Indiangrass

Plant Profile
FYUSE 3d Image	Common Name: Indiangrass Species Name: Sorghastrum nutans Plant Type: Grasses & Grass-like Family Name: Poaceae, Grass Family Tribe: Andropogoneae, Bluestem Tribe

Plant Profile

FYUSE 3d Image

Common Name: Indiangrass

Species Name: Sorghastrum nutans

Plant Type: Grasses & Grass-like

Family Name: Poaceae, Grass Family

Tribe: Andropogoneae, Bluestem Tribe

Large, hairy seedhead; coppery or chestnut colored

"Rabbit ears" or "gun sight" upright auricles at base of blade

Plant Facts
Origin	Native
Duration	Perennial
Season	Warm
Distribution in the U.S.	Eastern two-thirds of the continent and southward into central Mexico
Distribution in Oklahoma	Throughout the state

ID Characteristics

Field Identification Characteristics
Vegetative
- Blue-green foliage
- “Rabbit ears” or “gun sight” upright auricles at base of blade
- Hairy nodes
Floral
- Large, hairy seed head; coppery or chestnut colored
- Spikelets with awns
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
- Plant Height: 90-200 centimeters
- Ligule Type: Ciliate membrane
- Sheath: Glabrous
- Leaves: Basal and cauline
Floral Characteristics
- Inflorescence Type: Panicle
- Florets Per Spikelet: 1
- Glumes: Equal

Habitat/Ecology
Soil Type	Moist sand, loam and clay
Habitat	Tallgrass prairie, clearings, glades and open woods
Successional Stage	Mid to late

Uses/Management
Wildlife	Used by livestock throughout the summer. Does not cure well, considered only fair forage for fall and winter grazing. Highly palatable in the summer but only fairly palatable after maturity. Provides a good source of protein and vitamin A throughout the summer when leaves are green. Digestibility and crude protein decrease as plants mature. Spring burning (April 1-15) increased digestibility. Intolerant of repeated close grazing; decreaser on all range sites. May decrease during drought, but recovers rapidly when precipitation returns to normal. Cutting Indiangrass at the hay stage has showed a decrease in plant density, but cutting at monthly intervals during the summer caused little or no decrease.
Grazing	Highly palatable; good source of protein and Vitamin A for wildlife in the summer when plants are actively growing. Fair forage in fall and winter once the plant matures. Excellent protective and nesting cover for pheasants, northern bobwhite, mourning doves, prairie chickens, and several songbirds.

Uses/Management

Wildlife

Used by livestock throughout the summer. Does not cure well, considered only fair forage for fall and winter grazing. Highly palatable in the summer but only fairly palatable after maturity. Provides a good source of protein and vitamin A throughout the summer when leaves are green. Digestibility and crude protein decrease as plants mature. Spring burning (April 1-15) increased digestibility. Intolerant of repeated close grazing; decreaser on all range sites. May decrease during drought, but recovers rapidly when precipitation returns to normal. Cutting Indiangrass at the hay stage has showed a decrease in plant density, but cutting at monthly intervals during the summer caused little or no decrease.

Grazing

Highly palatable; good source of protein and Vitamin A for wildlife in the summer when plants are actively growing. Fair forage in fall and winter once the plant matures. Excellent protective and nesting cover for pheasants, northern bobwhite, mourning doves, prairie chickens, and several songbirds.

Topics:

Extension

Indiangrass

Examples of IndiangrassSorghastrum nutans

ID Characteristics