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NRCS Species for Plant Collections 2009 - Indian ricegrass

Scientific Name:  Achnatherum hymenoides
Common Name:  Indian ricegrass

Morphological Characteristics:

  • native, an erect perennial bunchgrass
  • cool season
  • common across the High Plains and Trans-Pecos of Texas
  • stands tend to be short to medium lived and reproduction is primarily from seeds
  • slender leaves growing from base of the bunch giving it a slightly wiry appearance
  • plant height 8 - 30 inches
  • wide spreading panicle inflorescence with a single flower (spikelet) at the end of each hair-like branch
  • seeds are round to elongated, black or brown, and generally covered with a fringe of short, dense, white callus vigor
  • ligule is 6mm (.25 inches) long and acute
  • adapted to plains and deserts; dry sandy, silty and well drained soils and disturbed sites
  • plants start growth in early spring and matures seed by mid summer
  • when dried out its airy, ivory colored seed suspend over wiry straw-colored stems

    • Conservation Use:

    Why collect this plant? Texas Plant Materials Centers have identified this plant as having potential benefits to the following conservation practice standards: 645 Upland Wildlife Habitat Management; 342 Critical Area Plantings; 562 Recreation Area Improvement; 550 Range Planting; 512 Pasture and Hay Planting. The planting of Indian ricegrass can provide excellent food and cover benefits for wildlife and livestock as well as help conserve our soil. In western portion of Texas there is a need for locally adapted native (ecotypic) plant materials for use in restoration projects. Your assistance in collecting this plant helps support this effort and the NRCS conservation practice standards which are employed daily to conserve the natural resources of Texas.

    Centers Requesting Seed:

    James E. “Bud” Smith Plant Materials Center - Knox City, Texas

    How to Collect Seed:

    1. Identify native plant stands in your area. You can go to the following websites for helpful photos http://plants.usda.gov or http://www.noble.org/webapps/plantimagegallery/ or www.wildflower.org
    2. Determine if seed is mature. Mature seed is typically dry and will easily separate from the seed head.
    3. Hand strip mature seed by grasping the bottom of the seed head then gently pulling away from the base of the plant. Deposit seed in a brown paper sack. Collect seed from a minimum of 30 to 50 plants.
    4. Label each collection as it is made so collections do not get mixed up. Information required includes: Collector’s name, number of plants collected, location (parish, city, highway, and GPS coordinates), site description (soil type, slope, and plants growing in association).
    5. Complete NRCS-ECS-580; Plant Collection Information Form and mail with collected seeds to the NRCS Plant Materials Center requesting the species.

    Refer to the Plant Material Collection Guide for more information on making plant collections.

    James E. “Bud” Smith Plant Materials Center
    3776 FM 1292
    Knox City, TX 79529-2514

    Helpful Tips:

    Look for superior plants that display differences in color, height or forage abundance and record observations. Differences in growing site or location should be made into separate collections if they are separated by more than 1 mile between sites.

    Photos:

    Indian ricegrass
    Indian ricegrass Indian ricegrass Indian ricegrass seeds Indian ricegrass seeds
    Photo by Gary A. Monroe
    at USDA-NRCS Plants Database    		 Photo by Cassondra Skinner
    at USDA-NRCS Plants Database    		 Photo by Jose Hernandez
    at USDA-NRCS Plants Database    		 Photo by Jose Hernandez
    at USDA-NRCS Plants Database

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