Selected North Dakota and Minnesota Range Plants (continued)EB-69, 1998 Common Name: Needleleaf sedge Species: Carex eleocharis Bailey. Synonym: Carex stenophylla Wahl. var. enervis (C.A. Mey.) Kukenth. Family: Cyperaceae - Sedge Family
Description: A rhizomatous perennial, rootstock long, slender, and brown. Culms are 0.2-2 dm tall, rounded with triangular shape. Leaves are 1-2 mm wide, rolled inward; sheaths tight, thin. Heads are 1-2 cm long; spikes bisexual with pistillate flowers at base and staminate at the apex, aggregated. Papery sheath surrounding pistil plano-convex, straw colored to black, striate dorsally, 2.5-3 mm long, 1.5-1.7 mm wide, base round tapering, contracted to a finely serrated beak shorter than the body. Achenes 1.8 mm long, triangular with concave sides; stigmas 3. Origin: Native Growing Season: A cool season plant starting growth in mid April and flowering from June through July. Habitat: Needleleaf sedge can be found growing on dry prairie, rocky hilltops, on sandy or clay soils. Commonly forms dense stands that grow in areas with overgrazing or on eroded rangeland. Needleleaf sedge is commonly associated with blue grama and threadleaf sedge. Distribution: This sedge occurs throughout all of the plains region from Manitoba to Arkansas, and south to Iowa, Kansas, New Mexico, and Arizona. It is commonly found growing throughout North Dakota, especially in the central and western areas. It occurs primarily in the prairie region of western Minnesota. Forage Value: This species provides a good forage for all classes of livestock in early spring. However, livestock producers should not manage for this plant since it is very low producing and displaces desirable mid and tall grasses. When this plant is ready for grazing, most desirable forage plants are not, causing reduction in a number of desirable plants and increasing sedge species. This plant loses its palatability early and is selected only minimally in late spring and sledom grazed in summer. This species is considered an increaser with heavy grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: This plant provides only fair grazing value to hoofed mammals and small rodents and is usually only utilized in the early spring when in the vegetative growth phase. The seeds are utilized by many songbirds, rodents, and upland gamebirds. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Species: Yucca glauca Nutt. Synonym: Yucca arkansana Trel. Family: Agavaceae - Agave Family
Description: Plants single or often clumped. Leaves smooth, green, linear, flat to rolled inward, 4-7 dm long, 0.5-1.5 cm wide; margin greenish-white and becoming coarse threads. Inflorescence a raceme, seldom with an imperfectly developed branch, somewhat projected above leaves except lower most part; subtending bract membranaceous. Flowers bell-shaped, greenish-white, tinged with purple; perianth segments thick, outer series 3.5-5.5 cm long, 2.5-3 cm, sharply pointed; filament 10-20 mm long; style 8-12 mm long and nearly as broad, ovary 3-3.5 cm long. Capsule 4.5-6 cm long, oblong-cyclindrical, seeds 7-10 mm in diameter with a marginal wing. Origin: Native Growing Season: An evergreen plant flowering from June through August. Habitat: This plant grows primarily on dry, sandy, gravelly, or rocky slopes. Distribution: Yucca occurs throughout the central United States. It is bounded by Montana, east to Iowa, south to Texas and Arizona. It can be found west of the Missouri river in North Dakota, becoming more prominent westward. Forage Value: This plant provides some grazing value to cattle and sheep when young. The flowers are also utilized to some extent. This species is considered an increaser unless grazed in the winter when it may decline. Wildlife Value: This plant provides little feed value as foliage or seeds for wildlife. The pollen has attracted hummingbirds. The yucca plant needs the yucca moth for pollination and the yucca moth needs the yucca plant for feed. Neither the yucca plant or yucca moth cannot complete their lifecycle without the other. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Baltic rush Species: Juncus balticus Willd. Family: Juncaceae - Rush Family
