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  Poaceae : Hierochloe hirta

  R. Neil Reese

  Hierochloe hirta is a perennial rhizomatous sod-forming grass with erect, hollow, hairless culms that grow 10 to 70 cm in height. The culms appear early in the spring and large tufts of basal leaves follow. The shiny leaf blades are rolled in the bud and flat at maturity, 10-30 cm long and 2-5 mm wide, with the 2-3 alternate culm leaves being much shorter and somewhat narrower, occasionally with hairs at the collar. The ligule of the culm leaves is membranous and 2-3 mm long. the inflorescence is a 4-9 cm long panicle of 3-floret spikelets, with the 2 lower florets having just stamens and the upper one being perfect. The 3 spikelets are surrounded by 2 bracts (glumes) that are usually membranous, hairless and slightly unequal in length. The bracts subtending the individual florets (lemma and palea) are often hairy. Sweetgrass blooms from May into July in wet meadows, sloughs and marshes in the northeastern and southwestern portions of South Dakota.

  Synonym: Anthoxanthum hirtum

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  Poaceae: Koeleria macrantha

  R.n Neil Reese

  Koeleria macrantha is a perennial bunchgrass typically growing 15 to 60 cm tall. It grows from a fibrous root system forming tufts or clumps. The stems are slender, erect, and generally glabrous or finely pubescent. Leaves are mostly basal and alternate along the stem, simple and linear, measuring about 5 to 15 cm long and 2 to 5 mm wide, with entire margins and smooth to slightly rough surfaces due to minute hairs. Leaf sheaths are open, smooth or slightly pubescent, and mostly shorter than the internodes. The ligule is membranous, short (1–2 mm), and rounded to truncate. The inflorescence is an open, narrow panicle that flowers from late spring to early summer (May–July). Spikelets are about 8 to 15 mm long, each containing several florets with three stamens per floret. The pistil consists of a single ovary with two feathery stigmas. The fruit is a small caryopsis (grain) about 2 to 3 mm long. In South Dakota, Junegrass is native and commonly found in dry prairies, open rocky slopes, and well-drained sandy or gravelly soils across much of the state.

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  Poaceae: Leymus cinereus

  R. Neil Reese

  Leymus cinereus is a robust perennial bunchgrass growing 60 to 150 cm tall. It has a fibrous root system with extensive rhizomes, allowing it to spread and form dense clumps. The stems are erect, round to slightly flattened, and typically glabrous or sparsely hairy. Leaves are alternate, simple, and linear, measuring about 15 to 40 cm long and 8 to 15 mm wide, with entire margins and smooth to slightly rough surfaces. Leaf sheaths are open, smooth or sparsely pubescent, and longer than the internodes. The ligule is a short, membranous fringe about 1 to 2 mm long. The inflorescence is a narrow, dense spike or spike-like panicle flowering from late spring to mid-summer (May–July). Spikelets are 10 to 20 mm long, each containing multiple florets. Flowers have three stamens, and the pistil consists of a single ovary with two feathery stigmas. The fruit is a caryopsis approximately 4 to 6 mm long. Basin wild rye is native to South Dakota and thrives in a variety of habitats including prairies, riverbanks, and disturbed sites, especially in well-drained soils.

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  Poaceae : Panicum virgatum

  R. Neil Reese

  Panicum virgatum is a rhizomatous perennial clump-forming grass, with multiple, erect hollow culms, that grows to 1.5 m tall. The leaves are all alternate, ascending to droopy, the leaf blades flat to rolled upward, 15-55 cm long and 5-11 mm wide, smooth to hair covered, particularly on the upper surface above the ligule. The ligule is 2-4 mm long consisting of a fringe of hairs on a membranous base. The inflorescence is a very open and diffuse panicle, 20-45 cm long, with slightly compressed, purplish spikelets, containing 1 fertile and 1 often staminate floret, surrounded by unequal bracts (glumes), the smaller 2.3-4 mm long and the larger 3.3-6 mm long, narrowly egg-shaped and tapering to a pointed tip. The glumes spread apart as the flower develops, with the stamens and styles becoming visible. A single grain develops in each spikelet. Switchgrass blooms from July through September in moist lowlands and prairies throughout South Dakota.

