Skip to main content

Extension

A Checklist of Prairie, Shrubland, and Forest Understory Plants of Oklahoma Characteristics and Value to Deer, Quail, Turkey, and Cattle

Oklahoma has more than 2,600 species of vascular plants, of which 90% are native.  In this Fact Sheet, we have listed those commonly found in prairies, shrublands, and forest understories throughout the state and described their characteristics and resource values.


Characteristics of plant growth can be useful in determining where species occur and under what environmental conditions they exist.  The life span of each plant in the following table is recorded as either perennial or annual.  Annual plants complete their life cycle in one growing season and perpetuate through seed production.  Perennials, in addition to producing seeds, store energy reserves in their root systems for use the following year.  A species’ principal time of growth is described as either cool season or warm season.  Cool-season plants complete the majority of their growth in the fall, winter, and spring.  Warm-season plants grow during the summer.

Illinois bundleflowerA number of species have been brought here from other continents, either intentionally or by accident.  These plants are termedintroduced species.  They often become undesirable because they lack natural enemies and may thrive at the cost of native species.  Some introduced plants are invasive and noxious weeds and thus should be controlled.  Some native plants, like eastern redcedar, become invasive because of the reduction in natural ecological processes such as fire.  Whether each plant has a tendency to be invasive, such asSericea lespedeza, is the final plant characteristic listed.


Because animals depend on plants for food and cover, the value of each species for deer, quail, wild turkey, and cattle has been rated as desirable or undesirable.  It is important to note that the value of a plant to different wildlife species may be the same.  Species also do not have to be a desired food item to be important.  Cover provides necessary protection from weather and predators. Use of some species is seasonal.  It is important to note that some species designated undesirable for food or cover may have other resource values and thus be considered important.


This table is intended to serve as a quick reference for determining the attributes of common plants in Oklahoma and their value to wildlife and indirectly to the land manager’s interests or needs.  The species are grouped into four categories: graminoids, legumes, forbs, and woodies. For detailed discussions and drawings of these plants, obtain a copy of the Field Guide to Oklahoma Plants. Contact Rangeland Ecology and Management at (405) 744-6421.

Legend

Plant Characteristics / Resource Value Rating (Graminoids)

(LH : Life History, SG : Season of Growth,  OR : Origin)

(Food, Cover)