Description: Plants 2-9 dm tall, growing from an extensive creeping tough rhizome; culms stout and quite rigid. Leaves lacking a blade and auricle, only sheath present. Inflorescence a loose to clustered cyme; rolled inward bract appearing as a continuation of the culm. Perianth borne on secondary tip, 3.5-6 mm long, with equal to subequal segments; stamens 6, shorter than perianth, anther much longer than filament. Capsules oblong to broadly lance-shaped, terminating in a sharp point, equal to often shorter than inner perianth, 1-locule. Seeds are egg-shaped, 0.5-0.8 mm long, ends spikelike. Origin: Native Growing Season: A cool season plant that begins growth in early spring and flowers from June to August. Habitat: Baltic rush can be found along lakes, streams, in wet prairie, ditches, and marshes where a high water table occurs. It may also occur in low meadows, alkaline sites, and high water table sandy sites. Distribution: This rush is widespread through-out the United States and northern Great Plains region. Commonly found throughout North Dakota. It occurs throughout Minnesota except for the extreme southeastern counties. Forage Value: This species is readily eaten by cattle when intermixed with grasses and immature, grazed less by horses, and seldom used by sheep and goats. This species loses its palatability as it matures. Crude protein is greater than 20 percent early and remains higher than most native grasses. Since it is low in fiber content, it passes through the animal, often in a diuretic fashion. This species is classified as a decreaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: This species provides little feed value to wildlife species. Muskrats have used this plant for feed, but rarely. Overwater nesting waterfowl may use this plant species for nest construction or nesting cover. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Names: Threadleaf sedge, Blackroot Species: Carex filifolia Nutt. Family: Cyperaceae - Sedge Family
Description: A perennial growing in tufts or mats, rootstock short, and black. Culms are 0.5-3 dm tall, slightly triangular. Leaves 0.25 mm wide; sheaths truncate. Spikes solitary, 3-5 mm long, bisexual with pistillate flowers at base and staminate at the apex, aggregated; pistillate scales obtuse. Papery sheath surrounding pistil rounded with a triangular shape, white-striate, small hairs above, slightly ribbed, 3-3.5 mm long, 2 mm wide, base rounded, tapering to a short beak 0.2-0.4 mm long. Achenes 2.2-3 mm long, triangular; stigmas 3. Origin: Native Growing Season: A cool season sedge starting growth in mid April and flowering from June through July. Habitat: Threadleaf sedge can be found growing on dry prairies, rocky hilltops, and sandy to moderate textured soils. Commonly forms dense stands on sandy sites in overgrazed areas or on eroded rangeland. Threadleaf sedge is commonly associated with blue grama and needleleaf sedge. Distribution: Threadleaf sedge occurs throughout the Great Plains region, from Manitoba west to the Yukon, south to Texas and California. It can be found on drier areas throughout North Dakota. It is most common in the western half but can be found throughout the state. This species occurs in the western prairie region of Minnesota Forage Value: This species provides excellent forage for sheep and horses, good forage for cattle, especially in early spring. Unlike needleleaf sedge, threadleaf maintains a higher quality and palatability forage throughout the summer. Its crude protein content and total nutrient content is similar to the associated grass species within its community. This species is considered an increaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: This plant provides good to excellent grazable forage for most hoofed mammals and small rodents, used primarily in early spring when in the vegetative growth phase. The seeds are utilized by many songbirds, rodents, fur-bearing mammals, and upland gamebirds. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Names: Sun sedge, Golden sedge, Pennsylvania sedge Species: Carex heliophila Mack. Synonym: Carex pensylvanica Lam. var. digyna Boeck. Family: Cyperaceae - Sedge Family
Description: Strongly rhizomatous perennial, rootstock short or prolonged. Culms 1-3 dm tall. Leaves 1-2.5 mm wide; sheaths torn and threadlike. Terminal spikes staminate, occasionally bisexual, lateral spikes pistillate; pistillate scales rounded to sharply pointed. The paper sheath surrounding pistil oval in shape, green, minutely pubescent, 2-keeled, 3-4 mm long, 1.5-2.2 mm wide, base spongy, triangular with convex sides; stigmas 3. Origin: Native Growing Season: A cool season sedge starting growth in mid April and flowering from June through August. Habitat: This sedge can be found growing on open prairies and pastures. It is more common to drier areas. Distribution: Sun sedge occurs in Ontario, west to Alberta, and south to Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, and New Mexico. It is common throughout North Dakota and all, but the northeastern one-third of Minnesota. Forage Value: This species provides fair to good forage for all classes of livestock in early spring. This plant loses its palatability early, and is utilized sparingly by early summer and rarely grazed in the summer. This species is considered an increaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: This plant provides only fair grazing value to hoofed mammals and small rodents, and is usually only utilized in the early spring when in the vegetative growth phase. The seeds are utilized by many songbirds, rodents, fur-bearing mammals, and upland gamebirds. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Wooly sedge Species: Carex lanuginosa Michx. Synonym: Carex lasiocarpa Ehrh. var. latifolia (Boeck.) Gilly Family: Cyperaceae - Sedge Family
