SANDMINE SUCCESSION
Description of the Sandmine Sucession
Besides for the tortuous walkway that we needed to walk to, the Sandmine Succession stretches across the land. The flat landscape was the last stop in the Succession trail. This is where we found the switch grass plants. This plant is located all over the flat landscape and the Indiana Dunes.
Switch Grass
Name: Switch Grass
Botanical name: Panicum virgatum
Family Name: Poaceae
Nativity: Switch grass is native to the United States.
Optimum Growing Conditions: Switch Grass are adapted to coarse, fine, and medium textured soils. They have a high fire tolerance, but have no hedge tolerance. Switch Grass need high amounts of moisture. They have a minimum pH level of 4.50, and a maximum pH level of 7.50. Switch Grass need a minimum precipitation amount of 20 and a maximum of 40. They have a medium salinity tolerance and are not tolerant to shades. Switch Grass have a minimum temperature of -10oF.
Practical Uses: Switchgrass can be used as fodder product. Other than that, it only has high palatability for animals.
Foliage: The leaves of Switchgrass are green and the texture is coarse. The foliage porosity in the summer and winter is dense.
Fruit: The fruit/seed color is brown and they are not conspicuous.
Bark: No bark.