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Grasses
We have identified 13 Grasses that are easy to identify and widespread across the continental United States.
Click on the plant names below for a printable Identification Guide and Regular Report Datasheet that include pictures, identifying characteristics, and plant specific phenophase descriptions.
 | Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) |  | Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) |  | Giant sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii) |  | Junegrass (Koelaria cristata) |  | Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) |  | Narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia) |  | Purple needlegrass (Nassella pulchra) |  | Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) |  | Sand lovegrass (Eragrostis trichodes) |  | Soft-stem bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani) |  | Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) |  | Tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) |  | Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) |
Phenophases
First Flower Stalk
Date when the first flower stalk is emerging from the stem of the grass and you can see the first flower cluster (spikelet) rising above the leaves of the stem.
First Flowering/Pollen
Date when the plant starts releasing the powdery, yellow pollen when touched. When open, grass flowers will release yellow pollen dust when touched.
Full Flowering/Pollen
Date when half or more of the grass flowers are open and releasing pollen.
First Ripe Fruit
Date when you notice the first fruits becoming fully ripe or seeds dropping naturally from the plant. For grasses, fruits are fully ripe when the seed is hard when squeezed and is difficult to divide with a fingernail.
Full Fruiting
Date when half or more of the fruits are fully ripe.
All Leaves Withered
Date when most or all of the leaves that developed this season, have lost green color or are dried and dead. Note that cool season grasses often die back during dry or hot periods, but are still green at the base of the leaves, so have not yet reached the "all leaves withered" stage. This phenological stage generally occurs at the end of the season (with cold temperatures) when the whole above ground portion turns brown or tan. Annual grasses such as cheatgrass usually reach this more quickly than perennials.