Crimson bluestem (Schizachyrium sanguineum (Retz.) Alston) is a tropical grass used for pasture.
Morphology
Schizachyrium sanguineum is a perennial grass. It is robust, tufted erect or creeping, sometimes shortly rhizomatous (Quattrocchi, 2006; Hitchcock et al., 1951). Its erect culms can reach a height of 60-120 (-300) cm (Quattrocchi, 2006; Clayton et al., 2006). Culms are reddish in colour, sparingly branching at the upper nodes. The leaf blades are flat, linear and acute, 6-30 cm long, 2-4 mm wide. The inflorescence is racemose, 6-10 cm long, the base being included in the somewhat dilated sheath (Hitchcock et al., 1951). There are two types of spikelets: sessile spikelets, which are about 6 mm long, the awn being 10-15 mm long, and pedicellate spikelets which are much smaller (Quattrocchi, 2006; Hitchcock et al., 1951). The pedicels and first glumes of sessile spikelets are hairy and red in colour. The rachis is straight and glabrous (Quattrocchi, 2006; Hitchcock et al., 1951). The latin name of the genus, "Schizachyrium", is derived from the ancient Greek "schizein" and "achyron" meaning "splitting chaff".
Uses
Crimson bluestem is mainly used as fodder: it provides good pasture when young. It can also be used for thatching and matting (Odinma et al., 2013; Quattrocchi, 2006).
