Sporobolus silveanus

prairie dropseed, silveus' dropseed
Family

Poaceae

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

Leaf Attachment

sheathing

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

linear

Growth Form

graminoid

Flower Color

inconspicuous

Flower Month

September - October

Height (meters)

0.3 - 1.2

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Warm season


Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

10

Field Characters

The dropseeds (Sporobolus sp.) are closely related to the muhlys (Muhlenbergia sp.), but they may be distinguished by a lack of awns on the lemma and a coat over the seed, which can be easily loosened by moistening and rubbing. low brown.

Cultural Information

Germination is reported to improve with either cold/moist or cold/dry stratification (Steffen 19970

Animal Use

The following information is for the genus Sporobolus: Animals that eat its seeds: Wild turkey, Lark bunting, Junco, Brewer sparrow, Field sparrow, Savannah sparrow, Tree sparrow, Wite-crowned sparrow. Animals that eat the plants: Bison, White-tailed deer (Martin et al. 1951).

Natural History

One of ten species of Sporobolus found along the gulf coast of Louisiana and Texas. The genus name, Sporobolus, is from the Greek words "spora," or seed and "ballein," to throw, referring to the free seeds. The seeds of some perennial species have been used for food by American Indians. Sporobolus silveanus is restricted to Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma.

Habitat

Sandy soils, meadows, openings in forests.