TallDropseed

Tall Dropseed (Sporobolus Asper)
(Photos taken by Amber Duden 9/29/08) The white and purple coloring of the seeds indicate that it is Tall Dropseed because during early fall the seed is still immature and as it slowly matures, the seed turns purple. Another indication that this is Tall Dropseed, is that there five to seven leaves per stem. In addition to the coloring and the correct leave count, the height of four feet means that this species can only be Sporobolus Asper.

**Appearance**
(1) The stem of the grass is light to medium green in color with firm leaf blades that run through the underside in the middle. An average stem houses five to seven leaves, commonly found towards the bottom. In mid fall, the seed of the grass is light tan, but in the earlier parts of the season the seed color is white, and when mature, turns purple.

**Growth**
(1) Tall Dropseed grows best in full sun and in very dry conditions. This grass is able to grow in almost any type of soil, which gives good reason to why it is found in many different areas around Illinois and Iowa. (2) Sporobolus Asper can grow up to four feet tall and flowers between the months of August and September.

**Interaction With Other Species**
(1) Tall Dropseed is an important many animals in the prairie. Two species of grasshoppers are known to eat the foliage of the grass, Two-Striped Slantfaced Grasshopper and Slantfaced Pasture Grasshopper. The seeds of Sporobolus Asper also feed many speceis of bird. This grass is a vital food source for the birds during winter. (3) If grazing of this plant were to increase, the grass will begin to grow more rapidly so it can still feed the all the species.

**Role In AHS Prairie**
Tall Dropseed is important to many species in the prairie because it feeds many different types of grasshoppers and birds that live in the Ames High Prairie.