| Scientific Name [Eilers & Roosa] |
Author [Eilers & Roosa] |
Subspecific Category [Eilers & Roosa] |
Common Name |
Family [FNA] |
Scientific Name [FNA] |
Author [FNA] |
Subspecific Category [FNA] |
Habitat | Abundance & Distribution |
Geographic Areas of Iowa Occupied |
US Native? |
IA Native? |
Special Notes |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Agrostis capillaris | L. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Alepecurus geniculatus | L. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Brachyelytrum aristosum | (Michx.) Beauv. ex Branner & Coville | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Bromus nottowayanus | Fern. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Bromus racemosus | L. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Cenchrus spinifex | Cav. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Coix lacruma-jobi | L. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Cynodon dactylon | (L.) Pers. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Cynodon transvaalensis | Burtt Davy | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Echinochloa frumentacea | Link. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Elymus curvatus | Piper | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Elymus diversiglumis | Scribn. & Ball | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Elymus glabriflorus | (Vasey ex Dewey) Scribn. & Ball | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Elymus macgregorii | Brooks & Campb. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Eragrostis curvula | (Schrad.) Nees | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Eragrostis mexicana | (Hornem.) Link | ssp. mexicana | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Festuca saximontana | Rydb. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Festuca trachyphylla | (Hack.) Krajina | . | . | FNA records this plant from one county in NW Iowa. | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. See comment 1 below. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Panicum flexile | (Gatt.) Scribn. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Panicum rigidulum | Bosc ex Nees | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Panicum verrucosum | Muhl. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Piptatherum canadense | (Poir.) Dorn. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Setaria verticilliformis | Dumort. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Sphenopholis X pallens | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | = Sphenopholis obtusata X Sphenopholis pensylvanica. Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Thinopyrum ponticum | Barkworth & Dewey | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| . | . | . | . | Poaceae | Zizania palustris | L. | . | . | . | . | . | . | Not listed in Eilers & Roosa. |
| Aegilops cylindrica | Host | . | Goat grass | Poaceae | Aegilops cylindrica | Host | . | Railroad ballast. Roadsides. | Rare in C [Boone County], SC [Decatur & Mahaska (1938) Counties], & SW [Taylor County (1942)]. | C, SC, SW | No | No | . |
| Agrohordeum X macounii | (Vasey) Lepage | . | . | Poaceae | Elyhordeum X macounii | (Vasey) Barkworth & Dewey | . | Prairies. Roadsides. Marsh edges. | Frequent in NW. Rare in SW. | NW, SW | Yes | Yes | From E&R = Agropyron trachycaulum X Hordeum jubatum. From FNA = Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Malte X Hordeum jubatum. |
| Agropyron cristatum | (L.) Gaertner | . | Crested wheatgrass | Poaceae | Agropyron cristatum | (L.) Gaertner | . | Roadsides. | Rare escapee in C & W. Planted for erosion control. | NW, C, WC, SW | No | No | . |
| Agropyron intermedium | (Host) Beauv. | . | Intermediate wheatgrass | Poaceae | Thinopyrum intermedium | (Host) Barkworth & Dewey | . | Roadsides. Disturbed ground. | Rare escapee from experimental plantings in C [Story County] & in SE [Keokuk County]. | C, SE | No | No | See comment 2 below. |
| Agropyron pectiniforme | R. & S. | . | . | Poaceae | Agropyron cristatum | (L.) Gaertner | . | Disturbed prairies. | Rare escapee from cultivation in WC [Monona & Woodbury Counties], NW [Plymouth County], & NE [Allamakee County]. | NE, NW, WC | No | No | . |
| Agropyron repens X trachycaulum | . | . | . | Poaceae | . | . | . | Dry soil of roadsides. Native grasslands. | Rare in N 1/4 of state. | NE, NC, NW | No | No | See comment 3 below. |
| Agropyron repens | (L.) Beauv. | . | Quack grass | Poaceae | Elymus repens | (L.) Gould | . | Dry, disturbed soil. | Common throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Agropyron smithii | Rydb. | . | Western wheatgrass | Poaceae | Pascopyrum smithii | (Rydb.) Barkworth & Dewey | . | Prairie remnants. Open sandy areas. Disturbed areas. | Infrequent in NE & EC. Frequent to common elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Agropyron trachycaulum | (Link) Malte | . | Slender wheatgrass | Poaceae | Elymus trachycaulus | (Link) Gould ex Shinners | . | Prairies. Openings in woods. | Frequent to common in N. Infrequent to rare in SE & SC. | NE, NC, NW, SE, SC | Yes | Yes | E&R includes 2 varieties: var. trachycaulum & var. unilaterale (Vasey) Malte. |
| Agrostis gigantea | Roth | . | Redtop | Poaceae | Agrostis gigantea | Roth | . | Roadsides. Prairies. Disturbed areas. | Common throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Agrostis hyemalis | (Walter) BSP | . | Ticklegrass | Poaceae | Agrostis hyemalis | (Walter) BSP | . | Sandy, open areas. | Frequent in E. Infrequent to rare in W. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Agrostis hyemalis | (Walter) BSP | var. tenuis (Tuckerman) Gl. | Hairgrass | Poaceae | Agrostis scabra | Willd. | . | Sandy, open areas. Prairies. | Frequent in N 1/2. Rare in SE. Absent elsewhere. | NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Agrostis perennans | (Walter) Tuckerman | . | Upland bent | Poaceae | Agrostis perennans | (Walter) Tuckerman | . | Open, upland woods. Alluvial woods. | Frequent in S. Infrequent to rare in N. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Agrostis stolonifera | L. | var. palustris (Hudson) Farwell | Creeping bent | Poaceae | Agrostis stolonifera | L. | . | Moist areas. Usually near towns. | Rare escapee from golf greens. | All | No | No | . |
