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Re: Sorghastrum avenaceum

In a message dated 11/21/2000 8:42:05 AM Central Standard Time, 
knowakowski@owpp.com writes:

<< 
   I recently ran across  the botanical name Sorghastrum avenaceum for
 Indiangrass I have only known it as S. nutans - does one supercede the
 other? Did Indiangrass, like Little Bluestem, get reclassified?
  >>

From "Missouri Botanical Garden - TROPICOS - New World Grass Checklist - 22 
Mar 1996 Fl."

<A HREF="http://www.mobot.org./MOBOT/tropicos/Poa/Poa4/N25514211.html">
http://www.mobot.org./MOBOT/tropicos/Poa/Poa4/N25514211.html</A>

Sorghum avenaceum (Michx.) Chapm.

Fl. South. U.S. 583. 1860. 
Basionym: 
     Andropogon avenaceus Michx.
     Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 58 1803
     Accepted names (from BASIONYM)
          Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash, fide: - Hitchcock, A. S., 1950; 
Smith, L. B., D. C. Wasshausen & R. M. Klein,
          1982
     HOMOTYPIC names
          Sorghastrum avenaceum (Michx.) Nash
     Accepted by
          Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston, 1970
          Sorghum nutans subsp. avenaceum (Michx.) Hack.
     Accepted by
          Hackel, E., 1883

also

Andropogon arenaceus Raf.

1: 95. 1819. 
* orth. var.
= Andropogon avenaceus Michx.
     Accepted names of correct name - Basionym
     Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash, fide: - Hitchcock, A. S., 1950; Smith, L. 
B., D. C. Wasshausen & R. M. Klein, 1982
     Accepted names for correct names - Basionym
          Sorghastrum avenaceum (Michx.) Nash
     Accepted by
          Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston, 1970 
          Sorghum nutans subsp. avenaceum (Michx.) Hack.
     Accepted by
          Hackel, E., 1883 
     ACCEPTED names
          Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash, fide: - Hitchcock, A. S., 1950


From "North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service



Selected North Dakota and Minnesota Range Plants"

<A HREF="http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/ansci/range/eb69-10.htm">
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/ansci/range/eb69-10.htm</A>


Common Name: Indiangrass

Species: Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash 

Synonym: Sorghastrum avenaceum (Michx.) Nash

Family: Poaceae - Grass Family 

Tribe: Andropogoneae 

     Color Photo (33KB color photo)
     Plant Parts (11KB b&w image)
     Distribution Map (8KB b&w map)

Description: A short rhizomatous perennial 6-20 dm tall. Culms erect and 
hollow, the nodes pubescent with ascending hairs.
Blades rough to the touch, rolled in the bud, becoming flat at maturity, the 
midrib prominent near the base, 5-40 cm long, 3-8
mm wide; sheaths smooth to the touch to weakly or strongly pilose, open, not 
keeled, extending upward at the collar forming a
firm pointed projection that flanks and joins to the ligule. Ligule firm, 
membranaceous, 1.5-7 mm long; auricles none.
Inflorescence a somewhat condensed panicle 11-27 cm long, bearing perfect 
spikelets each flanked by 1 pedicel of an absent
sterile spikelet, the perfect spikelet, its associated sterile pedicel and 
the rachis joint disarticulate as a unit. Both the
inflorescence branchlets and the sterile pedicels are rather densely covered 
with soft, distinct, whitish hairs; glumes of fertile
spikelets densely covered with soft, whitish hairs, subequal, 5.4-7 mm long, 
brownish or tawny in color; florets of fertile
spikelet only one, the lower floret reduced; lemma of the remaining floret 
membranaceous, bearing a stout, geniculate awn
13-20 mm long, its basal portion tightly twisted, 4-8 mm long. Anthers 
3.2-4.5 mm long. 

Origin: Native 

Growing Season: A warm season grass which begins growing in mid to late May, 
heading out in July and August. 

Habitat: This species commonly grows where moisture is not limiting, usually 
lowlands and overflow swales. Where rainfall is
greater than 25 inches, Indiangrass may be found in open prairies often being 
the dominant or co-dominant species. Often
associated with big bluestem grass communities. In our region this species 
seldom dominates and is often associated with big
bluestem grass communities. 

Distribution: Occurs throughout the Great Plains region, but less common in 
the northwest part. This species is found from
Quebec and Maine to Manitoba and North Dakota, south to Florida, Arizona, and 
New Mexico. Indiangrass is generally
known as a warm season grass growing in the eastern half of North America. 
The species occurs primarily in the eastern third
of North Dakota but can be found in the central region in swales and lowlands 
where moisture collects. It occurs in the
southwestern two-thirds and the prairie region of Minnesota. 

Forage Value: This species is very palatable in its early stages of growth, 
often relished by all classes of livestock. As grass
heads occur, it loses its palatability and feeding qualities. Protein content 
drops from 18 percent early to 6-7 percent at
maturity. Crude fiber also increases from 25 percent early to 35 percent by 
August. This species makes excellent hay if cut
before the flower stalks appear. It does not cure on the stem. Hay production 
should run between 2820 and 4550 kg/ha (2500
and 4000 lbs/ac). In recent years this plant has been seeded in mixtures with 
other native grasses to produce a true prairie plant
community. 

Wildlife Value: This species provides some feed value for songbirds and 
hoofed browsers. Seeds have been sparingly used
by prairie chickens and turkeys, finches, junco, and some species of 
sparrows, especially field and tree. Indiangrass is utilized
to an undetermined extent by meadow and pocket mice and may provide 2-5 
percent of the diets of bison and white-tailed
deer, and 5-10 percent of antelope in New Mexico. 
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