GREAT PLAINS PLANTS
University of Idaho Rangeland Program Michael Haddock Ecoregions
Great Plains Ecoregion
https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions
Plants of the Great Plains GRASSES ------ANDROPOGONEAE Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardi ANDROPOGONEAE Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium ANDROPOGONEAE Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans CYNODONTEAE Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis CYNODONTEAE Buffalograss Bouteloua dactyloides PANICEAE Switchgrass Panicum virgatum FORBS ------ASTEREA Missouri Goldonrod Solidago missouriensis EUPATORIEAE Dotted Gayfeather Liatris punctata HELIANTHEAE Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnifera ROSACEAE Shrubby Cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa ** All are Perennial and Native ANDROPOGONEAE Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardi
◼ Large sodgrass with thick base
◼ Can have extensive scaly rhizomes
◼ Seedhead is a panicle with 2-6 digitate (finger-like) branches
K. Launchbuagh Mike Haddock ANDROPOGONEAE Big Bluestem Andropogon gerardi ▪2 florets per spikelet; one floret with awn, one infertile and awnless
Mike Haddock ANDROPOGONEAE Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium Page 38-39 ◼ Mid-sized bunchgrass about half the size of Big Bluestem
◼ Sheaths and culms flat
◼ Short rhizomes
K. Launchbaugh Mike Haddock ANDROPOGONEAE Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
▪Several small racemes in a panicle-type arrangement ▪Each seed has a small “kinky” awn
K. Launchbuagh Mike Haddock ANDROPOGONEAE Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans
Page 40-41 ▪ Large sodgrass ▪ With short, scaley rhizomes ▪ Auricles erect flanking ligule ‘rifle-sight’ ligule ▪ Short, soft hairs at the nodes
Mike Haddock Mike Haddock ANDROPOGONEAE Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans
▪Seedhead is a single, narrow, plume-like panicle ▪Seed is light and fluffy with small awns attached.
Steve Hurst, USDA-ARS
Mike Haddock Cynodonteae Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis ▪Densely tufted plant with short, mostly basal, leaves
Mike Haddock Texas A&M Virtual Herbarium Cynodonteae Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis ▪Inflorescence has 1-3 (normally 2) spicate branches (combs) per culm ▪Spikelets are densely crowded on comb-like branches
Mike Haddock Mike Haddock Cynodonteae Buffalograss Bouteloua dactyloides ▪Shortgrass that is stoloniferous and forms a dense sod
Mike Haddock
Mike Haddock Cynodonteae Buffalograss Bouteloua dactyloides ▪Male & female on separate plants (dioecious) ▪Male spikelets are arranged on spicate inflorescence branch
Mike Haddock
Male flower Mike Haddock Female flower Paniceae Switchgrass Panicum virgatum ▪Rhizomatous, tall grass with stout culms ▪Tuft of hair at throat of sheath
Mike Haddock Mike Haddock
Mike Haddock Paniceae Switchgrass Panicum virgatum ▪Seedhead is broad and diffuse panicle ▪Spikelets toward ends of panicle branches ▪Each spikelet has one floret
Mike Haddock
Mike Haddock ASTEREAE Missouri Goldenrod Solidago missouriensis ▪Herbaceous forb with erect stems arising singly from creeping rhizome ▪Brownish or reddish stems ▪Leaves taper at both ends, entire or only slightly serrated ▪Leaves with 3 distinct veins parallel to margin
Matt Lavin
Matt Lavin Matt Lavin ASTEREAE Missouri Goldenrod Solidago missouriensis ▪Inflorescence panicle-like with recurving branches making curved pyramid ▪Composit seedhead with small dish & ray flowers
Mike Haddock
Mike Haddock EUPATORIEAE Dotted Gayfeather Liatris punctata ▪Leaves linear & sessile ▪Thick bulb below the soil surface ▪Leaves distinctly punctate - dotted with little holes
Mike Haddock Mike Haddock EUPATORIEAE Dotted Gayfeather Liatris punctata ▪ Purple/lavender flowers ▪ Flowers sessile on stem & in axil of leaves ▪ Thick, punctate bracts
Mike Haddock HELIANTHEAE Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnifera ▪Leaves deeply cleft to midrib, with stiff hairs ▪Stems from a woody taproot
Mike Haddock
Mike Haddock HELIANTHEAE Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnifera
▪Ray flowers yellow or red ▪Disk flowers brown and in a cylindrical column
Chrissy Wainwright Mike Haddock Rosaceae Shrubby Cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa ▪Small shrub branching from base ▪Red “shreddy” bark ▪Leaves pinnately compound with stipule at base
Bryant Olsen Rosaceae Shrubby Cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa ▪Yellow or orange flowers with 5 petals ▪Leaves pinnately compound with stipule at base
Peter Stevens