Common Name

Description

Big Bluestream, Kaw

3-6' tall, slender stems growing from short rootstocks. The lower sheaths and leaves usually are fuzzy and very hairy. The seed heads usually come out in a three spike-like inflorescence resembling a turkey foot. The ligule extends across the leaf collar. It is preferred by cattle and decreases with overgrazing. Matures seed in fall. The most abundant grass in the tallgrass prairie.

Little Bluestem, Aldous

2-3' tall bunchgrass with flattened sheaths, blades and stems purplish to bluish-green, turning leathery brown at maturity. The inflorescence has small fuzzy seeds with twisted awn and partially enclosed in a leaf sheath. Grazed by all classes of livestock. Matures seed in fall.

Indiangrass, Osage

3-6' tall stems growing from short scaly rhizomes. The nodes are fuzzy. The leaf blades are wide and long with a long ligule which resembles rabbit ears when dry. The panicle is 8-12" long and bronze to yellow in color. The awns are about 1/2" long, once bent and closely twisted to the first bend. Decreases with heavy grazing. Produces high yields when managed in pure stand. Also a heavy seed producer.

Sideoats, El Reno

1-3 1/2' tall with stems growing from strong, scaly rootstocks. Hairs grow out of small bulb-like spots on the leaf blade edges. The inflorescence has a zig-zag rachis with many spikelets (20-50) twisting around on one side when ripe. Seeds resemble oats. Grazed by all kinds of animals. Matures seed in spring and fall. Has good seedling vigor and can withstand long drought periods when not heavily grazed.

Switchgrass, Blackwell

3-5' tall, hollow stem growing in small to large clumps from many scaly creeping rhizomes. Large robust plants with bluish blades up to 2' long. The ligule is a dense ring or cup of Hairs on upper leaf surface at collar. The panicles are pyramid shaped with many purplish spikelets. In winter, the seed head resembles branches of a seeding willow tree. Decreases with heavy use early in the growing season. Increases when grazing is deferred past mid summer.