| Alopecurus aequalis | Solob. | . | Foxtail | Poaceae | Alopecurus aequalis | Solob. | . | Muddy shores. Shallow water. | Common in lakes area. Infrequent to rare elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Alopecurus carolinianus | Walter | . | Common foxtail | Poaceae | Alopecurus carolinianus | Walter | . | Muddy shores. Shallow water. | Infrequent in S. Rare in NW & NE. | NE, NW, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Alopecurus pratensis | L. | . | Meadow foxtail | Poaceae | Alopecurus pratensis | L. | . | Roadsides. Disturbed areas. | Rare in C [Story County] & NC [Hancock County]. | NC, C | No | No | . |
| Andropogon gerardii | Vitman | . | Big bluestem | Poaceae | Andropogon gerardii | Vitman | . | Prairie remnants. Roadsides. | Common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Andropogon hallii | Hackel | . | Sand bluestem | Poaceae | Andropogon hallii | Hackel | . | Sandy plains. | Rare in WC [Woodbury County] & in SE [Louisa & Muscatine Counties]. | WC, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Andropogon virginicus | L. | . | Broomsedge | Poaceae | Andropogon virginicus | L. | . | Clay slopes bordering woods. | Rare in SE. | SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Aristida basiramea | Engelm. ex Vasey | . | Three-awned grass | Poaceae | Aristida basiramea | Engelm. ex Vasey | . | Dry, sandy soil. | Infrequent to rare throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Aristida curtissii | (Gray) Nash | . | Three-awned grass | Poaceae | Aristida dichotoma | Michx. | var. curtissii Gray | Dry, often sandy, open soil. | Common in extreme NW. Infrequent to rare elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Aristida dichotoma | Michx. | . | Three-awned grass | Poaceae | Aristida dichotoma | Michx. | . | Dry, sandy soil. | Infrequent in SE. Rare in SW & in NW [Lyon County (1949)]. | NW, SE, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Aristida longespica | Poiret | var. geniculata (Raf.) Fern. | Three-awned grass | Poaceae | Aristida longespica | Poiret | var. geniculata (Raf.) Fern. | Dry, sandy soil. | Infrequent in S 1/2. Rare in NW [Lyon & Palo Alto Counties]. | NW, EC, C, WC, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | See comment 4 below. |
| Aristida longespica | Poiret | var. longespica | Three-awned grass | Poaceae | Aristida longespica | Poiret | . | Dry slopes. | Rare in SE. | SE | Yes | Yes | See comment 4 below. |
| Aristida oligantha | Michx. | . | Three-awned grass | Poaceae | Aristida oligantha | Michx. | . | Open areas. Dry soil. Railroad embankments. Disturbed areas. | Common in S 1/2. Rare in N 1/2. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Aristida purpurea | Nutt. | var. longiseta (Steudel) Vasey | Three-awned grass | Poaceae | Aristida purpurea | Nutt. | . | Loess bluffs. Prairie hillsides. | Rare in NW. | NW | Yes | Yes | FNA includes 7 varieties, one of which is var. longiseta. |
| Aristida ramosissima | Engelm. ex Gray | . | Slender three-awn | Poaceae | Aristida ramosissima | Engelm. ex Gray | . | Dry, disturbed ground. | Rare in SE [Henry County (1894)]. | SE | No | No | . |
| Aristida tuberculosa | Nutt. | . | Sea-beach grass | Poaceae | Aristida tuberculosa | Nutt. | . | Sand dunes. Sandy prairies. | Infrequent to rare in E 1/4. | NE, EC, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Arrhenatherum elatius | (L.) Presl | . | Tall oatgrass | Poaceae | Arrhenatherum elatius | (L.) Beauv. | . | Waste ground. | Rare escapee from cultivation in C [Marshall & Story Counties], NW [Dickinson County], EC [Scott County], & SW [Page County]. | NW, EC, C, SW | No | No | . |
| Avena fatua | L. | . | Wild oats | Poaceae | Avena fatua | L. | . | Roadsides & other disturbed ground. | Rare throughout. | All | No | No | . |
| Avena sativa | L. | . | Cultivated oats | Poaceae | Avena sativa | L. | . | Field edges. Disturbed ground. | Infrequent escapee from cultivation. Not persisting. | All | No | No | . |
| Beckmannia syzigachne | (Steudel) Fern. | . | American slough grass | Poaceae | Beckmannia syzigachne | (Steudel) Fern. | . | Wet ground. Shallow water. | Rare in NW [Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O'Brien, Osceola, & Palo Alto Counties]. | NW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Bouteloua curtipendula | (Michx.) Torrey | . | Side-oats grama | Poaceae | Bouteloua curtipendula | (Michx.) Torrey | . | Sandy or gravelly, dry prairies. | Frequent to common throughout. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Bouteloua gracilis | (Willd. ex HBK.) Lag. ex Steudel | . | Blue grama | Poaceae | Bouteloua gracilis | (Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths | . | Dry, gravelly hilltops. Loess bluffs. | Frequent in W. | NW, WC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Bouteloua hirsuta | Lag. | . | Hairy grama | Poaceae | Bouteloua hirsuta | Lag. | . | Dry, gravelly prairies. Loess bluffs. Sand dunes. | Frequent to infrequent in W. Rare elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Brachyelytrum erectum | (Schreber) Beauv. | . | . | Poaceae | Brachyelytrum erectum | (Schreber) Beauv. | . | Upland woods. | Frequent to common in E. Rare elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Bromus ciliatus | L. | . | Canada brome grass | Poaceae | Bromus ciliatus | L. | . | Wet ground. Rich, upland woods. | Rare in NE 1/4. | NE, NC, EC, C | Yes | Yes | . |
| Bromus commutatus | Schrader | . | Hairy chess | Poaceae | Bromus commutatus | Schrad. | . | Loess bluffs. Sandy areas. | Infrequent throughout much of the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Bromus inermis | Leysser | . | Smooth brome | Poaceae | Bromus inermis | Leyss. | . | Roadsides & other disturbed areas. | Common throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Bromus japonicus | Thunb. ex Murray | . | Japanese brome | Poaceae | Bromus japonicus | Thunb. | . | Roadsides. Waste places. | Frequent to common throughout. | All | No | No | . |