 GRAMINOIDS PC:LHPC:SG PC:ORWT Dear
Food
WT Dear
Cover 
BW Quail
Food
BW Quail
 Cover
Cattle
Food
Cattle
Cover
Turkey
Food
Turkey
Cover
1Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica)AC IN, IVUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
2Big or Sand bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)PWNUNDEUNDEDEUNUNDE
3Splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius)PWNUNUNUNLMUNUNUNLM
4Broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
5Annual threeawn (Aristida oligantha)AWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
6Perennial threeawn (Aristida purpurea)PWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
7Giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea)PWNLMDEDEDEDEDEUNDE
8Old World bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum)PWIN, IVUNUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
9Silver bluestem (Bothriochloa laguroides)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
10Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)PWNLMUNUNDEDEUNDEDE
11Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis)PWNLMUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
12Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta)PWNLMUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
13Rescuegrass (Bromus catharticus)ACIN, IV UNUNUNUNLMUNUNUN
14Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus)ACIN, IVUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
15Downey brome (Bromus  tectorum)ACIN, IVUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
16Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides)PWNUNUNUNUNDEUNDEUN
17Giant sandreed (Calamovilfa gigantea) PWNUNDEUNDEDEUNUNDE
18Prairie sedge (Carex festucaea)PCNDEUNDEUNDEUNDEUN
19Sandbur (Cenchrus incertus)AWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
20Broadleaved uniola (Chasmanthium latifolium)PCNDEUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
21Windmillgrass (Chloris verticillata)PWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
22Rattail grass (Coelorachis cylindrica)PWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
23Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon)PWIN,IVUNUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
24False flatsedge (Cyperus strigosus)PWNDEUNUNUNDEUNDEUN
25Poverty oatgrass (Danthonia spicata)PCNUNUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
26Inland saltgrass (Distichlis spicata)PWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
27Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis)PCNUNUNUNDEDEUNUNDE
28Western wheatgrass (Elymus smithii)PCNUNUNUNDEDEUNUNDE
29Weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula)PWINUNUNUNDEDEUNUNUN
30Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis lugens)PWNUNUNUNUNDEUNUNDE
31Red lovegrass (Eragrostis secundiflora)PWNUNUNUNUNDEUNUNDE
32Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis)PWNUNUNUNDEDEUNUNDE
33Sand lovegrass (Eragrostis trichodes)PWNUNUNUNUNDEUNUNDE
34Prairie cupgrass (Eriocholoa contracta)PWNUNUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
35Hairy tridens (Erioneuron pilosum)PWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNDE
36Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)PCIN, IVUNUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
37Bearded skeletongrass (Gymnopogon ambiguus)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
38Tobosagrass (Hilaria mutica)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
39Little barley (Hordeum pusillum)ACIN, IVUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
40Rush (Juncus tenuis)PCNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
41Fall witchgrass (Leptoloma cognatum)PWNUNUNDEUNUNUNUNUN
42Nimblewell (Muhlenbergia schreberi)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
43Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides)PCNUNUNUNUNDEUNDEDE
44Vine mesquite (Panicum obtusum)PWNUNUNDEDEDEUNDEUN
45Scribner panicum (Panicum oligosanthes)PCNDEUNDEUNDEUNDEUN
46Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)PWNUNDEDEDEDEUNDEDE
47Florida paspalum (Paspalum floridanum)PWNDEUNDEDEDEUNDEDE
48Texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera)PCNUNUNUNUNDEUNDEUN
49Tumblegrass (Schedonnardus paniculatus)PWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
50Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)PWNUNUNUNDEDEUNUNDE
51Nutrush (Scleria ciliata)PCNDEUNDEUNDEUNDEUN
52Knotroot bristlegrass (Setaria gracilis)PWNUNUNDEDEDEUNDEUN
53Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)PWNUNDEUNDEDEUNUNDE
54Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense)PWIN, IVUNUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
55Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata)PWNUNUNUNDEDEUNUNDE
56Prairie wedgescale (Sphenopholis obtusata)PWNDEUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
57Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides)PWNUNUNUNDEDEUNUNDE
58Tall dropseed (Sporobolus asper)PWNUNUNDEDEUNUNUNDE
59Sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus)PWNUNUNDEDEDEUNUNUN
60Annual dropseed (Sporobolus neglectus)AWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
61Texas wintergrass (Stipa leucotricha)PCNUNUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
62Purpletop (Tridens flavus)PWNUNUNUNDEDEUNUNDE
63Longspike tridens (Tridens strictus)PWNUNUNUNUNDEUNUNUN 
64Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides)PWNDEDEDEDEDEUNDEDE
65Cattail (Typha latifolia)PWNUNDEUNUNUNUNUNUN
66Sixweeks fescue (Vulpia octoflora)ACNUNUNUNUNUNUNDEUN

Plant Characteristics / Resource Value Rating (Legumes)

(LH : Life History, SG : Season of Growth,  OR : Origin)

(Food, Cover)

