GREAT PLAINS

University of Idaho Rangeland Program Michael Haddock Ecoregions

Great Plains Ecoregion

https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecoregions

Plants of the Great Plains GRASSES ------ Big Bluestem gerardi ANDROPOGONEAE Little Bluestem scoparium ANDROPOGONEAE Indiangrass CYNODONTEAE Blue Grama Bouteloua gracilis CYNODONTEAE Buffalograss Bouteloua dactyloides PANICEAE Switchgrass FORBS ------ASTEREA Missouri Goldonrod Solidago missouriensis EUPATORIEAE Dotted Gayfeather Liatris punctata HELIANTHEAE Coneflower Ratibida columnifera ROSACEAE Shrubby Cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa ** All are Perennial and Native ANDROPOGONEAE Big Bluestem

◼ 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 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