Green Needle Grass

Ethnobotany

Green needle grass is a tufted perennial with slender stems that grow up to 90 cm tall. It is a cool-season grass that is valuable for forage in both early spring and fall. (Van Bruggen 11)

Botany

Growth habit and range: This is a loosely tufted, cool season, erect grass which grows to a height of 50–100 cm. It is commonly found in moderately dry to moist areas throughout the prairie and parkland regions of the province.

Description: The blades are flat, dark green, somewhat shiny, 2–5 mm wide, and up to 25 cm long. The flowers occur in a narrow panicle measuring 10–20 cm in length. Each seed is dark in colour and measures about 5–6 mm long.

References

• Van Bruggen, Theodore. 1983. Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Plants of the Northern Plains and Black Hills. Badlands Natural History Association, SD.