Angiosperms: Monocotyledons

Poaceae
Grass Family

• Stem: perennial; tufted; flowering stalk 2’ to 3’ tall; smooth; very flat at the base of the stem.
• Leaves: sheath smooth or hairy; ligule 1/16”, fringed; blade 6” to 8” by 3/32”, long-tapering to a sharp point.
• Inflorescence: single spikes from the upper leaf axils; about 1” long.
• Spikelets: similar to big bluestem; the stalk supporting the male flowers is long-hairy, especially toward the tip and curved backward; perfect (male and female) spikelets with a twisted awn, 1/2” long; flowering from mid-July to late August.
• Fruits: similar to big bluestem, each unit 1/4” long; fruiting begins in early August; fruits begin dropping in mid-September.
• Habitat: common on dry prairies to Loess Hills prairies; less common on mesic prairies; often on roadsides and in open places.
• Bibliography from Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Vascular Plants of Iowa