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Prairie Sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia)

Plant Species
From Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook *
 By S. Smoliak, R.L. Ditterline, J.D. Scheetz, L.K. Holzworth, J.R. Sims, L.E. Wiesner, D.E. Baldridge, and G.L. Tibke

Prairie sandreed, also known as "sandgrass" or "sand reedgrass," is a tall, sod-forming, native, long-lived, warm-season, perennial grass of the northern and central Great Plains and northern and central intermountain desertic basins plant growth regions. It is used mostly for range seedings in mixtures and for soil stabilization on sandy sites. Prairie sandreed abounds on some areas which support but few other forage plants. Vigorous spring growth begins by the end of April, full bloom usually occurs by August, and the seed ripens by September.

Description

Prairie sandreed has rigid, leafy stems that are from 2 to 6 feet high. The leaves taper to a long, slender, inrolled point and have crowded sheaths. The glumes or two lowest empty bracts of the individual flower groups (spikelets), are shorter than the floret. The grain is permanently enclosed by its lemma and palea.

The flower head is a panicle, pale green or tan, smooth, 6 to 18 inches long, narrow, with erect or ascending branches. Seeds have a basal ring of white hairs half the length of the lemma. The ligule is short, hairy and the collar is hairy inside. Spikelets are pale, shiny and one-flowered; lemmas are awnless and densely hairy at the base.

It has vigorous rhizomes and possesses an extensive, fibrous root system, 40 to 80 inches deep. The rhizomes aid greatly in identification. They are extensive, horizontally-creeping, pale whitish, stout, scaley, shiny, with the tips sharp pointed much like a rooster's spur.

Adaptation

Prairie sandreed does, as its name implies, prefer sandy soils. It is effective in stabilizing sand dune areas. It does not tolerate flooding and requires well-drained sites. Drought tolerance and winterhardiness are both good. Prairie sandreed will grow on soils that are slightly alkaline, and it has poor salt tolerance.

Seed germinates in 28 days after a two-week prechilling period. Seedling vigor is only fair. Stands develop slowly and may require three years or longer for a fully-developed stand. Prairie sandreed can be seeded by the "seed-hay" method for stabilizing unstable sandy lands, including "blowouts" and sand dunes. It is especially adapted to 2,000 to 5,000 feet in eastern Montana and Wyoming where 12 or more inches of precipitation is received.

Limitations

Prairie sandreed seed is difficult to harvest. It ripens late and shatters as it matures because of the differential maturity in the panicle. Windrowing prior to combining is essential. Threshing and cleaning seed are difficult because the seed is light and fuzzy. It is intolerant of shade at all growth stages. It has a low tolerance to close grazing. Despite its heavy root development, this grass is susceptible to trampling, and will disappear from sites where livestock congregate.

Use for Hay

Although prairie sandreed is usually grazed, it is also cut for hay. Hay crops should be cut after the grass heads out.

Use for Pasture

Prairie sandreed is readily grazed by livestock early in the spring and later in the fall. It is considered good winter pasture. The new growth in spring is very palatable, but is avoided in mid-summer if more palatable warm-season grasses are available. Poor stands are improved by winter grazing or deferred rotation grazing. Prairie sandreed is a decreaser when overgrazed.

Growing season and winter nutrition are good. Good results have been obtained when Goshen prairie sandreed has been grown in mixtures with `Critana' thickspike wheatgrass, `Rosana' western wheatgrass, green needlegrass or Indian ricegrass.

Seed Production

Prairie sandreed is a fair seed producer. Seed production at Bridger, Montana on irrigated land averaged 163 pounds per acre. On dryland it averages less than 100 pounds per acre.

* The Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook (EB69) is no longer in print, but is available for viewing in
Montana County Extension Service and National Resource Conservation Service Offices.