Sorghastrum nutans

{{Short description|Species of grass}} {{Redirect|Indiangrass|text=It may also refer to other members of the genus ''Sorghastrum''.}} {{Speciesbox | image = Sorghastrum nutans Tennessee.jpg | image_caption = Indiangrass in bloom | genus = Sorghastrum | species = nutans | authority = (L.) Nash | synonyms = * ''Andropogon avenaceus'' Michx. * ''Andropogon nutans'' L. * ''Andropogon nutans'' var. ''avenaceus'' (Michx.) Hack. * ''Chrysopogon avenaceus'' (Michx.) Benth. * ''Sorghastrum avenaceum'' (Michx.) Nash | synonyms_ref = <ref name="GRIN">{{GRIN | accessdate=2011-03-03}}</ref> }}

'''''Sorghastrum nutans''''', known as '''Indiangrass''',{{r|ITIS|usda}} is a North American prairie grass found in the United States and Canada, especially in the Great Plains and tallgrass prairies. It is sometimes called '''Indian grass'''{{r|mobot}}, '''yellow Indian-grass''',{{r|ITIS}} or '''wood grass'''.{{r|grin}}

==Description== Indiangrass is a warm-season perennial bunchgrass.{{r|floridata}} It is intolerant to shade. It grows {{convert|3|to|7|feet|0}} tall, and is distinguished by a "rifle-sight" ligule where the leaf blade attaches to the leaf sheath. The leaf is about {{convert|3|feet|0}} long.<ref name="USDA/NRCS"/>

It blooms from late summer to early fall, producing branched clusters (panicles) of spikelets. The spikelets are golden-brown during the blooming period, and each contain one perfect floret that has three large, showy yellow stamens and two feather-like stigmas. One of the two glumes at the base of the spikelets is covered in silky white hairs. The flowers are cross-pollinated by the wind.<ref name="illinois">{{cite web | title = Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) | url = http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/ind_grass.htm | website = Illinois Wildflowers | date = 2016 | last1 = Hilty | first1 = John }}</ref>

The branches of pollinated flower clusters bend outwards. At maturity, the seeds fall to the ground.<ref name="illinois" /> There are about 175,000 seeds per pound.<ref name="USDA/NRCS"/>

<gallery> SorghastrumNutans.jpg|Leaves in June Sorghastrum nutans (3912211835).jpg|"Rifle-sight" ligule at the base of a leaf Sorghastrum nutans flowers closeup.jpg|Flowers with yellow stamens and golden-brown spikelets Sorghastrum nutans ARS-1.jpg|Closeup of seeds </gallery>

==Ecology== ''Sorghastrum nutans'' is prominent in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and the northern, central, and Flint Hills tall grassland ecoregions, along with the grasses big bluestem (''Andropogon gerardi''), little bluestem (''Schizachyrium scoparium'') and switchgrass (''Panicum virgatum''). It is also common in areas of longleaf pine.

Indiangrass is adapted in the United States from the southern border to Canada and from the eastern seaboard to Montana, Wyoming and Utah.<ref name="USDA/NRCS">[https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_sonu2.pdf "Indiangrass."] Plant Fact Sheet.2011. Accessed July 26, 2015</ref>

It regrows with renewed vitality after fires, so controlled burns are used, replacing extirpated large herbivores (i.e. bison), for habitat renewal.

It is a larval host to the pepper-and-salt skipper.<ref>The Xerces Society (2016), ''Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects'', Timber Press.</ref>

==Culture== Indiangrass is the official state grass of both Oklahoma{{r|ok}} and South Carolina.{{r|sc}}

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service lists the following uses for ''Sorghastrum nutans'': erosion control, livestock, pollinators, restoration, and wildlife.<ref name="USDA/NRCS"/>

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="floridata">[http://www.floridata.com/ref/S/sorg_nut.cfm Floridata: ''Sorghastrum nutans'']</ref> <ref name="grin">{{cite web |title=Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash GRIN-Global |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=35084 |website=npgsweb.ars-grin.gov |access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref> <ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS |id=42102 |taxon=''Sorghastrum nutans'' |accessdate=2024-10-16}}</ref> <ref name="mobot">[http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/g780/sorghastrum-nutans.aspx Missouri Botanical Garden: ''Sorghastrum nutans''] — ''horticultural info.''</ref> <ref name="ok">{{cite web |title=Oklahoma Symbols {{!}} Oklahoma Historical Society |url=https://www.okhistory.org/learn/symbols |website=Oklahoma Historical Society {{!}} OHS |language=en-us|access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref> <ref name="sc">{{cite web |title=South Carolina State House {{!}} South Carolina State Symbols |url=https://www.scstatehouse.gov/studentpage/coolstuff/plants.shtml |website=www.scstatehouse.gov |access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref> <ref name="usda">{{PLANTS |id=SONU2 |taxon=Sorghastrum nutans |access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref> }}

Category:Andropogoneae Category:Grasses of North America Category:Bunchgrasses of North America Category:Warm-season grasses of North America Category:Grasses of the United States Category:Grasses of Canada Category:Native grasses of the Great Plains region Category:Flora of the United States Category:Flora of the Canadian Prairies Category:Flora of the Western United States Category:Flora of the Eastern United States Category:Flora of Northern America Category:Plants described in 1903 Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status Category:Ornamental grass