Description: A rhizomatous perennial with a prolonged, scaly rootstock. Culms 3-10 dm tall, acutely triangular. Leaves 2-5 mm wide, lower sheaths filamentose, purplish tinged on back side. Spikes unisexual, usually 2 upper spikes staminate, 2-6 mm long, lower 2 or 3 spikes pistillate, aggregate; staminate scales pointed at tip; pistillate scales tapering gradually to a pointed awn. Paper sheath surrounds pistil, inflated, brownish-green, densely hairy, many ribbed, 2.5-5 mm long, 1.2-3 mm wide, beak 1 mm long; teeth 0.3-0.8 mm long. Achenes 1.7-2 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, triangular with concave sides; stigmas 3. Origin: Native Growing Season: Cool season sedge that begins growth in late April or early May, flowering July through September. Habitat: This species is quite common in low moist prairies, marshy areas, and along shores, producing a dense growth of long, narrow leaves. Often associated with slough sedge. Distribution: Wooly Sedge can be found from Nova Scotia to Arkansas, south to Virginia, Texas, and California. It is common throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. Forage Value: This species provides fair to good forage for cattle and horses, fair forage for sheep in the spring and summer. Often produces fair hay where areas become dry enough to mow in late summer. This species is considered a decreaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: This species provides fair feed for white-tailed deer, moose, small mammals, and rabbits. The seeds are used by many duck species, coots, marsh and shore birds, sharp-tailed grouse, prairie chickens, and many songbirds. This species also provides cover for a variety of birds since areas dominated by wooly sedge are not usually heavily grazed. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Species: Achillea millefolium L.
Family: Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
Description: Aromatic perennial 2-6 dm tall, wooly soft hairs covering plant, sometimes unevenly so. Stems strict or few-branched, arising singly or loosely clustered from a fibrous-rooted, weakly spreading rhizome. Leaves equally distributed along the stem, but the lower and middle stem leaves largest, lowermost weakly petiolate; blades longer than wide in outline but with two compound leaves with leaflets arranged on both sides of axis, dissected, with the ultimate segments spreading broadly and flexed above and below the plane od the midrib, overall dimensions 3-15 cm long and 0.5-3 cm wide. Inflorescence with many small heads in a flat-topped or flattened dome-shaped corymbiform cyme; whorled bracts 4-5 mm tall, ray florets about 5, ligule 2-3 mm long, most commonly white or rarely pink. Origin: Native Growing Season: A cool season forb beginning growth in April and flowering from June through September. Habitat: This plant has adapted to a wide variety of soil types, occurring on both grassland and shrubby areas, becoming most common on dry, open sites. It is also commonly found in areas of disturbance. Distribution: Western yarrow occurs throughout the United States. It is known as one of the most abundant forbs in the western states. It can be found growing throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. Forage Value: This species provides poor forage for horses, fair for cattle and goats, fair to good for sheep. It provides little forage value to all classes of livestock if favorable plants are abundant. This species is considered an increaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: The foliage of this plant provides a small degree of forage for rabbits and small rodents and is utilized by sharp-tailed and ruffed grouse to a small extent. Hoofed browsers seldom use western yarrow as feed. Other: Western yarrow has become a popular flowering plant in wildflower seed mixtures. It is both showy and aromatic, easy to establish, and produces flowers through much of the summer. Western yarrow spreads easily by seed and may become a nuisance plant if allowed to spread uncontrollably. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Species: Artemisia campestris L. subsp. caudata (Michx.) Hall & Clem.