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  Poaceae: Phalaris arundinacea

  R. Neil Reese

  Phalaris arundinacea is a robust, perennial grass growing from a vigorous, rhizomatous root system. The roots are thick, fibrous, and rhizomes extend horizontally underground, allowing the rapid formation of dense colonies. Stems are erect, hollow, and can reach heights of 1 to 2.5 meters. The leaves are alternate, flat, and linear, 20 to 50 cm long and 1 to 3 cm wide, with rough margins and a prominent midrib. The leaf sheaths are open, and ligules are short and membranous. The inflorescence is a dense, cylindrical to spike-like panicle 5 to 15 cm long, blooming from late spring through summer (June–August). Spikelets are 5 to 7 mm long, each containing several florets with two glumes. Flowers have three stamens with yellow anthers and feathery stigmas. The fruit is a small caryopsis (grain) about 3 to 5 mm long, maturing in late summer. Reed canary grass is native to South Dakota and commonly found in wetlands, stream banks, marshes, ditches, and moist meadows throughout much of the state, especially in the eastern and central regions.

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  Poaceae : Phleum pratense

  R. Neil Reese

  Phleum pratense is a tufted perennial grass with smooth, hollow, erect, bulbous-based culms that grow 55-140 cm in height. The leaves are rolled in the bud and flattened at maturity. The blades are 3-27 cm long, up to 8 mm wide and occasionally rough to the touch. The leaf sheaths are open with a membranous ligule, 2-5 mm long, V-shaped at the front, white, and ragged at the top. The inflorescence is a cylindrical spike-like raceme of single-flowered spikelets, 2-25 cm long and < 1 cm wide. Each spikelet has a pair of equal bracts (glumes), 3 to 4 mm long including the awn. The fruit is a single grain, often retained within the glumes. Timothy blooms from late May into early August in pastures, along roadsides and in ditches scattered throughout South Dakota. This species was introduced as a forage grass and has become naturalized in many areas.

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  Poaceae: Phragmites australis

  R. Neil Reese

  Phragmites australis is a tall, perennial grass growing from an extensive, aggressive rhizomatous root system. The rhizomes are thick, woody, and spread horizontally underground, allowing the plant to form dense, often monoculture stands. The roots are fibrous and deeply penetrating, anchoring the plant in wet soils. Stems are erect, hollow, with a smooth texture, and can reach heights of 2 to 4 meters. The leaves are alternate, flat, and linear, 20 to 60 cm long and 2 to 5 cm wide, with rough margins and a pointed tip. The leaf sheaths are smooth, and ligules are short (> 1 mm) and membranous. The inflorescence is a large, feathery, plume-like panicle 15 to 40 cm long, blooming from August through September. Spikelets are small, about 4 to 6 mm long, each containing several florets. Flowers have three stamens with yellow anthers and feathery stigmas. The fruit is a small caryopsis (grain) about 2 to 4 mm long, maturing from September into October. is native to South Dakota or naturalized and occurs in wetlands, marshes, ditches, and along lakes and riverbanks statewide, particularly in lowland and floodplain areas.

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  Poaceae : Schizachyrium scoparium

  R. Neil Reese

  Schizachyrium scoparium is a tuft forming, perennial bunchgrass with short rhizomes and solid, slightly flattened culms that grow to 1 m in height. The leaf bluish colored blades are folded and sometimes rolled under, smooth to hair, especially near the collar, 4-30 cm long and up to 4 mm wide. The usually hairless sheath has a keel and the membranous ligule is fringed and < 2.5 mm long. The flowering culms are many branched, each terminating in a single spicate straight to undulating raceme, 2-6 cm long, the rachis and pedicels hairy. The copper colored spikelets occur in pairs, one sessile and perfect with bracts (glumes) 6-9 mm long, the other pedicellate and usually staminate with glumes 3-6 mm long. Little bluestem blooms from July into October on prairies throughout South Dakota.

