Indian Grass
(Sorghastrum nutans)
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Species Description
Description:
A tall, golden, and exceptionally beautiful bunchgrass that serves as one of the "big four" species of the American tallgrass prairie. It is easily recognized by its large, plume-like seed heads that shimmer with a metallic, golden-bronze glow in the late summer sun.
Habitat in the ANF
While the Allegheny National Forest is primarily a dense woodland, Indiangrass thrives in the openings and transition zones. You can find it in dry, sandy meadows, along powerline rights-of-way, and in "oak savannah" restoration areas. It is a tough, deep-rooted grass that prefers full sun and is often used in the ANF for erosion control and habitat restoration because it can handle poor, dry soils where other plants might wither.
Ecology and the Winter Buffet
Indiangrass is a powerhouse for wildlife. During the summer, it provides nesting cover for ground-nesting birds like wild turkeys. As the season turns, its heavy "shatter" of seeds becomes a critical winter food source for songbirds and small mammals. Because the sturdy stems remain standing even under moderate snow loads, it provides "thermal cover"—a warm place for critters to hide from the biting winds of a Pennsylvania winter.
Identification
The Seed Head: Look for a dense, 8- to 12-inch long panicle that is a rich, golden-brown. When in bloom, the bright yellow anthers hang outside the flower, creating a stunning contrast against the bronze spikelets.
The "Rifle Sight": The most definitive way to identify Indiangrass when it’s not flowering is the ligule. Pull a leaf blade back from the stem; you will see a prominent, stiff, two-pointed membrane that looks exactly like the "V" notch on a rifle sight.
The Foliage: The leaves are long and narrow with a distinct blue-green tint in the spring, turning a warm burnt-orange or purple-gold after the first frost.
Growth Habit: It grows in distinct clumps (bunches) rather than spreading like a flat lawn, often reaching heights of 3 to 7 feet.
A tall, golden, and exceptionally beautiful bunchgrass that serves as one of the "big four" species of the American tallgrass prairie. It is easily recognized by its large, plume-like seed heads that shimmer with a metallic, golden-bronze glow in the late summer sun.
Habitat in the ANF
While the Allegheny National Forest is primarily a dense woodland, Indiangrass thrives in the openings and transition zones. You can find it in dry, sandy meadows, along powerline rights-of-way, and in "oak savannah" restoration areas. It is a tough, deep-rooted grass that prefers full sun and is often used in the ANF for erosion control and habitat restoration because it can handle poor, dry soils where other plants might wither.
Ecology and the Winter Buffet
Indiangrass is a powerhouse for wildlife. During the summer, it provides nesting cover for ground-nesting birds like wild turkeys. As the season turns, its heavy "shatter" of seeds becomes a critical winter food source for songbirds and small mammals. Because the sturdy stems remain standing even under moderate snow loads, it provides "thermal cover"—a warm place for critters to hide from the biting winds of a Pennsylvania winter.
Identification
The Seed Head: Look for a dense, 8- to 12-inch long panicle that is a rich, golden-brown. When in bloom, the bright yellow anthers hang outside the flower, creating a stunning contrast against the bronze spikelets.
The "Rifle Sight": The most definitive way to identify Indiangrass when it’s not flowering is the ligule. Pull a leaf blade back from the stem; you will see a prominent, stiff, two-pointed membrane that looks exactly like the "V" notch on a rifle sight.
The Foliage: The leaves are long and narrow with a distinct blue-green tint in the spring, turning a warm burnt-orange or purple-gold after the first frost.
Growth Habit: It grows in distinct clumps (bunches) rather than spreading like a flat lawn, often reaching heights of 3 to 7 feet.