| Bromus kalmii | Gray | . | . | Poaceae | Bromus kalmii | Gray | . | Upland prairies. Sparsely wooded slopes. Rocky hillsides. | Frequent in Paleozoic Plateau. Rare elsewhere in E. | NE, EC, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Bromus latiglumis | (Shear) A. S. Hitchcock | . | . | Poaceae | Bromus latiglumis | (Scrib. ex Shear) Hitchcock | . | Low prairies. Alluvial woods. Open, wooded slopes. | Infrequent to frequent in E. Rare in SW. | NE, EC, SE, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Bromus mollis | L. | . | . | Poaceae | Bromus hordeaceus | L. | . | Waste or cultivated ground. | Rare in C [Webster County (no date)] & in NE [Black Hawk County (1896)]. | NE, C | No | No | . |
| Bromus pubescens | Muhl. ex Willd. | . | Canada brome | Poaceae | Bromus pubescens | Muhl. ex Willd. | . | Dense or rocky woods. | Frequent to infrequent throughout. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Bromus secalinus | L. | . | Cheat grass | Poaceae | Bromus secalinus | L. | . | Waste ground. | Infrequent in SE & SW. Rare elsewhere. | All | No | No | . |
| Bromus tectorum | L. | . | Downy chess | Poaceae | Bromus tectorum | L. | . | Roadsides & other waste places. | Frequent to common throughout. | All | No | No | . |
| Buchloe dactyloides | (Nutt.) Engelm. | . | Buffalo grass | Poaceae | Buchloe dactyloides | (Nutt.) Engelm. | . | Dry prairies. | Rare. Native in WC [Woodbury County] & in NW [Lyon & Plymouth Counties]. Introduced elsewhere. | NW, WC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Calamagrostis canadensis | (Michx.) Beauv. | . | Bluejoint | Poaceae | Calamagrostis canadensis | (Michx.) P. Beauv. | . | Wet prairies. Shallow marshes. | Infrequent to rare in westernmost counties. Frequent to common elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Calamagrostis inexpansa | Gray | . | Northern reed grass | Poaceae | Calamagrostis stricta | (Timm) Koeler | ssp. inexpansa (Gray) Greene | Wet prairies. Shallow marshes. Fens. | Frequent in lakes area. Rare in remainder of N. | NE, NC, NW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Calamovilfa longifolia | (Hooker) Scribner | var. longifolia | Prairie sandreed | Poaceae | Calamovilfa longifolia | (Hooker) Scrib. | . | Sandy prairies. Dry, open, sandy areas. | Infrequent to rare throughout. | All | Yes | Yes | FNA includes 2 varieties in North America: var. longifolia & var. magna Scrib. & Merr. |
| Calamovilfa longifolia | (Hooker) Scribner | var. magna Scribner & Merr. | Prairie sandreed | Poaceae | Calamovilfa longifolia | (Hooker) Scrib. | var. magna Scrib. & Merr. | Sandy dunes. Sandy plains. | Rare in SE [Louisa & Muscatine Counties]. | SE | Yes | Yes | FNA includes 2 varieties in North America: var. longifolia & var. magna Scrib. & Merr. |
| Cenchrus longispinus | (Hackel) Fern. | . | Sandbur | Poaceae | Cenchrus longispinus | (Hack.) Fern. | . | Disturbed, sandy soil. Roadsides. | Frequent to common throughout. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Chasmanthium latifolium | (Michx.) H. Yates | . | Wild oats | Poaceae | Chasmanthium latifolium | (Michx.) Yates | . | Low, moist soil. Low woods. | Rare in SE [Lee County]. | SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Chloris verticillata | Nutt. | . | Windmill grass | Poaceae | Chloris verticillata | Nutt. | . | Disturbed urban areas. | Rare escapee from plantings in C & SE. | C, SE | No | No | . |
| Cinna arundinacea | L. | . | Wood reed | Poaceae | Cinna arundinacea | L. | . | Moist woods. Alluvium. | Frequent to infrequent throughout most of the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dactylis glomerata | L. | . | Orchard grass | Poaceae | Dactylis glomerata | L. | . | Fields. Lawns. Roadsides. Waste places. | Common escapee from cultivation throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Danthonia spicata | (L.) Beauv. ex. R. & S. | . | Poverty oat grass | Poaceae | Danthonia spicata | (L.) Beauv. ex. R. & S. | . | Dry, sandy, open, upland woods. | Infrequent to rare throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Diarrhena americana | Beauv. | var. obovata Gl. | . | Poaceae | Diarrhena obovata | (Gl.) Brandenburg | . | Moist woods. | Infrequent to rare in S 3/4. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium acuminatum | (Sw.) Gould & Clark | var. acuminatum | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium acuminatum | (Sw.) Gould & Clark | ssp. acuminatum | Open woods. Prairies. Sandy habitats. | Rare in E 1/4. Frequent to common elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium acuminatum | (Sw.) Gould & Clark | var. implicatum (Scribner) Gould & Clark | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium acuminatum | (Sw.) Gould & Clark | ssp. implicatum (Scribner) Freckmann & Lelong | Open, sandy woods. Prairies. | Rare in W. Frequent to common elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium acuminatum | (Sw.) Gould & Clark | var. lindheimeri (Nash) Gould & Clark | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium acuminatum | (Sw.) Gould & Clark | ssp. lindheimeri (Nash) Freckmann & Lelong | Sandy or gravelly soils. | Rare in E [Bremer, Clinton, Jones, Louisa, & Scott Counties]. | NE, EC, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium acuminatum | (Sw.) Gould & Clark | var. villosum (Gray) Gould & Clark | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium ovale | (Elliott) Gould & Clark | ssp. villosissium (Nash) Freckmann & Lelong | Dry, upland prairies. | Infrequent in NE 1/2. | NE, NC, NW, EC, C, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium boreale | (Nash) Freckm. | . | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium boreale | (Nash) Freckm. | . | Dry, sandy prairies. | Rare in NE [Black Hawk, Buchanan, & Clayton (1923) Counties]. | NE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium clandestinum | (L.) Gould | . | Deertongue grass | Poaceae | Dichanthelium clandestinum | (L.) Gould | . | Sandy upland woods. Prairie openings. | Infrequent to rare