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  Poaceae : Sorghastrum nutans

  R. Neil Reese

  Sorghastrum nutans is a perennial, warm-season bunchgrass with a fibrous root system and short, scaly rhizomes, forming loose, upright clumps. Mature stems are erect, stout, round, hollow, culms, 0.6-2 m tall, that have hairy nodes, often with a bluish green to golden hue. Leaves are alternate, simple, the blades are rolled in the bud and flat at maturity, 5-60 cm long, 3-12 mm wide, with a prominent midrib near the base and rough margins. The sheath is smooth to hairy, with projections from the collar and joined to the firm, membranous ligule that is 2-7 mm long, fringed with long, silky hairs. The upper surface is green and smooth, while the lower surface is slightly paler and may be finely hairy near the base. Leaf blades taper gradually to a pointed tip. Flowering occurs from August to October, with the inflorescence forming a narrow, plume-like, golden-brown panicle 15–30 cm long, composed of many paired spikelets. Each spikelet is 8–10 mm long, with a single fertile floret and a conspicuous, bent, twisted awn (15–20 mm long) extending from the lemma. The hairy, subequal glumes are lanceolate, 7–10 mm long, yellowish to purplish, and often shiny. Stamens are three per floret, with large, yellow anthers (3–5 mm long) that dangle from the florets at anthesis. The pistil consists of a single ovary, a slender style, and two feathery stigmas. The fruit is a small, brown, ellipsoid caryopsis (grain), 4–5 mm long, maturing in late fall and often retained in the inflorescence through winter. Indiangrass is native to South Dakota and occurs throughout the state, especially in prairies, open woodlands, roadsides, and other well-drained, sunny habitats.

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  Poaceae: Spartina pectinata

  R. Neil Reese

  Spartina pectinata is a perennial, warm-season grass with a robust, extensive rhizome system that forms dense, tufted, spreading colonies. Mature plants typically reach 1–2.5 meters in height. Stems are erect, stout, round, and unbranched, often rough to the touch due to tiny hairs. Leaves are alternate, simple, linear, 30–100 cm long and 0.5–2 cm wide, with very rough, scabrous margins and a prominent midvein; the upper surface is green and smooth, while the lower surface is coarser. Leaf bases are sheathed and often overlap, with a short, membranous ligule (1–2 mm) at the junction of blade and sheath. Petioles and stipules are absent, as is typical for grasses. Flowering occurs from July to September, with the inflorescence forming a distinctive, one-sided, comb-like raceme (spicate panicle) 10–30 cm long, composed of 10–40 closely spaced, sessile spikelets arranged alternately along the main axis. Each spikelet is 10–15 mm long, flattened, with two glumes and a single fertile floret. Glumes are lanceolate, 10–15 mm long, greenish to yellowish, rough-edged, and often pointed, one with an awn 1-4 mm long. Each floret has three stamens with long, yellow anthers (2–4 mm) and a pistil with two feathery stigmas; the ovary is single and superior. The fruit is a small, brown, ellipsoid caryopsis (grain), 3–4 mm long, maturing in late summer to early fall and often dropped quickly after ripening. Prairie cordgrass is native to South Dakota and widespread across the state, thriving in wet prairies, sloughs, marsh edges, roadside ditches, and stream banks, especially in moist to wet, periodically flooded soils in full sun.