 LegumesPC:LHPC:SG PC:ORWT Dear
Food
WT Dear
Cover 
BW Quail
Food
BW Quail
 Cover
Cattle
Food
Cattle
Cover
Turkey
Food
Turkey
Cover
67Prairie acacia (Acacia angustissima)PWNDEUNDEDEDEUNDEUN
68Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)PWNUNUNUNDEDEUNDEUN
69Groundplum (Astragalus crassicarpus)ACNDEUNUNUNUNUNDEUN
70Woolly loco (Astragalus mollissimus)ACNUNUNUNUNUNUNDEUN
71Blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis)PCNUNUNUNDEUNUNDEUN
72Plains wild indigo (Baptisia bracteata)PCNUNUNUNDEUNUNDEUN
73Showy partridgepea (Chamaecrista  fasciculata)AWNUNUNDEUNUNUNDEUN
74Butterfly pea (Clitoria mariana)AWNDEUNDEUNDEUNDEUN
75Slender dalea (Dalea enneandra)PWNDEUNUNDEDEUNDEUN
76Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis)PWNDEUNDEDEDEUNDEDE
77Sessile-leaved tickclover (Desmodium sessilifolium)PWNDEUNDEDEDEUNDEUN
78Downey milk pea (Galactia regularis)PWNDEUNDEUNDEUNDEUN
79Roundhead lespedeza (Lespedeza capitata)PWNDEUNDEDEDEUNDEUN
80Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)PWIN, IVUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
81Trailing lespedeza (Lespedeza procumbens)PWNDEUNDEUNDEUNDEUN
82Korean lespedeza (Lespedeza stipulacea)AWIN, IVUNUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
83Slender lespedeza (Lespedeza virginica)PWNDEUNDEDEDEUNDEUN
84Catclaw sensitivebriar (Mimosa quadrivalis)PWNUNUNDEDEDEUNDEUN
85Yellow neptune (Neptunia lutea)PWNDEUNDEUNDEUNDEUN
86Lambert’s crazyweed (Oxytropis lambertii)PCNUNUNUNUNUNUNDEUN
87Purple prairieclover (Petalostemon purpureus)PWNDEUNDEDEDEUNDEUN
88Scurfpea (Psoralidium tenuiflorum)PCNUNUNDEDEUNUNDEUN
89Trailing wildbean (Strophostyles helvola)PWNDEUNDEDEDEUNDEUN
90Goat’s rue (Tephrosia virginiana)PWNDEUNUNDEDEUNDEUN
91White clover (Trifolium repens)PCINDEUNUNUNDEUNDEUN
92Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa)ACINDEUNUNUNUNUNDEUN

Plant Characteristics / Resource Value Rating (Forbs)

(LH : Life History, SG : Season of Growth,  OR : Origin)

(Food, Cover) 

