COMMON TALLGRASS PRAIRIE GRASSES
The “signature grass” of the tallgrass prairie is big bluestem., Andropogon gerardi. Big bluestem is the signature tallgrass prairie grass. Its common name is “turkey-foot,” because its spikelets are in a few spikes.
Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) is another robust prairie grass. Its spikelets contain conspicuously awned florets arranged in loose panicles.
Tall nodding rye (Elymus canadensis) produces spikelets with long awns presented in drooping two-sided spikes.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) does kind of seem like it’s panicking, as the spikelets are widely spreading on a diffuse panicle.
SOME COMMON TALLGRASS PRAIRIE FORBS
IN THE FAMILY ASTERACEAE
The aster family is especially well represented in tallgrass prairie. The signature prairie forb is one of these; it’s prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum). “Dock” is a general term for a plant with especially large leaves; prairie dock sure fits that description.
Pasture thistle (Cirsium discolor) is a composite with purple-flowered discoid capitula. The plants are quite spiny. The are avidly visited by a variety of bees and butterflies.
Sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus) is a tall, very typical “composite” (aster family member) having what is called a “radiate capitulum,” wherein the two types of flowers are present in each bundle: strap-shaped peripheral ones that resemble flower petals, and central tiny ones with radial symmetry. Sunflower heads have ray flowers that do not produce achenes; only the disk flowers are fertile.
Stiff (also called “hard-leaved”) goldenrod (Solidago rigida) has especially large and bright golden-yellow flower heads, and short rough stalkless leaves with parallel margins.
COMMON PRAIRIE FORBS IN
THE FAMILY FABACEAE (LEGUMES)
Perhaps because they have nitrogen-fixing bacterial root nodules that assist growth in nutrient-poor soils, members of the fabulous Fabaceae are prevalent in prairies. Round-headed bush-clover (Lespedeza capitata) is a wand-like scruffy-looking legume with small cream-colored blossoms arranged in coherent head-like clusters.
False white indigo (Baptisia lactea) is a diffuse plant with thick, almost succulent leaves. The central upper portion of the plant produces a panicle of white pea-like blossoms. In flower, false white indigo blossoms are large, typical legume family flowers with an architecture that directs bees to contact the stamens and stigma. They eventually mature into elliptical swollen-looking fruits (legumes).
