Deer-tongue

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Deer-tongue leaf base

Deer-tongue

Deer-tongue culm

Deer-tongue

Deer-tongue blade

Morphology

Culm

Several in clumps, erect, ascending or arched, unbranched or upper nodes becoming sparsely branched during the summer and autumn, glabrous or short stiff-hairy.

Blades

Flat, 4 to 8 inches long, .5 to 1.25 inches wide, ascending to spreading, mid-vein and larger lateral veins prominent; surfaces smooth to rough, marginal hairs near base; base heart-shaped, slightly clasping; tip tapering to point.

Sheath

As long as internodes, lower ones stiff-hairy with spreading hairs.

Ligule

Very short ridge or membrane.

Inflorescence

Panicle, pyramidal, 3 to 6 inches long, about 3/4 as wide, terminal; branches loosely ascending or spreading, often re-branching 1 or more times.

Spikelets

Long-stalked, elliptic-obovate, 1/10 to 1/8 inch long, finely pubescent, borne at ends of branches; first glume 1/3 to 1/2 as long as spikelet, second glume nearly as long as spikelet.

Ecology

Habitat

Woods, brushy areas, banks of streams, roadsides, moist prairie depressions, moist disturbed areas; moist, sandy or rocky soil.

Distribution

East 1/2 of Kansas.

Additional Notes

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.