Poverty grass facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Poverty grass
Scientific classification
Genus:	Sporobolus
Species:	vaginiflorus

Sporobolus vaginiflorus is a type of grass often called poverty grass. You might also hear it called poverty dropseed or sheathed dropseed. This grass is known for growing in places where other plants might struggle. It's a common sight in many parts of North America.

Where Does Poverty Grass Grow?

Poverty grass is found all over eastern and central North America. This includes places like the Great Plains and even the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. It can also be found in western and northwestern North America. Sometimes it grows there naturally, and sometimes it was brought there by people.

This grass likes to grow in many different places, called habitats. You can find it in grasslands, open forests, and mountain meadows. It often grows in areas that have been disturbed, like roadsides or fields. It also likes sandy soils and soils rich in limestone.

What Does Poverty Grass Look Like?

Sporobolus vaginiflorus is an annual bunchgrass. This means it lives for only one year and grows in clumps. It produces one or more stems that can be about 70 to 80 cm (28 to 31 in) long. The stems are thin and can grow either lying down (decumbent) or standing straight up (erect). They often bend near the bottom.

The stems are covered by the bases of the leaves, which are called sheaths. These sheaths can sometimes look swollen or puffy. They might also have small lines or groups of short hairs. The whole plant can be green, purple, pinkish, yellowish, or grayish.

Flowers and Seeds

The flowers of poverty grass grow in a dense, narrow cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster looks like a spike and is usually no more than 5 cm (2 inches) long. It might be partly or completely hidden inside the sheath of the top leaf. The tiny flower parts, called spikelets, can be purple, pinkish, yellowish, or grayish. They often have a shiny look.