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State Symbols

The official state symbols represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of each state or the entire United States

Nebraska Symbols

Nebraska State Grass

Little Bluestem

(Schizachyrium scoparium)

Adopted on May 5, 1969.

Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, was designated the official state grass of Nebraska on May 5, 1969, with the passage of a bill introduced by Sens. Maurice A. Kremer of Aurora and Wayne L. Schreurs of Seward.

Little bluestem, a vigorous native prairie grass, grows throughout the Great Plains and beyond. In central and western Nebraska it grows in bunches and is sometimes called "bunch grass." In some areas, it is also known as "beard grass." The grass is an important native hay and forage grass.

Source: Nebraska Bluebook, 1994-95, pg. 25

A native perennial prairie grass. It can be recognized by its roundish clumps of stems that are somewhat reddish purple in color. There may be 100-300 fine stems emerging from each clump. The solid stems are pinkish with lavender-blue tinted nodes. The fine, flat, blue-green leaves are 1/8-1/4" wide and 8-14" long. The stems turn yellowish orange as the plants mature and go to seed. It can be as short as 3-5" on poor dry soil or as tall as 3' on a rich moist tallgrass prairie site, but typically grows to about 20" in height.

Common Names

little bluestem, little false bluestem, small feathergrass, broomsedge, prairie beardgrass, and popotillo colorado

Scientific Name

Schizachyrium: from schizo for "to split" in part scoparium: Latin for "broom-like" from Latin scopa for "broom" Pronounced: Schizachyrium (skits-ah-KEER-ee-um) scoparium (skoh-PAIR-ee-um)

Description

Perennial 2'-3' grass, bold clump forming grass with silver and bronze fall color. 1" wide green foliage with a white stripe running down the middle offset by billowy plumes opening pink and turning to silver. Excellent cut flower for dries flower arrangements.

Flower

Distinguished by the fuzzy white flowers that emerge part way up the stalk that blooms Aug.-Oct.

Culture

S. scoparium can be found in dry fields, prairies and woods from Maine to Alberta and Idaho, south to Florida and Arizona. Tolerant of a wide range of soils, but will not grow well in moist, fertile soils. Propagate by seed or division in spring. Self seeds,though not prolifically. Cut to the ground in spring before new growth emerges. Best utilized as a vertical accent in perennial borders or as a screen.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Plantae -- Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
Subclass	Commelinidae –
Order	Cyperales –
Family	Poaceae – Grass family
Genus	Schizachyrium L. – bluestem
Species	Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash – little bluestem

State Symbols

State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.

symbol \ˈsim-bəl\
noun

Etymology:
in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw — more at devil
Date: 15th century

1: Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.