in SE. | SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium depauperatum | (Muhl.) Gould | . | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium depauperatum | (Muhl.) Gould | . | Dry, sandy, upland woods. Sandy prairies. Sandstone ledges. | Rare in C, NC, & extreme E. | NE, NC, EC, C, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium latifolium | (L.) Gould & Clark | . | Broad-leaved panic grass | Poaceae | Dichanthelium latifolium | (L.) Harvill | . | Dry, rocky woodlands. | Frequent to infrequent in E 2/3. | NE, NC, EC, C, SE, SC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium leibergii | (Vasey) Freckm. | . | Leiberg's panic grass | Poaceae | Dichanthelium leibergii | (Vasey) Freckm. | . | Prairies. Dry, open woodlands. | Common in NC. Rare in NW & SE. Infrequent elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium linearifolium | (Scribner) Gould | . | Slim-leaved panic grass | Poaceae | Dichanthelium linearifolium | (Scribner) Gould | . | Rocky upland woods. Sandstone bluffs. Sandy soil. | Rare in WC [Guthrie County], SE [Wapello County], & SC [Monroe County]. | WC, SE, SC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium oligosanthes | (Schultes) Gould | var. oligosanthes | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium oligosanthes | (Schultes) Gould | ssp. oligosanthes | Grasslands. Open woods. | Rare throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium oligosanthes | (Schultes) Gould | var. scribnerianum (Nash) Gould | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium oligosanthes | (Schultes) Gould | ssp. scribnerianum (Nash) Freckmann & Lelong | Dry prairies. Sandy areas. | Frequent to common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium oligosanthes | (Schultes) Gould | var. wilcoxianum (Vasey) Gould & Clark | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium wilcoxianum | (Vasey) Freckmann | . | Dry, upland prairies. Loess bluffs. | Frequent in NW. Rare elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium perlongum | (Nash) Freckm. | . | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium perlongum | (Nash) Freckm. | . | Dry sand. Gravelly upland prairies. Sandy river terraces. | Rare in E 2/3. | NE, NC, EC, C, SE, SC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium sabulorum | (Lam.) Gould & Clark | var. patulum (Scribner & Merr.) Gould & Clark | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium portoricense | (Desv. ex Ham.) Hansen & Wunder. | ssp. patulum (Scribn. & Merr.) Freckm. & Lelong | Dry, sadny plains. Prairies. Blowouts. | Infrequent to rare in E 1/2. | NE, NC, EC, C, SE, SC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Dichanthelium sabulorum | (Lam.) Gould & Clark | var. thinium (A. S. Hitchc. & Chase) Gould & Clark | . | Poaceae | Dichanthelium acuminatum | (Sw.) Gould & C.A. Clark | ssp. columbianum (Scribn.) Freckmann & Lelong | Sand blowouts. | Rare in NE [Allamakee County]. | NE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Digitaria ciliaris | (Retz.) Koeler | . | Southern crab grass | Poaceae | Digitaria ciliaris | (Retz.) Koeler | . | Dry, disturbed sites. | Rare in SW [Fremont, Mills, Page, & Pottawattamie Counties]. | SW | No | No | . |
| Digitaria filiformis | (L.) Koeler | . | Finger grass | Poaceae | Digitaria filiformis | (L.) Koeler | . | Dry hillsides. Sterile knolls. | Rare in SE [Des Moines, Jefferson (1935), Lee (1923), & Muscatine (1898) Counties]. | SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Digitaria ischaemum | (Schreber ex Schweigger) Schreber ex Muhl. | . | Smooth crabgrass | Poaceae | Digitaria ischaemum | (Schreb.) Muhl. | . | Lawns. Yards. Disturbed soil. | Frequent to common throughout. | All | No | No | . |
| Digitaria sanguinalis | (L.) Scop. | . | Common crabgrass | Poaceae | Digitaria sanguinalis | (L.) Scop. | . | Lawns. Yards. Disturbed soil. | Common throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Distichlis spicata | (L.) Greene | var. stricta (Torrey) Beetle | Salt grass | Poaceae | Distichlis spicata | (L.) Greene | . | Roadsides. Along railroads. | Rare in W 1/2 & in C [Tama County]. | NC, NW, C, WC, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Echinocloa crusgalli | (L.) Beauv. | . | Barnyard grass | Poaceae | Echinocloa crus-galli | (L.) Beauv. | . | Moist, disturbed soil. Fields. Marshes. | Common throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Echinocloa muricata | (Beauv.) Fern. | . | . | Poaceae | Echinocloa muricata | (Beauv.) Fern. | . | Moist, disturbed soil. | Frequent to common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | E&R includes 2 varieties: var. muricata & var. microstachya Wieg. FNA lists both varieties as being present in N. America. |
| Echinocloa walteri | (Pursh) Heller | . | . | Poaceae | Echinocloa walteri | (Pursh) Heller | . | Moist, disturbed soil. | Rare in SE 1/4. | EC, C, SE, SC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Eleusine indica | (L.) Gaertner | . | Goose grass | Poaceae | Eleusine indica | (L.) Gaertner | . | Disturbed soils. Waste places. | Frequent in S 1/2. Rare in N 1/2. | All | No | No | . |
| Elyhordeum x iowense | Pohl | . | . | Poaceae | Elyhordeum x iowense | Pohl | . | Grassy roadside ditch. | Rare in C [Story County]. | C | Yes | Yes | = Elymus villosus X Hordeum jubatum |
| Elyhordeum x montanense | (Scribner) Bowden | . | . | Poaceae | Elyhordeum x montanense | (Scribner) Bowden | . | Disturbed ground along railroad. | Rare in NC [Humboldt County (1896)]. | NC | Yes | Yes | = Elymus virginicus X Hordeum jubatum |
| Elymus X maltei | Bowden | . | . | Poaceae | Elymus sp. | . | . | Sandy soil. | Rare in scattered locations. | All | Yes | Yes | = Elymus canadensis X E. virginicus. See comment 5 below. |
| Elymus canadensis | L. | . | Canada wild rye | Poaceae | Elymus canadensis | L. | . | Prairies. Roadsides. | Common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Elymus interruptus | Buckley | . | . | Poaceae | Elymus interruptus | Buckley | . | Dry woodlands. | Rare in NW [Dickinson & Emmet (1922) Counties]. | NW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Elymus riparius | Wieg. | . | . | Poaceae | Elymus riparius | Wieg. | . | Woodlands. | Rare & local in C & NE. | NE, C | Yes | Yes | . |
