Lopsided Indiangrass

Florida Forest Plants

Lopsided indiangrass (Sorghastrum secundum)

Lopsided indiangrass grows on dry sites including forests, forest margins, sandhills, and prairies. It is found in the southeast between Florida and Texas in the south, to South
Carolina in the north. Lopsided indiangrass is an important browse for cattle and the seeds are eaten by birds. Lopsided indiangrass is a perennial, native, bunchgrass with perpendicular tufts on one side of the stalk. The tufts are golden brown terminal panicles of flowers or seeds, 4" to 16" long. Lopsided indiangrass may be confused with yellow indiangrass because of their similar heights, leaves, and panicles. However, the panicles of yellow indiangrass are not perpendicular to the stem and are not on one side of the stalk. The leaf internodes of yellow indiangrass are smooth. Also, yellow indiangrass grows up to 7½' tall.

Identifying Characteristics
Size/Form:	Lopsided indiangrass is an ascending grass that measures 3' to 6' tall. It grows in clumps and has brownish hairy panicles from late summer to fall.
Leaves:	The flat blades grow up to 2' long and are ¼" to ½" wide. They are upright and close to the stem and frequently hairy. The sheaths are spread out along the length of the blade and are also usually hairy.
Fruit:	The fruit is a grain, about 1/8" long and is reddish and flat. The grain is enclosed within a hairy husk attached to a thread-like awn 1" to 2" long. The yellow-brown awns are on one side of a straight stalk that is slender, tan, and hairless.
Habitat:	Lopsided indiangrass commonly grows on forest margins, fields, and sandhills, but it can be found in pine forests and hardwood hammocks as well.