Grasses and Grass-like Plants 25 Major Rangeland Plants By Karen Launchbaugh

Grass Morphology Spike Panicle Most grasses a have Spike or Panicle inflorescence

Sodgrass vs Bunchgrass Sodgrass Bunchgrass Rhizomes are below-ground modified stems that give rise to new plants. Solons are above-ground modified stems that give rise to new plants.

Major Grasses & Grass-likes For Rangeland Principles Course

Big Bluestem Perennial Native Can have thick scaly rhizomes Seedhead with 3-major “finger-like” branches USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase) Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Miscellaneous Publication No Washington, DC. University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium (

K. Launchbaugh Big Bluestem Warm Season Tallgrass Prairie Dominant Turns red at maturity Tall grass 1.5 feet to 8 feet Mike Haddock

Blue Grama Perennial Native Forms thick sod – mostly basal leaves Eyebrow-like inflorescence Usually 2 branches per seedhead USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase) Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Miscellaneous Publication No Washington, DC. University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium (

Blue Grama Warm Season Shortgrass Prairie Dominant Mike Haddock True shortgrass 6 to 20 inches tall Robert Soreng

Bluebunch Wheatgrass Perennial Native Seeds have awns; bend outward as the seed head dries. Spike Seedhead USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase) Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Miscellaneous Publication No Washington, DC. University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium (

Bluebunch Wheatgrass Cool season Pacific & Intermountain Bunchgrass Regions Jennifer Peterson Bunchgrass Jennifer Peterson

Buffalograss Perennial Native Mike Haddock Dioecious = Male & Female flowers on different plants Male Pant USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase) Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Miscellaneous Publication No Washington, DC. Female Pant Male Pant Female Pant True sodgrass with stolons

Buffalograss Warm Season Shortgrass Prairie Dominant Mike Haddock True shortgrass 2 to 8 inches tall Mike Haddock Male flower Female flower

Cheatgrass/Downy Brome Annual Introduced Turns a purplish color as it matures Panicle Inflorescence University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium ( USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase) Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Miscellaneous Publication No Washington, DC.

Cheatgrass/Downy Brome Winter Annual Wildland fire fuel Jennifer Peterson Seedhead is a drooping panicle

Perennial Introduced Crested Wheatgrass Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission – drawing by Beverly Jaquish Spike Inflorescence Overlapping spikelets; seed head appears feather-like or comb-like University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium (

Crested Wheatgrass Cool Season Strong Bunchgrass Jennifer Peterson bunchgrass Jennifer Peterson

Idaho Fescue Perennial Native Distinctive rich black, dense, fine fibrous root system Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission – drawing by Beverly Jaquish Panicle Inflorescence Narrow and tightly rolled leaves; 2 to 10 inches long University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium (

Idaho Fescue Pacific & Intermountain Bunchgrass Regions Jennifer Peterson Strong bunchgrass

Tobosa Grass Perennial Native USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase) Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Miscellaneous Publication No Washington, DC. Rhizmatous sodgrass Spike inflorescence with fan-like spikelets University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium (

Tobosa Grass Warm season Desert grasslands

Nebraska Sedge Perennial Native Leaves arise on three sides of stem Triangular stems USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 1: 423. Tough, Thick Rhizomes University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium ( Female Flowers Male Flowers

Nebraska Sedge Important riparian plant Distinctive blue leaves Female Flowers Male Flowers Sheri Hagwood

Baltic Rush Perennial Native Round stems; no joints Few leaves at the base, not the stem Seedhead located on the side of stem; below the tip USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Creeping rhizome University of Idaho Stillinger Herbarium (

Baltic Rush Important wetland plant K. Launchbaugh Robert H. Mohlenbrock