| Elymus villosus | Muhl. ex Willd. | . | Slender wild rye | Poaceae | Elymus villosus | Muhl. ex Willd. | . | Moist woods. | Frequent to common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Elymus virginicus | L. | . | Virginia wild rye | Poaceae | Elymus virginicus | L. | . | Roadsides. Prairies. Alluvial woods. | Frequent to common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Elymus wiegandii | Fern. | . | . | Poaceae | Elymus wiegandii | Fern. | . | Ungrazed woods, especially alluvial woods. | Rare throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Eragrostis capillaris | (L.) Nees | . | Lace grass | Poaceae | Eragrostis capillaris | (L.) Nees | . | Dry, disturbed ground. Fields. | Rare in Paleozoic Plateau, NC, SE, & SC. | NE, NC, EC, SE, SC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Eragrostis cilianensis | (All.) Link ex E. Mosher | . | Stink grass | Poaceae | Eragrostis cilianensis | (All.) Vignolo ex Janch. | . | Roadsides. Waste ground. Gardens. Fields. | Common throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Eragrostis frankii | C. A. Meyer ex Steudel | var. brevipes Fassett | . | Poaceae | Eragrostis frankii | C. A. Meyer ex Steudel | . | Moist sand at margins of streams. | Rare in E. | NE, EC, SE | Yes | Yes | FNA lists no varieties for this taxon. |
| Eragrostis frankii | C. A. Meyer ex Steudel | var. frankii | . | Poaceae | Eragrostis frankii | C. A. Meyer ex Steudel | . | Wet sands. Edges of streams. | Rare in W. Infrequent elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | FNA lists no varieties for this taxon. |
| Eragrostis hypnoides | (Lam.) BSP | . | Pony grass | Poaceae | Eragrostis hypnoides | (Lam.) Britton | . | Wet soil along streams. Open, muddy habitats. | Frequent to common throughout. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Eragrostis pectinacea | (Michx.) Nees | . | . | Poaceae | Eragrostis pectinacea | (Michx.) Nees | . | Roadsides. Fields. Waste ground. Wet sand. | Common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Eragrostis pilosa | (L.) Beauv. | . | . | Poaceae | Eragrostis pilosa | (L.) Beauv. | . | Fields. Disturbed habitats. | Rare in S 1/2. | EC, C, WS, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Eragrostis poaeoides | Beauv. ex. R. & S. | . | . | Poaceae | Eragrostis minor | Host | . | Disturbed soil along railroads. | Rare in C & SE. | C, SE | No | No | . |
| Eragrostis reptans | (Michx.) Nees | . | . | Poaceae | Eragrostis reptans | (Michx.) Nees | . | Roadsides. Fields. | Rare in C [Hardin County (circa 1905)]. | C | Yes | Yes | . |
| Eragrostis spectabilis | (Pursh) Steudel | . | Purple lovegrass | Poaceae | Eragrostis spectabilis | (Pursh) Steudel | . | Prairies. Roadsides. Open sandy areas. | Rare in NW. Infrequent elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Eragrostis trichodes | (Nutt.) Wood | . | Sand lovegrass | Poaceae | Eragrostis trichodes | (Nutt.) Wood | . | Sandy, open ground or thin woods. | Rare. Scattered in S 1/2. | EC, C, WC, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Eriochloa villosa | (Thunb.) Kunth | . | Cup grass | Poaceae | Eriochloa villosa | (Thunb.) Kunth | . | Fields. Waste areas. | Rare: becoming established in scattered locations throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Festuca arundinacea | Schreber | . | Alta fescue | Poaceae | Schenodorus arundinaceous | (Schreb.) Dumont | . | Lawns. Roadsides. | Rare: scattered locations in SE 1/4. | EC, C, SE, SC | No | No | . |
| Festuca obtusa | Biehler | . | Nodding fescue | Poaceae | Festuca subverticillata | (Pers.) Alexeev | . | Moist woods. | Frequent to common throughout. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Festuca octoflora | Walter | var. tenella (Willd.) Fern. | Six-weeks fescue | Poaceae | Vulpia octoflora | (Walter) Rydb. | . | Sand plains. Gravelly hills. Loess bluffs. | Rare in SE. Infrequent elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Festuca ovina | L. | . | Sheep fescue | Poaceae | Festuca ovina | L. | . | Dry, sandy plains. Prairies. | Rare throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | See comment 6 below. |
| Festuca paradoxa | Desv. | . | . | Poaceae | Festuca paradoxa | Desv. | . | Prairies. Dry woods. | Rare in SE 1/2. | NE, EC, C, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Festuca pratensis | Hudson | . | Meadow fescue | Poaceae | Schenodorus pratensis | (Hudson) Beauv. | . | Lawns. Roadsides. Waste ground. | Infrequent throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Festuca rubra | L. | . | Red fescue | Poaceae | Festuca rubra | L. | . | Sandy meadows. Yards. Waste areas. | Rare in NE [Allamakee County], EC [Johnson County], & in SC [Mahaska County (1915)]. | NE, EC, SC | No | No | . |
| Glyceria borealis | (Nash) Batchelder | . | Manna grass | Poaceae | Glyceria borealis | (Nash) Batch. | . | Shallow water. Muddy shores. Wet sand. | Infrequent in lakes area. Rare in NC [Hancock County] & EC [Linn County]. | NC, NW, EC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Glyceria grandis | S. Watson | . | American manna grass | Poaceae | Glyceria grandis | S. Watson | var. grandis | Marshy ground. Shallow water. | Common in lakes area. Frequent in remainder of N 1/2. | NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Glyceria septentrionalis | A. S. Hitchcock | . | Eastern manna grass | Poaceae | Glyceria septentrionalis | Hitchcock | . | Shallow water. Pond & stream margins. | Infrequent in C & SE. | C, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Glyceria striata | (Lam.) A. S. Hitchc. | . | Fowl manna grass | Poaceae | Glyceria striata | (Lam.) Hitchc. | . | Marshes. Damp woods. Shallow water. Fens. | Frequent to common in S 1/2 & in lakes area. Infrequent elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Heleochloa schoenoides | (L.) Host | . | . | Poaceae | Crypsis schoenoides | (L.) Lam. | . | Railroad tracks. | Rare in C [Polk County]. | C | No | No | . |