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  Poaceae: Sporobolus heterolepis

  R. Neil Reese

  Sporobolus heterolepis is a perennial, warm-season bunchgrass with a fibrous root system and very short, scaly rhizomes, forming dense, arching clumps. Mature plants typically reach 30–90 cm in height, with flowering stems (culms) rising above the foliage to 60–100 cm. Stems are slender, erect, wiry, and smooth, often with a subtle reddish tinge at the base. Leaves are alternate, simple, narrow, and linear, 20–50 cm long and 1–3 mm wide, tapering to a fine point. Leaf blades are medium to dark green, smooth, and hairless above, with a rougher texture below, and often curl gracefully. The leaf base is sheathed with a short, membranous ligule (1–2 mm). Flowering occurs from August to September, with the inflorescence forming an open, airy, pyramidal panicle 15–30 cm long, bearing many tiny spikelets. Each spikelet is 2–3 mm long, ovoid, with a single floret and two unequal, translucent glumes (1.5–3 mm long). The floret has three stamens with yellow anthers (1–1.5 mm long) and a pistil with two feathery stigmas. The fruit is a small, round, tan to orange-brown caryopsis (grain), 1.5–2 mm in diameter, maturing in early fall and readily dropping to the ground at maturity. Prairie dropseed is native to South Dakota, found throughout the state in prairies, open hillsides, savannas, and roadsides, typically in well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils under full sun.

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  Poaceae: Thinopyrum intermedium

  R. Neil Reese

  Thinopyrum intermedium is a perennial, cool-season grass with a fibrous root system and long, stout, creeping rhizomes, forming dense, spreading sods. Mature plants typically reach 90–150 cm in height. Stems are erect, round, smooth, and hollow, with distinct nodes and internodes. Leaves are alternate, simple, linear, 15–30 cm long and 3–10 mm wide, with flat or slightly inrolled blades, scabrous margins, and a prominent midvein; the upper surface is green and smooth or slightly rough, while the lower surface is paler. Leaf sheaths are open and smooth with a prominent, membranous ligule 1–2 mm long at the junction of the blade and sheath; auricles are absent. Flowering occurs from June to July, with inflorescences forming narrow, erect, spike-like racemes (spikes) 8–20 cm long, each with 40–60 closely spaced, sessile spikelets arranged alternately along the central axis. Each spikelet is 12–18 mm long, flattened, and contains 5–10 florets. Glumes are lanceolate, 8–12 mm long, green to straw-colored, and rough-edged. Each fertile floret has three stamens with yellow anthers (2–3 mm long) and a pistil with two feathery stigmas. The fruit is a dry, ellipsoid caryopsis (grain), 6–8 mm long, brownish when mature, and matures from July to August. Intermediate wheatgrass is introduced in South Dakota, native to Europe and western Asia, and is now widely established in prairies, pastures, conservation plantings, roadsides, and disturbed areas, especially in moderately moist, well-drained soils under full sun.

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  Poaceae : Zizania palustris

  R. Neil Reese

  Zizania palustris is an annual, solitary-stemmed grass that can grow to over 2 m tall. The erect culms are round, hollow and smooth except at the nodes where they can be hairy. There are both basal and alternat leaves on the culm. Early leaves float on the water’s surface. The leaf blades are rolled in the bud and flat at maturity, 5-100 cm long and 5-35 mm wide. The leaf sheaths are open, smooth with hairs at the collar and base, with a membranous ligule 7-20 mm long. the inflorescence is a much-branched panicle, 15-60 cm long, with male (staminate) spikelets below and female (pistilate) spikelets above. The branches are initially erect with the staminate ones spreading or drooping at maturity. The male spikelets are reddish in color, with 6 stamens that are 4-6 mm long. The female spikelets are paler, 12-15 mm long with a terminal awn 2.5-6.5 cm long. Both the staminate and pistilate spikelets lack glumes (bracts). The fruit is a dark, slender cylindrical grain up to 30 mm long and 2 mm wide. Northern wild rice blooms in July and August on the margins of streams lakes and ponds along the eastern and southern borders of South Dakota.