 ForbsPC:LHPC:SG PC:ORWT Dear
Food
WT Dear
Cover 
BW Quail
Food
BW Quail
 Cover
Cattle
Food
Cattle
Cover
Turkey
Food
Turkey
Cover
93Three-seeded mercury (Acalypha virginica)AWNDEUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
94Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)PCNUNUNUNDEDEDEUNUN
95Prostate pigweed (Amaranthus blitoides)AWNUNUNDEUNUNUNUNUN
96Redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus)AWIN, IVUNUNDEDEUNUNUNUN
97Lanceleaf ragweed (Ambrosia bidentata)AWNUNUNDEDEUNUNUNUN
98Western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya)PWNUNUNDEDEUNUNUNDE
99Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)AWNUNDEDEDEUNUNUNDE
100Pussytoes (Antennaria parlinii)PCNDEUNUNUNUNUNDEUN
101Sagewort (Artemisia ludoviciana)PWNDEUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
102Antelopehorn milkweed (Asclepias viridis)PCNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
103Heath aster (Aster ericoides)PWNDEUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
104Spanish needles (Bidens bipinnata)AWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
105Halfshrub sundrop (Calyophus serrulatus)PWNDEUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
106Musk thistle (Carduus nutans)BCIN, IVUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
107Indian paintbrush (Castilleja indivisia)PWNUNUNUNDEDEUNUNUN
108Basketflower (Centaurea americana)AWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
109Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)AWINUNDEDEDEDEUNUNUN
110Horseweed (Conyza canadensis)AWNDEUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
111Plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)AWNUNUNDEDEUNUNUNUN
112Texas croton (Croton texensis)AWNUNUNDEDEUNUNDEUN
113Rushfoil (Crotonopsis ellipitica)AWNUNUNUNUNUNUNDEUN
114Poor Joe (Diodia teres)AWNUNUNDEUNUNUNDEUN
115Black Sampson (Echinacea angustifolia)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
116Leafy elephant’s foot (Elephantopus carolinianus)PWNDEUNDEDEDEUNDEDE
117Engelmann’s daisy (Engelmannia pinnatifida)PCNDEUNDEDEDEUNUNUN
118Daisy fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)ACNDEUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
119Leavenworth’s eryngo (Eryngium leavenworthi)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
120Yuccaleaf eryngo (Eryngium yuccifolium)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
121White snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
122Snow-on-the-mountain (Euphorbia marginata)AWNUNDEDEDEUNUNDEDE
123Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)ACNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
124Woods bedstraw (Galium circaezans)PCNDEUNUNUNUNUNDEUN
125Carolina cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum)ACNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
126Fragrant cudweed (Gnaphalium obtusifolium)AWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
127Curlycup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa)PWNUNUNDEDEUNUNUNUN
128Common broomweed (Gutierrezia dracunculoides)AWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
129Broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
130Wax goldenweed (Haplopappus ciliatus)AWNUNUNDEDEUNUNDEDE
131Bitter sneezeweed (Helenium amarum)AWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
132Annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus)AWNDEDEDEDEDEUNDEDE
133Maximilian’s sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)PWNDEUNDEDEDEUNDEDE
134Ashy sunflower (Helianthus mollis)PWNUNUNDEDEDEUNDEDE
135Sump weed (Iva annua)AWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
136Summer cypress (Kochia scoparia)AWIN, IVUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
137Pepperweed (Lepidium virgincum)ACNUNUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
138Dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata)PWNUNUNUNLMUNUNUNUN
139Yellow puccoon (Lithospermum incisum)PCNDEUNDELMUNUNDEUN
140Lemon beebalm (Monarda citriodora)ACNDEUNUNLMUNUNUNUN
141Prickly pear (Opuntia macrorhiza)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNUN
142Violet wood sorrel (Oxalis violacea)ACNDEUNDEUNUNUNDEUN
143Prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa)PCNDEUNUNUNDEUNDEUN
144Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)AWNDEUNDEDEDEUNDEDE
145Pennsylvania  smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum)AWNUNUNDELMUNUNDEDE
146Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris)AWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
147Slender-leaved mountain mint (Pycnathemum tenuifolium)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
148Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera)PWNDEUNUNDEUNUNDEUN
149Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)AWNDEUNDEDEUNUNDEUN
150Wild petunia (Ruellia humilis)PCNDEUNUNUNUNUNDEUN
151Curly dock (Rumex crispus)PCIN, IVDEUNDELMUNUNDEUN
152Russian-thistle (Salsola tragus)AWIN, IVUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
153Pitcher sage (Salvia azurea)PWNDEUNUNUNDEUNUNUN
154Threadleaf groundsel (Senecio flaccidus)PWNDEUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
155Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum)PWNDEDEDEDEDEUNDEDE
156Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium)PWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
157Buffalo bur (Solanum rostratum)AWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
158Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)PWNDEUNUNDEUNUNDEDE
159Goat’s beard (Tragopogon pratensis)ACINUNUNDEUNUNUNUNUN
160Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)ACIVUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
161Western ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii)PWNUNUNUNDEUNUNUNLM
162Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)AWIN, IVUNUNUNLMUNUNUNUN
163Yucca (Yucca glauca)PCNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN

Plant Characteristics / Resource Value Rating (Woodies)

(LH : Life History, SG : Season of Growth,  OR : Origin)

(Food, Cover)