| Hierochloe odorata | (L.) Beauv. | . | Holy grass | Poaceae | Anthoxanthum hirtum | (Schrank) Schouten & Veldkamp | . | Moist prairie remnants. Fens. | Infrequent in N 1/2. | NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC | Yes | Yes | See discussion under Anthoxanthum nitens (Weber) Schouten & Veldkamp [FNA vol. 24, p. 762]. |
| Holcus lanatus | L. | . | Velvet grass | Poaceae | Holcus lanatus | L. | . | Waste ground. | Rare in C [Story County (1898)], EC [Linn County (1919)], & SE [Louisa County (1919)]. | EC, C, SE | No | No | . |
| Hordeum jubatum | L. | . | Squirrel-tail barley | Poaceae | Hordeum jubatum | L. | . | Disturbed ground. | Common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Hordeum pusillum | Nutt. | . | Little barley | Poaceae | Hordeum pusillum | Nutt. | . | Dry, open, sandy areas. Loess bluffs. | Infrequent to frequent in S. Rare in N. | All | Yes | No | . |
| Hordeum vulgare | L. | . | Barley | Poaceae | Hordeum vulgare | L. | . | Waste ground. Roadsides. | Infrequent escapee from cultivation throughout, but not persisting. | All | No | No | . |
| Hystrix patula | Moench | . | Bottlebrush grass | Poaceae | Elymus hystrix | L. | . | Moist woods. | Rare in NW. Common elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Koeleria macrantha | (Ledeb.) Schultes | . | June grass | Poaceae | Koeleria macrantha | (Ledeb.) Schultes | . | Prairies. Loess bluffs. Sandy plains. | Infrequent in E. Frequent to common elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Leersia lenticularis | Michx. | . | Catchfly grass | Poaceae | Leersia lenticularis | Michx. | . | Alluvial woods. | Rare in E 1/2. | NE, NC, EC, C, SE, SC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Leersia oryzoides | (L.) Sw. | . | Rice cut-grass | Poaceae | Leersia oryzoides | (L.) Sw. | . | Marshes. Muddy margins of lakes. Alluvial woods. | Rare in NW. Frequent to common elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Leersia virginica | Willd. | . | Whitegrass | Poaceae | Leersia virginica | Willd. | . | Moist alluvial woods. Margins of marshes & lakes. | Common in Paleozoic Plateau. Infrequent to frequent elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Leptochloa fascicularis | (Lam.) Gray | . | Salt meadow grass | Poaceae | Leptochloa fusca | (L.) Kunth | . | Wet ground. Sandy alluvium. Disturbed sites. | Rare to infrequent in NW 2/3 of the state. | NE, NC, NW, C, WC, SW | Yes | Yes | See comment 7 below. |
| Leptoloma cognatum | (Schultes) Chase | . | Fall witchgrass | Poaceae | Digitaria cognata | (Schultes) Pilger | . | Sandy soil. | Frequent to common in E 1/4. Rare in SC. | NE, EC, SE, SC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Lolium perenne | L. | var. italicum Parn. | Annual rye grass | Poaceae | Lolium multiflorum | Lam. | . | Lawns. Spreading to fields & roadsides. | Common in SW. Rare in NC & E. | NE, NC, EC, SE, SW | No | No | . |
| Lolium perenne | L. | var. perenne | Perennial rye grass | Poaceae | Lolium perenne | L. | . | Lawns. Spreading to waste ground. | Infrequent to rare throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Lolium temulentum | L. | . | Darnel | Poaceae | Lolium temulentum | L. | . | Crop fields. | Rare in NC & NE. Not collected since 1922. | NE, NC | No | No | . |
| Melica mutica | Walter | . | Two-flowered melic grass | Poaceae | Melica mutica | Walter | . | Dry, rocky woodlands. | Rare in SW [Union County (1898)]. | SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Melica nitens | (Scribner) Nutt. ex Piper | . | Three-flowered melic grass | Poaceae | Melica nitens | (Scribner) Nutt. ex Piper | . | Wooded, rocky slopes. Prairies. | Rare in C & E. | NE, EC, C, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Milium effusum | L. | . | Millet-grass | Poaceae | Milium effusum | L. | var. cisatlanticum Fern. | Moist, maple-basswood slopes. | Rare in NE [Allamakee County]. | NE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Miscanthus sacchariflorus | (Maxim.) Hackel | . | Plume grass | Poaceae | Miscanthus sacchariflorus | (Maxim.) Benth. | . | Roadsides. Waste ground. | Infrequent escapee throughout, but increasing in abundance. | All | No | No | . |
| Muhlenbergia asperifolia | (Nees & Meyer ) Parodi | . | Scratchgrass | Poaceae | Muhlenbergia asperifolia | (Nees & Meyer ex Trin.) Parodi | . | Fens. Lakeshores. Along railroads. | Rare in C [Boone & Story (1923) Counties], WC [Monona & Woodbury Counties], & NW [Clay (1948) & Dickinson Counties]. | NW, C, WC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Muhlenbergia bushii | Pohl | . | . | Poaceae | Muhlenbergia bushii | Pohl | . | Moist woods. | Rare in SW & in SE 1/4. | EC, C, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Muhlenbergia cuspidata | (Torrey) Rydb. | . | Plains muhly | Poaceae | Muhlenbergia cuspidata | (Torrey ex Hooker) Rydb. | . | Dry, gravelly prairies. Loess bluffs. | Common in lakes area & in Loess Hills. Rare in C & NE. | NE, NW, C, WC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Muhlenbergia frondosa | (Poiret) Fern. | . | Wirestem muhly | Poaceae | Muhlenbergia frondosa | (Poiret) Fern. | . | Moist alluvial woods. Edges of marshes. Waste places. | Infrequent to rare in W. Frequent to common elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Muhlenbergia glomerata | (Willd.) Trin. | . | . | Poaceae | Muhlenbergia glomerata | (Willd.) Trin. | . | Fens. Marshes. | Rare in NC & E. | NE, NC, EC, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Muhlenbergia mexicana | (L.) Trin. | . | . | Poaceae | Muhlenbergia mexicana | (L.) Trin. | . | Moist prairies. Low woods. Fens. Lake margins. | Common in NC. Infrequent to rare elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Muhlenbergia racemosa | (Michx.) BSP. | . | Marsh muhly | Poaceae | Muhlenbergia racemosa | racemosa | . | Dry prairies. Loess bluffs. Margins of fields. Waste ground. | Frequent to common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Muhlenbergia schreberi | J. F. Gmelin | . | Nimblewill | Poaceae | Muhlenbergia schreberi | J. F. Gmelin | . | Open woods. Alluvium. | Frequent in SE 2/3. | NE, EC, C, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Muhlenbergia sobolifera | (Muhl. ex. Willd.) Trin. | . | Rock muhly | Poaceae | Muhlenbergia sobolifera | (Muhl. ex. Willd.) Trin. | . | Dry, upland woods. Wooded slopes. | Infrequent to rare in SE 2/3. | NE, EC, C, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Muhlenbergia sylvatica | (Torrey) Torrey & Gray | . | Forest muhly | Poaceae | Muhlenbergia sylvatica | (Torrey) Torrey & Gray | . | Moist to dry, often rocky woods. | Rare in E. | NE, EC, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Muhlenbergia tenuiflora | (Willd.) BSP. | . | . | Poaceae | Muhlenbergia tenuiflora | (Willd.) BSP. | . | Moist, rocky, wooded slopes. | Rare in E & SC. | NE, EC, SE, SC | Yes | Yes | FNA map for this taxon in vol. 25, p. 160 is in error. See map online. |
