Broomsedge

Broomsedge, also known as beard grass, is not a true sedge but is a member of the grass family, Poaceae. Historically, housewives used the long, brush-like grasses to make brooms, which accounts for the common name. The scientific name of the genus Andropogon comes from two Latin words which mean 'beard of a man' and refers to the fuzzy growth that appears on the plant in the fall. These fuzzy hairs aid in the wind dispersal of seeds.
The young plants are sometimes used as grazing forage for cattle or cut and used as hay. As the plants mature, they become too woody for the cattle to digest well. Bobwhite quail and small rodents eat the grass and seeds and many wildlife species use the plants for shelter or nesting sites.
In the fall, the leaves turn a conspicuous reddish-orange color that may be seen in open fields or along roadsides and forests edges.
Broomsedge is widely distributed throughout much of the eastern United States, from as far north as Maine and south into Florida. Its range extends westward to Texas and Illinois.