Andropogon

Points of ornamental interest include bluish nodes ("joints") on the stems and, in late summer, purplish flower heads shaped somewhat like the foot of a turkey. Develops into a stable and long-lived clump. Of considerable historical interest, having been a dominant grass of the tall grass prairies (which are often referred to as "big bluestem" prairies). Early observers reported big bluestem prairies sufficiently tall that a herd of buffalo could graze among them completely unseen.