| Oryzopsis asperifolia | Michx. | . | Rough-leaved rice grass | Poaceae | Oryzopsis asperifolia | Michx. | . | Moist maple-basswood slopes. | Rare in NE [Allamakee, Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, & Winneshiek Counties]. | NE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Oryzopsis pungens | (Torrey ex Sprengel) A. S. Hitchc. | . | Short-horned rice grass | Poaceae | Piptatherum pungens | (Torrey) Dorn | . | Dry, sandy woods. | Rare in NE [Allamakee & Clayton Counties]. | NE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Oryzopsis racemosa | (Smith) Ricker | . | . | Poaceae | Piptatherum racemosum | (Sm.) Eaton | . | Steep, north-facing or east-facing, wooded slopes. | Common in Paleozoic Plateau & extreme E. Rare elsewhere in NE 2/3. | NE, NC, NW, EC, C, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Panicum capillare | L. | . | Witchgrass | Poaceae | Panicum capillare | L. | . | Fields. Roadsides. Waste ground. Disturbed soil. | Common throughout. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Panicum dichotomiflorum | Michx. | . | Knee grass | Poaceae | Panicum dichotomiflorum | Michx. | ssp. dichotomiflorum | Wet habitats. Sandy soils. Fields. Gardens. Disturbed soils. | Infrequent in W & NE. Frequent to common elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Panicum gattingeri | Nash | . | . | Poaceae | Panicum philadelphicum | Bernh. ex Trin. | ssp. gattingeri (Nash) Freckmann & Lelong | Marshes. | Rare in NW [Clay & Dickinson Counties] & SE [Louisa County]. | NW, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Panicum hillmanii | Chase | . | . | Poaceae | Panicum capillare | L. | ssp. hillmanii (Chase) Freckmann & Lelong | Waste ground. | Rare in NW [Pocahontas County]. | NW | No | No | . |
| Panicum miliaceum | L. | . | Proso millet | Poaceae | Panicum miliaceum | L. | . | Cultivated. Escapes to waste places & field edges. | Rare to infrequent in SW 2/3. | NW, C, WC, SE, SC, SW | No | No | . |
| Panicum philadelphicum | Bernh. ex. Trin. | . | . | Poaceae | Panicum philadelphicum | Bernh. ex. Trin. | ssp. philadelphicum | Dry, sandy soil. | Rare in W [Clay, Dickinson (1948), Greene, & Montgomery Counties], NC [Hancock County], & SC [Monroe County]. | NC, NW, WC, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Panicum virgatum | L. | . | Switchgrass | Poaceae | Panicum virgatum | L. | . | Prairie remnants. Streambanks. Sandy soil. | Common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Paspalum setaceum | Michx. | var. ciliatifolium (Michx.) Vasey | Bead grass | Poaceae | Paspalum setaceum | Michx. | var. ciliatifolium (Michx.) Vasey | Prairie remnants. Dry, sandy soil. Loess bluffs. | Rare in N 1/2. Infrequent in S 1/2. | All | Yes | Yes | FNA includes 9 varieties of this grass in N. America. |
| Paspalum setaceum | Michx. | var. muhlenbergii (Nash) D. Banks | . | Poaceae | Paspalum setaceum | Michx. | var. muhlenbergii (Nash) D. Banks | Dry, sandy soil. | Infrequent to rare in S 1/2. | EC, C, WC, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | FNA includes 9 varieties of this grass in N. America. |
| Paspalum setaceum | Michx. | var. stramineum (Nash) D. Banks | . | Poaceae | Paspalum setaceum | Michx. | var. stramineum (Nash) D. Banks | Dry, sandy soil. | Infrequent to rare in SE 1/2. | NE, EC, C, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | FNA includes 9 varieties of this grass in N. America. |
| Pennisetum petiolare | (Hochst.) Chiov. | . | . | Poaceae | Pennisetum petiolare | (Hochst.) Chiov. | . | Lawn from birdseed. | Rare in C [Story County]. | C | No | No | . |
| Phalaris arundinacea | L. | . | Reed canary grass | Poaceae | Phalaris arundinacea | L. | . | Marshes. Lakeshores. Floodplains. | Common throughout. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Phalaris canariensis | L. | . | Canary grass | Poaceae | Phalaris canariensis | L. | . | Waste ground near dwellings. | Rare waif throughout. From birdseed. | All | No | No | . |
| Phleum pratense | L. | . | Timothy | Poaceae | Phleum pratense | L. | . | Fields. Open, disturbed habitats. Roadsides. | Common throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Phragmites australis | (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel | . | Reed | Poaceae | Phragmites australis | (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel | . | Marshes. Moist soil along roads. Railroads. | Common in C & NC. Infrequent to rare elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Poa annua | L. | . | Annual bluegrass | Poaceae | Poa annua | L. | . | Shaded lawns. Waste ground. Wet, disturbed sites. | Frequent to common throughout the state, though rarely collected. | All | No | No | . |
| Poa arida | Vasey | . | Plains bluegrass | Poaceae | Poa arida | Vasey | . | Dry prairies on Sioux Quartzite. | Rare in NW [Lyon County]. | NW | Yes | Yes | From FNA [volume 24, p. 516]: "Poa arida may reflect past hybridization between P. secunda and a species of Poa sect. Poa." |
| Poa bulbosa | L. | . | . | Poaceae | Poa bulbosa | L. | . | Lawns. | Rare in C [Story County (1929)], NW [Plymouth County], & SE [Muscatine County (1922)]. | NW, C, SE | No | No | . |