 
 WoodiesPC:LH PC:SGPC:ORWT Dear
Food
WT Dear
Cover 
BW Quail
Food
BW Quail
Cover
Cattle
Food
Cattle
Cover
Turkey
Food
Turkey
Cover
164False indigo (Amorpha fruticosa)PWNDEDEDEDEDELMDEDE
165Sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia)PWNUNDEUNDEUNUNUNDE
166Chittamwood (Bumelia lanuginosa)PWNDEDEDEDEDEUNDEDE
167American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)PWNDEDEDEDEUNUNDEDE
168Pecan (Carya illinoensis)PWNDEDEUNUNUNUNDEDE
169New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)PWNDEDEUNDEDEUNUNDE
170Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata)PWNDEDEDEDEDEDEDEDE
171Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)PWNUNDEUNDEUNUNUNDE
172Redbud (Cercis canadensis)PWNUNDEDEDEDEDEDEDE
173Carolina snailseed (Cocculus caroliniana) PWNDEUNDEUNDEUNDEDE
174Rough-leaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii)PWNDEDEDEDEUNUNDEDE
175Green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis)PWNDEDELMDEUNUNDEDE
176Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)PWNDEDEDEDEUNUNDEDE
177Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)PWNDEDEUNUNUNUNUNUN
178St. Andrew’s cross (Hypericum hypercoides)PWNUNUNUNUNUNUNUNDE
179Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)PCN, IVUNUNUNUNUNLMUNUN
180Osage orange (Maclura pomifera)PWNLMDEUNDEUNUNUNDE
181Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)PWNDEDEDEDEDEUNDEDE
182Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides)PWNLMDEUNUNDEDEUNDE
183Honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)PWN, IVDEDELMDEUNDEUNDE
184Sand plum (Prunus angustifolia)PWNDEDEUNDEUNLMDEDE
185Shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) PWNDEDEDEDEUNDEDEDE
186Blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica)PWNDEDEDEDEUNDEDEDE
187Postoak (Quercus stellata)PWNDEDEDEDEUNDEDEDE
188Black oak (Quercus velutina)PWNDEDEDEUNUNDEDEDE
189Carolina buckthorn (Rhamnus caroliniana)PWNDEDEDEDEUNLMDEDE
190Lemon sumac (Rhus aromatica)PWNDEDEDEDEUNLMDEDE
191Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)PWNDEDEDEDEUNLMDEDE
192Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)PWN, IVLMDEDEDEUNDEDEDE
193Prairie rose (Rosa setigera)PWNDEUNUNDEUNUNUNDE
194Oklahoma blackberry (Rubus oklahomus)PWNDEUNDEDEUNUNDEDE
195Willow (Salix nigra)PWNUNDEUNDEDEDEUNDE
196Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)PWNDEDEDEDEDELMDEDE
197Soapberry (Sapindus drummondii)PWNUNDEUNDEUNDEUNDE
198Greenbrier (Smilax bona-nox)PWNDEDEDEDEDEUNDEDE
199Buckbrush (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)PWNDEDELMDEUNUNLMDE
200Saltcedar (Tamarix chinensis)PWIN, IVUNUNUNUNUNUNUNUN
201Poison-ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)PWDEUNDEDEUNUNDEDE
202Winged elm (Ulmus alata)PWNDEDEUNDEDEUNDEDE
203American elm (Ulmus americana)PWNDEDEUNUNDEDEDEDE
204Farkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum)PWNDEDEDEDEDELMDEDE
205Southern blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum)PWNDEDEDEDEDELMDEDE
206Muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia)PWNDEDEDEDEDEUNDEDE

For information on all species of plants, visit USDA Plant Database

Terrence G. Bidwell
Professor and Extension Specialist
Rangeland Ecology and Management


Ronald E. Masters
Director of Research
Tall Timbers Research Station


Ronald J. Tyrl
Professor
Department of Botany

Was this information helpful?
YES NO

No results to display

VIEW ALL