  Synonyms: Zizania aquatica var. interior, Z. interior

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  Typhaceae : Typha angustifolia

  R. Neil Reese

  Typha angustifolia is a perennial herb of wetlands, arising from a stout, creeping rhizome and forming dense colonies, with simple stems reaching up to 3 m tall. The alternate leaves are both basal and cauline, stiff, linear and flat, green, 6-10 mm wide, the uppermost leaves usually reaching well above the flowering spikes. The rounded leaf sheath has a narrow papery edging, near the tip of the sheath where it meets the blade, especially the on upper leaves. The single stems are unbranched, erect and light green. The plants are monoecious, with the brown male flower spike above, up to 20 cm long, separated by 1-8 cm of bare rachis. The brown female spike is about the same length and width, reaching up to 2 cm in diameter in fruit. The fruit is an achene covered in white hairs and with a short stalk. Narrowleaf cattail blooms from May into July in wetlands throughout South Dakota.

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  Typhaceae : Typha latifolia

  R. Neil Reese

  Typha latifolia is a perennial herb of wetlands, arising from a stout, creeping rhizome and forming dense colonies, with simple stems reaching up to 3 m tall. The alternate leaves are both basal and cauline, stiff, linear and flat, green, 10-25 mm wide, the uppermost leaves usually not reaching much above the flowering spikes. The squarish leaf sheath has a narrow papery edging, near the tip of the sheath where it meets the blade. The single stems are unbranched, erect and light green. The plants are monoecious, with the yellowish male flower spike above, up to 25 cm long, generally directly adjacent to the female spike, and the flowers are rapidly deciduous after anthesis. The brown female spike is about the same length and width as the male, reaching up to 3.6 cm in diameter in fruit. The fruit is an achene covered in white hairs and with a short stalk. Broadleaf cattail blooms from May into July in wetlands throughout South Dakota.

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  Aceraceae: Acer glabrum

  R Neil Reese

  Acer glabrum is a deciduous shrub or small tree typically growing 3 to 9 meters tall, characterized by smooth to slightly rough bark. Leaves are opposite, simple, and palmately lobed with 3 to 5 lobes, measuring 5 to 12 centimeters long and 6 to 14 centimeters wide, with petioles about 3 to 9 centimeters long. Leaves are glabrous or sparsely hairy. Flowering occurs from April to June, with flowers borne in small corymbs. Each flower is about 5 to 8 millimeters in diameter, having five greenish-yellow petals approximately 2 to 3 millimeters long and 1 to 1.5 millimeters wide, and five green sepals roughly 1.5 to 3 millimeters long and 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters wide. There are eight stamens inserted around the ovary, with filaments about 3 to 5 millimeters long and small anthers. The pistil consists of two fused carpels forming a superior ovary, with a short style and a bifid stigma. The fruit is a paired samara with wings spreading at nearly 180 degrees, each samara about 15 to 25 millimeters long and 5 to 7 millimeters wide, maturing from late summer to early fall. Rocky Mountain maple is native to western North America and is found in South Dakota primarily in the Black Hills, growing in montane forests and along stream banks.

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  Aceraceae : Acer negundo

  R. Neil Reese

  Acer negundo is a perennial short-lived tree growing to about 25 to 35 meters. Leaves are opposite compound pinnate with three to seven leaflets. Leaflets are 5 to 10 centimeters long and three to seven centimeters wide. Flowers appear in the spring with staminate flowers that have 3-5 stamens, hang in clusters at the tips of branches and are often maroon in color. Pistillate flowers on drooping clusters of 6-12 flowers having 3-5 sepals and a 2-parted style. The fruit is a winged double samara. The trees are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees.

