INDIAN GRASS

Indiangrass (Sorhastrum nutans) is one of the tallest grasses in bloom here in the Ozarks in fall.  It is a native plant that provides a food for wildlife.  Look for the flower heads in October-November.  These can be up to 12 inches long.  The flowers are yellowish and can look like gold plumes when the sunlight hits them just right.  One of the key characteristics used to identify Indiangrass is the presence of hairlike awns.  Awns make the seeds in the flowers stick to passing animals.  By the way, don’t imagine the Indiangrass awns as lovely, silky hairs.  Instead, they are more reminiscent of those crazy hairs that begin growing out of the ears of beloved old men or a crazy chin hair.