Family: Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
Description: An apparent biennial 3-10 dm tall, smooth or nearly so with a pungent odor; stems arising singly from a prominent taproot. Basal leaves numerous, variously persistent to deciduous and absent in the second year, 2-3 times more leaves with compound leaflets, with the ultimate segments linear, up to 2 mm wide, overall dimensions 2-10 dm long, including petiole, and 1-4 cm wide; stem leaves similar but less divided, reduced upward, the uppermost becoming groups of three or even simple. Inflorescence of numerous heads in an elongate but narrow panicle, which may be contracted and having lower spikelets in small individuals, whorl of bracts under flowers typically smooth, 2.5-4 mm tall; receptacle naked; outer florets with pistillate only and fertile, center florets sterile, with abortive ovary. Mature achenes of the outer florets rounded and smooth. Origin: Native Growing Season: A warm season forb which starts growing in late April, flowering by August and setting seed by September. Habitat: This forb grows on dry, open prairies, plains, and roadsides, usually associated with sandy or gravelly soils. It will increase with deteriorating range conditions. Distribution: Occurs throughout most of the eastern two-thirds of the United States, found from the eastern Canadian provinces, south to Florida, and as far west as Wyoming and Texas. This species can be found throughout North Dakota and Minnesota, although not nearly as common as falsetarragon sagewort Artemisia dracunculus, also called green sagewort. Forage Value: This species is considered of little value as livestock forage, being utilized by sheep to a small extent. This species is considered an increaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: Although many species belonging to the Artemisia group are important to wildlife, this species' foliage is seldom utilized for feed by wildlife. The seeds are plentiful and are utilized by some songbirds, upland gamebirds, and small rodents as feed to a small extent. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Species: Artemisia cana Pursh Family: Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
Description: Branching aromatic perennial shrub, mostly less than 1 m tall but occasionally taller; branches and leaves are silver in color or grayish pubescent. Leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, 2-5(8) cm long, up to 5 mm wide, whole with continuous margin or with 1 or 2 lobes, the lower leaves sometimes three-toothed (tridentate) at the apex. Inflorescence of numerous small spikelike clusters, together forming a contracted, leafy panicle, with a whorl of bracts under the flower cluster, each cluster 4-5 mm tall, receptacle naked, all florets perfect. Origin: Native Growing Season: A warm season shrub beginning growth in North Dakota in June and flowering in August and September. Habitat: This species grows on rocky open sites, river valleys, uplands and flood plains, associated with moist to moderately dry soils. Often most abundant in deep loamy and sandy soils, and alkali tolerant. Distribution: Occurs in the northwest Great Plains region, including South Dakota and northwest Nebraska, becoming scattered to the east. Found from northwest Great Plains region to British Columbia and California, south to New Mexico. This species is found primarily in western North Dakota and much more abundant than big sagebrush. Forage Value: This species is considered to have good to excellent feed value for cattle in fall and winter, but in North Dakota would rate as only fair due to its lower ranking compared to dominating graminoid species. It will provide fair to good forage for sheep and goats. It is classified as an increaser under browsing by cattle, but a decreaser under sheep and goat browsing. Wildlife Value: This species provides cover for many species of wildlife. Seeds are eaten by grouse and songbirds. Foliage of this species is eaten by small mammals, antelope, mule deer and white-tailed deer, elk, and mountain sheep. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Species: Artemisia dracunculus L.
Family: Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
Description: A perennial herb 5-10 dm tall, smooth or with scattered short, soft hairs, variously fragrant to pungent odor. Stems often reddish, mostly clustered but sometimes arising singly from a distinct rhizome. Leaves linear, 2-8 cm long and up to 6 mm wide, entire leaf with or just the basal cleft with 1-3 lobes, often at least partially deciduous by autumn. Inflorescence an open panicle, with numerous racemose lateral branches; a whorl of bracts under the flowers smooth or mostly so, 2-3 mm tall; receptacle naked; outer florets pistillate only and fertile, center florets sterile, with abortive ovary. Mature achenes of outer florets oval-shaped and smooth. Origin: Native Growing Season: A warm season forb beginning growth in late April and early May, flowering by August and setting seed by September. Habitat: Falsetarragon sagewort is most commonly found on dry open prairies and plains. It tends to increase as range condition deteriorates. Distribution: This plant occurs throughout the Great Plains region of North America, found from Manitoba and British Columbia south to Texas. It can be found throughout North Dakota and in all of Minnesota except the northeastern portion. Forage Value: This species is considered of limited value as livestock forage, being utilized by sheep to a small extent. It is considered an increaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: Although many species belonging to the Artemisia group are important to wildlife, this species' foliage is seldom utilized for feed by wildlife. The seeds are plentiful and are utilized by some songbirds, upland gamebirds, and small rodents as feed to a small extent. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Species: Artemisia frigida Willd. Family: Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
Description: Low, spreading half-shrub 1-4 dm tall, fragrant, whitish or grayish soft hairs, arising from a tough, woody crown. Leaves abundant, clustered toward the base and scattered along the stem, with close-appressed wooly hairs; the lower leaves petiolate, blade up to 12 mm long, 2-3 times divided into linear, slender segments about 1 mm wide or less, upper leaves becoming stalkless. Inflorescence an open to contracted panicle or narrowed and racemose; a whorl of bracts under the flower 2-3 mm tall, lightly hairy; receptacle with numerous long hairs among the florets; outer florets pistillate, center florets perfect. Achenes subcylindrical, narrowed toward the base, smooth. Origin: Native Growing Season: A cool season forb beginning growth in late April, flowering in late July, and setting seed in September. Habitat: Fringed sagewort can be found growing on high open plains, prairies, foothills, and roadsides. It grows most abundantly on dry soils. It is drought resistant and increases with overgrazing. Distribution: This species occurs throughout most of the western half of the United States but is becoming rare along the coastal states. It can be found throughout North Dakota. This species occurs in the prairie regions of Minnesota except in southern Minnesota and the forested areas of the northeastern portion of the state. Forage Value: This species provides poor grazing value for cattle and horses, fair for goats, and fair to good for sheep in the northern Great Plains region. Fringed sagewort is considered an increaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: This species is one of the least desirable of the Artemisia spp. in terms of wildlife feed value. It is used to a small extent by some hoofed mammals, including elk, antelope, and mule deer. The foliage and seeds are utilized to some extent by small mammals, sharp-tailed grouse, and sage grouse. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ] Common Name: Species: Agoseris glauca (Pursh) Dietr.
