About Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng
Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng is a species of perennial grass in the grass family Poaceae, distributed across much of the world. This species is commonly called yellow bluestem. Two varieties of this species are currently recognized. The autonymic variety, Bothriochloa ischaemum var. ischaemum, is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, and has become naturalized in other regions outside its native range. The second variety, Bothriochloa ischaemum var. songarica, is native to Asia, and is also naturalized elsewhere. In the U.S. state of Texas, Bothriochloa ischaemum var. songarica is an invasive weed, where it is referred to as "King Ranch bluestem". This variety has displaced native grasses across large areas of central and south Texas. The species epithet ischaemum derives from the Ancient Greek word ischaemum, which refers to a styptic, a substance that causes ischemia.
