurus, Schizachyrium oligostachyum, Andropogon semiberbis var. incertus, Schizachyrium riedelii var. multirameum, Andropogon flavescens, Schizachyrium sanguineum subvar. myosurus, Andropogon feensis, Andropogon leptostachyus, Andropogon hirtiflorus var. oligostachyus, Andropogon hirtiflorus var. gracilis, Schizachyrium ambalavense, Andropogon hirtiflorus var. feensis, Schizachyrium sanguineum subvar. feense, Schizachyrium sanguineum subvar. multirameum, Andropogon vaginatus, Schizachyrium sanguineum var. oligostachyum, Andropogon sanguineus, Schizachyrium semiberbe var. humile, Schizachyrium semiberbe var. hemileium, Andropogon semiberbis, Schizachyrium lindiense, Sorghum hirtiflorum, Schizachyrium domingense, Schizachyrium hirtiflorum, Andropogon pseudograya, Aristida domingensis, Andropogon semiberbis var. humilis, Schizachyrium semiberbe, Andropogon sanguineus var. oligostachyus, Sorghum flavescens, Andropogon riedelii var. multirameus, Andropogon velatus, Schizachyrium griseum, Andropogon semiberbis subvar. leptostachyus, Andropogon hirtiflorus var. brevipedicellatus, Schizachyrium feense, Andropogon semiglaber, Schizachyrium riedelii, Andropogon sanguineus var. brevipedicellatus, Andropogon riedelii, Schizachyrium sanguineum var. brevipedicellatum, Schizachyrium myosurus, Schizachyrium tenuispicatum, Andropogon oligostachyus, Schizachyrium inspersum, Sorghum semiberbe, Rottboellia sanguinea, Andropogon hirtiflorus var. semiberbis, Andropogon semiberbis subvar. pruinatus, Thelepogon sanguineus, Schizachyrium weberbaueri, Andropogon hirtiflorus var. genuinus, Schizachyrium sanguineum subvar. domingense, Sorghum riedelii

Botanical Description

Schizachyrium sanguineum, commonly called crimson bluestem, is a warm-season perennial bunchgrass in the Poaceae family reaching approximately 1.2 m in height at maturity. The plant forms dense tufts of slender, often glaucous culms bearing narrow, flat to involute leaf blades that frequently turn reddish to purplish as they age, accounting for the common name. From June through October it produces racemose inflorescences of paired spikelets, white to brown at maturity, with conspicuous bent and twisted awns aiding wind dispersal. The species occupies two disjunct ranges in the United States—one through Georgia, Alabama, and Florida and another spanning Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona—with further populations through Mexico, Central and South America, and parts of Africa. It thrives in disturbed sandy sites, sandhills, and longleaf pine flatwoods, tolerating fire and seasonal drought, and serves as forage for cattle and habitat for grassland wildlife.

Native Region: Alabama, Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Arizona, Assam, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Burkina, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Central African Repu, Chad, Chile Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Florida, French Guiana, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Laos, Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malaya, Mali, Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Guinea, New Mexico, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sumatera, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Texas, Thailand, Tibet, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

234906

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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