Family: Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
Description: Taprooted perennial that bears flowers on a leafless stem arising from the taproot, mostly less than 5 dm tall but occasionally taller, smooth or nearly so and often covered with a whitish waxy bloom. Leaves all basal, linear and much longer than broad to oblong, 5-30 cm long and 1-30 mm wide, entire or irregularly sharply dented or rarely with shallow lobes, margins tending to be flat and not unevenly wavy or crisped. Heads solitary at the ends of long leafless stem; whorled bracts under flowers subequal or overlapping in several poorly defined series, mostly sharply pointed, sometimes purplish or purple-spotted; florets all ligulate and fertile, petals yellow but sometimes drying to pinkish. Achenes normally 10-nerved and minutely hairy, the body gradually tapering upward to a stout, rigged beak, up to half the length of the body; pappus of numerous hairlike bristles. Origin: Native Growing Season: A cool season forb which begins growth in April and flowers from June through August. Habitat: This plant has adapted to a wide variety of soil types and moistures, but it is most abundant on moist prairies and meadows. It also can become common on disturbed or eroded sites. Distribution: False dandelion is found throughout much of the western half of the United States, occurring from the northern states of the Great Plains, along the Rocky Mountain foothills, west to the Coast. It can be found throughout North Dakota and the western two-thirds of Minnesota. Forage Value: This species provides fair grazing for cattle and horses under proper grazing use but is utilized much more under overgrazing situations. Sheep are very fond of false dandelion, often grazing each plant several times, repeatably grazing the leaves when they remain green under favorable conditions. This species is considered an increaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: The green foliage of this species is grazed to some extent by many small and large mammals. Sage grouse are very fond of the leaves and flowers, providing important feed during all seasons. The seeds will be utilized by many songbirds. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Absinth wormwood, Wormwood Species: Artemisia absinthium L. Family: Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
Description: A perennial forb, often classified as a weak subshrub or half-shrub, very fragrant, 4-10 dm tall, finely pubescent which are closely pressed against plant or nearly hairless. Leaves silvery-silky with appressed soft hairs but often nearly hairless above; lower and middle well-developed leaves long-petiolate, 2-3 times cleft in a pinnate manner, ultimate segments oblong, 1.5-4 mm wide, blades round-ovate in outline, 3-8 cm long; upper leaves reduced, less divided and becoming short-petiolate. Inflorescence an open, diffuse panicle; containing a whorl of bracts under the flower clusters, 2-3 mm tall, silky with appressed, soft hairs; receptacle with numerous long hairs among the florets; outer florets pistillate, center florets perfect. Achenes smooth, cylindrical. Origin: Introduced from Eurasia, classified as a naturalized weed, especially in northeast United States, but invading elsewhere. Growing Season: A warm season forb which begins growing in late-May to early June, flowering in August and September. Habitat: This species grows in open fields and pastures, roadsides, and waste ground, becomes a pest in areas heavily grazed once introduced. Often forms dense colonies, choking out understory growth. Becoming a pesty weed in range and pasture lands of our region. Distribution: Scattered throughout the northern Great Plains, especially in eastern South Dakota and throughout North Dakota. Typically found in northeastern United States and adjacent Canada west to the Great Plains. This species occurs throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. Forage Value: This species has a poor forage value for cattle and horses and is rarely utilized. It has fair to good grazing value for sheep and goats, especially when the plant is immature. It has a very high crude protein value, often greater than 25 percent, but also high in volatile oils and is bitter tasting. Classified as an invader on rangelands. Wildlife Value: The foliage, flowers and seeds of this plant are used by songbirds, grouse, and small mammals. Foliage and twigs are used by deer, elk, and mountain sheep. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ] EB-69, 1998
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