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.