Poaceae
Grass Family
Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash
- Stem: perennial; tufted; 3’ to 5’ tall; smooth.
- Leaves: sheath smooth; ligule 1/4” tall, stiff, with two points at the tip; blade about 12” by 3/8”, narrower than the sheath at the base, then widening, with a sharp-tapered tip.
- Inflorescence: contracted, branching flower stalk (panicle), 6” to 10” long.
- Spikelets: 1/4” long, hairy stalks on either side of the floret, floret with 1/2” twisted awn; lower glume hairy; flowering from mid-August to mid-September.
- Fruits: yellow-brown; fruiting begins in late August; mature spikelets begin falling in late September.
- Habitat: common on mesic prairies; also on dry and moist prairies, on roadsides, and in open places.
- Notes: Indian grass is one of the most important grasses of the tallgrass prairie. It is also one of the more vigorous of the prairie species in invading stable, nonprairie areas.
- Bibliography from Biodiversity Heritage Library
- Vascular Plants of Iowa
Can be found in these counties:
