Indiangrass

(Sorghastrum nutans)

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Conservation • Wetland • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Use • Distribution • Taxonomy

Indiangrass - Featured photo — Photo by Bill Reynolds

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

N5 - Secure
SNR - Unranked

Minnesota

not listed

Wetland Indicator Status

Great Plains

FACU - Facultative upland

Midwest

FACU - Facultative upland

Northcentral & Northeast

FACU - Facultative upland

Description

There is a split ligule at the base of the leaf where it clasps the stem. The shape has been compared to a rifle sight, hammer claw, or rabbit ears. The leaf narrows where it connects to the stem.

If you lightly hold the base of the flowering head of Indiangrass and run your hand upwards, the head will feel smooth and silky. With most other grasses, the head will feel rougher to the touch.

Height

5′ to 7′

Similar Species

Habitat

Dry to moderate moisture. Prairies. Full sun.

Ecology

Flowering

August to September

Pests and Diseases

Use

Distribution

Sources

2, 3, 5, 7, 24, 28, 30, 83.

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu. Accessed 10/17/2026.

Midwest Herbaria Portal. 2026. https://midwestherbaria.org/portal/index.php. Accessed 10/17/2026.

Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash in Bánki, O., Roskov, Y., Döring, M., Ower, G., Hernández Robles, D. R., Plata Corredor, C. A., Stjernegaard Jeppesen, T., Örn, A., Pape, T., Hobern, D., Garnett, S., Little, H., DeWalt, R. E., Miller, J., Orrell, T., Aalbu, R., Abbott, J., Abreu, C., Acero P, A., et al. (2026). Catalogue of Life (2026-08-26 XR). Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgyy9

Nativity

Native

Occurrence

Common

Indiangrass is one of the most dominant grasses of the tallgrass prairie.

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae (Plants)

Subkingdom

Pteridobiotina

Phylum

Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)

Class

Liliopsida (Monocots)

Order

Poales (Grasses, Sedges, Cattails, and Allies)

Family

Poaceae (Grasses)

Subfamily

Panicoideae (Bristlegrasses, Bluestems, Paspalums, and Allies)

Tribe

Andropogoneae (Bluestems, Lemon Grasses, Silvergrasses, and Allies)

Subtribe

Sorghinae (Johnsongrasses, Milos, Sudangrasses, Indiangrasses, and Allies)

Genus

Sorghastrum (Indiangrasses)

Subordinate Taxa

Synonyms

Andropogon albescens

Andropogon arenaceus

Andropogon avenaceum

Andropogon avenaceus

Andropogon ciliatus

Andropogon confertus

Andropogon linnaeanus

Andropogon nutans

Andropogon nutans var. avenaceus

Andropogon nutans var. linnaeanus

Chalcoelytrum nutans

Chrysopogon avenaceus

Chrysopogon nutans

Chrysopogon nutans var. avenaceus

Chrysopogon nutans var. linnaeanus

Digitaria nutans

Holcus nutans

Holcus nutans var. avenaceus

Poranthera cilata

Poranthera ciliata

Poranthera nutans

Rhaphis nutans

Sorghastrum albescens

Sorghastrum avenaceum

Sorghastrum linnaeanum

Sorghastrum nutans ssp. nutans

Sorghum avenaceum

Sorghum nutans

Sorghum nutans ssp. avenaceum

Sorghum nutans subvar. avenaceum

Sorghum nutans var. genuinum

Sorghum nutans ssp. linnaeanum

Stipa villosa

Trichachne nutans

Common Names

Indian grass

Indiangrass

prairie plume grass

wood grass

yellow Indian grass

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Luciearl

Native grass

These images are of Yellow Indiangrass being worked by a Honey Bee for it's pollen. From my google research, I've not found this interaction between these two species.

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