Plant of the Month: October, 1998

by Russell Stevens

Indiangrass
Sorghastrum nutans

Characteristics: A native, warm-season, perennial bunchgrass adapted to a wide variety of sites. Indiangrass is widely distributed throughout the Tallgrass Prairie. It is one of the most important native grasses for livestock forage and is an indicator of properly managed native pastures. Indiangrass is the state grass of Oklahoma and for good reason. Its inflorescence (seed head) is a golden color and adds brilliance to Oklahoma's fall rangeland landscape.

Area of Importance: All of the Great Plains

Attributes: Properly managed, Indiangrass can provide good forage for livestock throughout much of the year. It is palatable and usually maintains a good protein content during the growing season. It also provides quality standing forage after frost.

Problems: Requires the proper use of management tools such as grazing, rest and fire to maintain it's quality and presence in native pastures.

I.D. Tip: A dead giveaway at just about anytime of the year is that the ligule (plant part located at the base of the leaf) of Indiangrass resembles rabbit ears or antelope horns. Indiangrass can also be easily identified in the fall due to its golden inflorescence.

Hundreds of plants are identified in the Noble Foundation Plant Image Gallery.