EASTERN GAMA GRASS
Tripsacum dactyloides
GRASS FAMILY (Poaceae)
Description
A native perennial forming large clumps from 3-8 feet tall. At the tip of a stout, long stalk are 1-4 flower spikes. Male and female flowers are separate, the lower portion of the spike consisting of a series of cylindrical segments, each containing a single female spikelet with large, purple stigmas (C). The slender upper portions have two rows of male spikelets aligned along one side of a flattened stem (A,D).
Occurrence
Moist prairies, bottomlands, riverbanks. Locally common at Fontenelle Forest on the dam in Child’s Hollow. Not present at Neale Woods.
Comments
Eastern Gama Grass is native to southeast Nebraska. Fontenelle Forest lies very near the northern edge of its natural range, but there is no evidence that it occurred within the forest before it was introduced in the seed mix used to cover the Childs Hollow dam.
Eastern Gama Grass is closely related to Corn (Zea mays).
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Nature Association who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page
is: Neal Ratzlaff.
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