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  Aceraceae: Acer saccharinum

  R. Neil Reese

  Acer saccharinum is a fast-growing, deciduous tree with a widespread, shallow fibrous root system. Mature trees typically reach 15–30 meters in height, with a broad, rounded to open crown and often multiple trunks. Bark on young stems is smooth and light gray, becoming deeply furrowed and scaly with age. Leaves are opposite, simple, palmately lobed with 5 deeply cut lobes, 10–20 cm long and wide, with coarsely toothed margins. The upper leaf surface is bright green and smooth or slightly rough, while the lower surface is covered with silvery hairs. Petioles are long, 5–15 cm, often reddish. Flowering occurs in early spring (March to April) before leaf emergence. Flowers are found in clusters of 3 to 6, each flower has 4 to 5 small, inconspicuous, and often yellowish-green or reddish sepals and no petals Both male and female flowers have can be on separate trees or on separate branches on the same tree or occasionally within the same flower cluster. Males flowers have 3-7 (12), erect stamens, 5–6 mm long. The females have two bright red, short (barely visible) arching styles. The fruit is a paired samara with wings spreading nearly horizontally, 3–5 cm long, each nutlet 1–1.5 cm wide, maturing from May to June. Silver maple is native to South Dakota and is commonly found along rivers, floodplains, wetlands, and moist woodlands, preferring rich, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade.

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  Aceraceae: Acer saccharum

  R. Neil Reese

  Acer saccharum is a large, deciduous tree, commonly reaching heights of 20–35 meters with a broad, rounded crown and a strong central trunk. Its root system is deep and extensive, supporting its longevity and drought resistance. The bark is grayish-brown, initially smooth, but developing vertical fissures and shaggy plates with age. Leaves are opposite, simple, and palmately lobed with 5 distinct, deep lobes; blades are 8–15 cm long and wide, dark green above and paler below, turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange, or red in autumn. Flowers are small, yellow-green, and appear in pendulous clusters (corymbs) before leaf-out in early spring; each flower has five petals and is functionally unisexual, with trees often monoecious or dioecious. The fruit is a paired samara, each wing 2–3 cm long, maturing from green to brown in late summer. Sugar maple is native to the hardwood forests of eastern North America, from southern Canada through the northeastern U.S. and extending into the eastern edge of South Dakota. It is mainly found as an ornamental or planted in windbreaks throughout the state.

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  Anacardiaceae : Rhus glabra

  R. Neil Reese

  Rhus glabra is a shrub to small tree with a spreading, open habit, growing from 3 to 5 m tall and spreading by root suckers to form dense thickets. The young stems and branches are hairless or nearly so and waxy. The bark on older wood is smooth and grey to brown. The compound pinnate leaves are alternate, 30-50 cm long with very short petioles (4-7 mm long). Each leaf has 11–31 oppositely paired leaflets, each leaflet lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 7-9 cm long, with a toothed margin. The leaves turn scarlet in the fall. The inflorescence is a dense terminal panicle 10-20 cm long, with numerous tiny green flowers. The fruit are compressed crimson drupes 3.5-4.5 mm in diameter, and they remain throughout the winter. The seeds are yellowish, smooth and about 3 mm long. Smooth sumac bloom in May and June and the fruit ripen in August and September. They are common in open woodlands in thickets, prairies, and roadsides throughout South Dakota.

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  Anacardiaceae: Rhus trilobata

  R. Neil Reese

  Rhus trilobata is a deciduous shrub, upright, ascending or spreading, 2-3 m tall, branches covered with short hairs when young. The compound leaves are alternate, trifoliate, petiolate, the leaflets are each elliptic to obovate, 1.5-2.5 cm long, with a wedge-shaped base and a few rounded teeth. The terminal leaflet is often 3-lobed. Leaves and branches have an strong unpleasant odor. The inflorescence is a terminal compound spike of dioecious catkins (0.5-2 cm) with 5-merous flowers that have greenish sepals, united at the base and greenish white to creamy yellow petals. Fruit is a subglobose drupe, orange-red, 5-7 mm in diameter wide with red glandular and translucent hairs. Skunkbrush sumac flowers in the spring (April – June) with leaves and flowers often appearing at the same time. This shrub is found on wooded hillsides, in canyons and prairie ravines mostly on the western side of South Dakota.

