Sporobolus heterolepis
Prairie dropseed | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Genus: | Sporobolus |
Species: | S. heterolepis
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Binomial name | |
Sporobolus heterolepis |
Sporobolus heterolepis, commonly known as prairie dropseed,[1] is a species of prairie grass native to the tallgrass and mixed grass prairies of central North America from Texas to southern Canada.[1][2] It is also found further east, to the Atlantic coast of the United States and Canada, but is much less common beyond the Great Plains and is restricted to specialized habitats. It is found in 27 states and four Canadian provinces.[1]
Description
Prairie dropseed is a perennial
The flower cluster is an airy
At the base of the spikelet are two
Prairie dropseed is a fine-textured grass with long, narrow leaves that arch outward, forming attractive, round tufts. The leaves range in color from a rich green hue in summer to a golden rust color in the fall. Foliage is resilient enough to resist flattening by snow, so it provides year-round interest. From late July to mid-September, the grass blooms with rusty-tan flowers that rise 30 to 36 in (760 to 910 mm) in height.
It occurs in a wide range of soils, doing well in moist to dry conditions. It is much less common in wetlands.
Ecology
It is a larval host to the Poweshiek skipper.[5]
Uses
The grass is cultivated as an
Prairie dropseed is also used for roadside revegetation and prairie restoration projects. It is difficult to establish by direct seeding. Transplanting greenhouse-grown seedlings is a more effective method of establishing it.
References
- ^ a b c USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Sporobolus heterolepis". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
- ^ "Sporobolus heterolepis". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014.
- ^ a b c d Hilty, John (2020). "Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)". Illinois Wildflowers.
- ^ a b c Chayka, Katy; Dziuk, Peter (2016). "Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)". Minnesota Wildflowers.
- ^ The Xerces Society (2016), Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects, Timber Press.
External links
- Prairie Dropseed, plants & seeds from Prairie Nursery
- Prairie dropseed from Chicago Wilderness Magazine