Prairie wedgescale facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prairie wedgescale
Scientific classification
Genus:	Sphenopholis
Species:	obtusata

Sphenopholis obtusata is a type of grass that has a few common names. People often call it prairie wedgescale or prairie wedge grass. This grass grows naturally across a large part of North America. You can find it in southern Canada and all over the United States. It likes to grow in many different places. These include wide-open prairies, wet marshes, sandy dunes, and even areas where the ground has been disturbed, like roadsides.

What is Prairie Wedgescale?

Sphenopholis obtusata is a perennial bunchgrass. This means it lives for more than two years and grows in clumps or bunches. It can grow to different heights. Some plants are as short as 20 centimeters (about 8 inches). Others can grow to be over one meter (more than 3 feet) tall.

What Do Its Leaves Look Like?

The leaves of the prairie wedgescale are usually short. At the base of each leaf, where it joins the stem, there is a small, thin part called a ligule. These ligules have edges that look a bit jagged or torn.

What About Its Flowers?

The flowers of this grass grow in a special cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster often looks like a dense, spiky head. It is actually a type of panicle, which is a branched cluster of flowers. The individual flower parts are called spikelets, and they are shaped like small ovals. When the inflorescence first appears, it is usually a greenish-white color. As the grass gets older and matures, this flower cluster turns a brownish color.