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  Anacardiaceae: Rhus typhina

  R Neil Reese

  Rhus typhina is a shrub to small tree with a spreading, open habit, growing from 3 to 5 m tall and spreading by root suckers to form dense thickets. The young stems, leaf petioles and buds are densely covered with rust colored hairs. The bark on older wood is smooth and grey to brown. The compound pinnate leaves are alternate, 25-55 cm long with very short petioles (4-7 mm long). Each leaf has 9–31 oppositely paired leaflets, each leaflet lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 6–11 cm long, with a toothed margin. The leaves turn scarlet in the fall. The inflorescence is a dense terminal panicle 10-20 cm long, with numerous tiny green flowers. The fruit are compressed crimson drupes 3.5-4.5 mm in diameter with knobby hairs on much of the surface. The fruit remain on the plants throughout the winter. The seeds are yellowish, smooth and about 3 mm long. Staghorn sumac bloom in May and June and the fruit ripen in August and September. They are common in open woodlands in thickets, prairies, and roadsides throughout South Dakota.

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  Anacardiaceae: Toxicodendron rydbergii

  R Neil Reese

  Toxicodendron rydbergii is a perennial shrub or subshrub with simple, unbranched stems 0.3-2 m in height and growing from branched subterranean stolons that often form thickets. Leaves are compound ternate, often drooping, each group of 3 at the end of a long stalk alternately attached to the woody main stem. Leaflets are up to 16 cm long and 11 cm wide, the center leaflet ovate to rhomboid, pointed at the tip and rounded or tapering at the base with toothed margins. The 2 lateral leaflets sessile or with short petioles and asymmetrical in shape, toothless or having a few large teeth, sometimes just on one side. The upper leaf surface is hairless and shiny, becoming dull with age; the underside is lighter in color with a few hairs along the midvein. Flowers are in small, paniculate clusters that arise from the leaf axils. Each small flower 1-3 mm across, has 5 sepals that are fused and green below and cream colored and free above. The 5 petals are cream colored with purplish veins and yellow stamens are usually visible. The fruit is a whit to yellowish globose drupe 4-7 mm in diameter that often persist into the next year. Poison ivy blooms in May and June and sometimes again later in the summer. Plants are found on prairie hillsides, stream banks, flood plains, roadsides and open woodlands throughout South Dakota.

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  Asteraceae : Artemisia cana

  R Neil Reese

  Artemisia cana is perennial aromatic shrub mostly growing to < 1 m tall, but occasionally taller. The older stems become twisted with exfoliating bark and the younger stems are greenish, covered with grayish hairs. The lanceolate leaves are narrow, ranging from 2-9 cm in length, not often more than 5 mm wide, have a silvery gray pubescence and are retained year-round. The inflorescence is a series of spike-like, leafy panicles of small heads. The involucre is 4-5 mm long and has a naked receptacle. The several tiny disk flowers are all perfect producing small dark achenes. Silver sagebrush bloom in August and September and can be found in both east and west river South Dakota.

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  Asteraceae : Artemisia dracunculus

  R Neil Reese

  Artemisia dracunculus is a woody, perennial shrub, often quite fragrant, with stems ranging from 40 to 150 cm tall. The stems arise from thick, horizontal rhizomes growing singly or in clusters. The stems are often reddish colored and smooth to pubescent. Leaves are alternate, linear, 2 to 8 cm long and 1 to 6 mm wide. Basal leaves are cleft with 1 to 3 lobes. The inflorescence is a panicle with numerous heads. Each head is surrounded by an involucre that is 2-3 mm tall and has a naked receptacle. The yellow outer florets are pistillate and fertile. The central flowers are yellow, sterile, with ovaries that are abortive. The fruits are achenes elliptical and about 1.5 mm in length. Wild tarragon blooms in August and September and is usually found on dry open slopes throughout South Dakota.