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Prairie Wedgescale

Sphenopholis obtusata

Other common name(s):

Prairie Wedgegrass

Family:

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands
Grand Prairie
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Llano Uplift
Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Semiarid Edwards Bajada
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Grass & Sedge

Height

1
to
3
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Annual

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Green

Bloom Season

Summer

Seasonal Interest

Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies

Maintenance

Adaptable to many sites. Roots should not be allowed to be perpetually dry or flooded. This species establishes well in recently disturbed areas, therefore it can be a good competitor with invasive species. A hardy species that can be used to fill empty spaces in native plant gardens. It behaves as an annual or short-lived perennial. The fibrous roots hold soil but do not colonize.

Comments

A cool season grass. Foliage will lean gracefully to one side as the plant sets seed. The inflorescence is a layered spike. It will change from pale green in the Spring to an oatmeal-tan color when it is mature. The seed spikelet will sometimes turn an attractive purple color. Attracts: Butterflies.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Aira obtusata, Sphenopholis obtusata var. lobata, Sphenopholis obtusata var. pubescens

References

1) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=41279#null, 2) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=19045&locationType=County&mapType=Normal, 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SPOB, 4) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/pr_wedge.htm, 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Sphenopholis+obtusata&formsubmit=Search+Terms

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Contact a local Chapter

State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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