Perennial Grasses in the Grasslands

Growth Habits

• Plants are categorized as perennials or annuals. Annual plants die after leaving seeds to grow the next generation. A perennial plant is one that returns each year after a dormant period. Perennial grasses turn brown and dry during winter and sprout new shoots when the spring rain and warm temperatures arrive.

  Perennial grasses grow in a bunch form or sod-forming. Bunch forms increase the size of the clump, or "tussock," from the base each year. Sod-forming grasses send roots out either from underground or along the surface to sprouts new blades from the tips. A dense layer of sod results. Fertile flowering stems are also produced by many species, along with growing from their bases.

Grasslands Ecosystem

• Grasses tolerate the prairie's sparse rainfall, averaging 20 to 30 inches (51 to 76 cm). Few trees endure the dry, windy climate of scorching summers with temperatures over 100 degrees (38 C) and tornadoes, hailstorms and fires, with blizzard-filled winters. Shortgrass prairies receive less moisture than tallgrass prairies, where varieties such as Indian grass grow to 9 feet (2.7m) tall.

  The Russian steppes and the pampas of South America are similar to North America's temperate-type prairies. Tropical climate grasslands such as in parts of Africa and Australia are called savannas.

  Abundant grasslands were used for grazing cattle and sheep as settlers moved in. Many areas were overgrazed to the point of loss of a steady supply of the perennial grasses. More and more annual non-native species of grass were introduced so that the essential nature of the grasslands were changed from self-sustaining and diverse. Conservation and restoration groups in many states now work to rebuild grasslands to their original condition.

Descriptive Names

• Grasses received uncomplicated common names: redtop, squirreltail, prairie dropseed, devil's darning needle, buffalo grass, little and big bluestem, deergrass, switchgrass, prairie cordgrass, junegrass, Canada wild rye, tall wheatgrass, green needlegass and sand lovegrass -- the last of which prefers sandy soil, as its name indicates.

New Grasslands

• Bunchgrass varieties have moved beyond wild areas and are being used in landscaping. The reliable, easy-to-grow clumps with tall blades with wands, or "panicles," of flowers above them add motion and in some cases, fragrance, to the home garden. Their fall colors remain decorative through much of the winter.