| Poa chapmaniana | Scribner | . | . | Poaceae | Poa chapmaniana | Scribner | . | Fields. Sandy, open habitats. | Rare in EC [Johnson County (1889)] & SE [Louisa (no date, but pre-1900) & Wapello (1899) County]. | EC, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Poa compressa | L. | . | Canada bluegrass | Poaceae | Poa compressa | L. | . | Dry, open woods. Pastures. Loess bluffs. Roadsides. | Common throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Poa languida | A. S. Hitchc. | . | Woodland bluegrass | Poaceae | Poa saltuensis | Fern. & Wieg. | . | Dry, upland woods. | Rare in C [Story County (1897)] & E [Allamakee, Scott (no date, but pre-1900), & Muscatine Counties]. | NE, EC, C, SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Poa nemoralis | L. | . | . | Poaceae | Poa nemoralis | L. | . | Cultivated in lawns. | Rare in C [Boone & Story Counties] & EC [Scott County]. | C, EC | No | No | . |
| Poa paludigena | Fern. & Wieg. | . | Marsh bluegrass | Poaceae | Poa paludigena | Fern. & Wieg. | . | Algific talus slopes. | Rare in NE [Allamakee, Dubuque, & Winneshiek Counties]. | NE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Poa palustris | L. | . | Fowl meadow grass | Poaceae | Poa palustris | L. | . | Moist prairie remnants. Marshes. Fens. | Common in lakes area & in Paleozoic Plateau. Infrequent to rare elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Poa pratensis | L. | . | Kentucky bluegrass | Poaceae | Poa pratensis | L. | . | Lawns. Pastures. Disturbed habitats. | Common throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Poa sylvestris | Gray | . | Woodland bluegrass | Poaceae | Poa sylvestris | Gray | . | Moist woods. Alluvium. | Rare in SE 1/2 of the state. | NE, EC, C, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Poa trivialis | L. | . | Meadow grass | Poaceae | Poa trivialis | L. | . | Lawns. | Rare in C [Story County] & NE [Allamakee & Clayton Counties]. | NE, C | No | No | . |
| Poa wolfii | Scribner | . | Meadow bluegrass | Poaceae | Poa wolfii | Scribn. | . | Moist woodlands. Steep, north-facing slopes. | Rare [scattered locations in E 1/2]. | NE, NC, EC, C, SE, SC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Puccinellia distans | (L.) Parl. | . | European alkali grass | Poaceae | Puccinellia distans | (Jacq.) Parl. | . | Disturbed roadsides. | Rare in C [Hamilton County]. | C | No | No | . |
| Schedonnardus paniculatus | (Nutt.) Trel. | . | Tumblegrass | Poaceae | Schedonnardus paniculatus | (Nutt.) Trel. | . | Dry soils. Pastures. Loess bluffs. | Rare in W [Guthrie (1928), Harrison, Lyon, Page, Plymouth, & Woodbury Counties]. | NW, WC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Schizachne purpurascens | (Torrey) Swallen | . | False medic | Poaceae | Schizachne purpurascens | (Torr.) Swallen | . | Moist, sandy, wooded slopes. Algific talus slopes. | Frequent in Paleozoic Plateau. Rare elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Schizachyrium scoparium | (Michx.) Nash | . | Little bluestem | Poaceae | Schizachyrium scoparium | (Michx.) Nash | . | Upland prairies. | Common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | FNA map for this taxon in vol. 25, p. 669 is in error. See map online. |
| Sclerochloa dura | (L.) Beauv. | . | . | Poaceae | Sclerochloa dura | (L.) Beauv. | . | Dry, disturbed site. | Rare in SW [Page County]. | SW | No | No | . |
| Scolochloa festucacea | (Willd.) Link. | . | Whitetop | Poaceae | Scolochloa festucacea | (Willd.) Link. | . | Sedge meadows. Lakeshores. Shallow water of marshes. | Frequent in lakes area. Rare in NC. | NC, NW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Secale cereale | L. | . | Cultivated rye | Poaceae | Secale cereale | L. | . | Waste ground. Roadsides. | Infrequent escapee from cultivation throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Setaria faberi | Herrm. | . | Giant foxtail | Poaceae | Setaria faberi | Herrm. | . | Fields. Roadsides. Disturbed ground. | Infrequent in N 1/2. Common in S 1/2. | All | No | No | . |
| Setaria geniculata | (Lam.) Beauv. | . | . | Poaceae | Setaria parviflora | (Poir.) Kerguelen | . | Moist, sandy alluvium. | Rare in EC [Jones County]. | EC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Setaria glauca | (L.) Beauv. | . | Yellow foxtail | Poaceae | Setaria pumila | (Poir.) Roem. & Schult. | ssp. pumila | Fields. Roadsides. Disturbed soil. | Common throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Setaria italica | (L.) Beauv. | . | Foxtail millet | Poaceae | Setaria italica | (L.) Beauv. | . | Fields. Roadsides. Waste ground. | Rare throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Setaria verticillata | (L.) Beauv. | . | Bristly foxtail | Poaceae | Setaria verticillata | (L.) Beauv. | . | Fields. Disturbed ground. | Rare in NE. Infrequent to frequent elsewhere. | All | No | No | . |
| Setaria viridis | (L.) Beauv. | . | Green foxtail | Poaceae | Setaria viridis | (L.) Beauv. | . | Fields. Disturbed ground. | Common throughout the state. | All | No | No | . |
| Sorghastrum nutans | (L.) Nash | . | Indian grass | Poaceae | Sorghastrum nutans | (L.) Nash | . | Prairies. Roadsides. | Common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Sorghum bicolor | (L.) Moench | . | Sorghum | Poaceae | Sorghum bicolor | (L.) Moench | . | Field edges. Waste ground. | Rare escapee from cultivation. | All | No | No | . |
| Sorghum halepense | (L.) Pers. | . | Johnson grass | Poaceae | Sorghum halepense | (L.) Pers. | . | Roadsides. Field edges. | Rare escapee from cultivation in extreme S. | SE, SC, SW | No | No | . |
| Sorghum sudanense | (Piper) Stapf | . | Sudan grass | Poaceae | Sorghum bicolor | (L.) Moench | ssp. drummondii (Steud.) de Wet | Roadsides. Field edges. | Rare escapee from cultivation. | All | No | No | See comment 8 below. |
| Spartina pectinata | Link | . | Slough grass, cord grass | Poaceae | Spartina pectinata | Link | . | Prairie swales. Edges of marshes. Wet roadsides. | Frequent to common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Sphenopholis obtusata | (Michx.) Scribner | var. major (Torrey) K. S. Erdman | Wedge grass | Poaceae | Sphenopholis intermedia | (Rydb.) Rydb. | . | Low, moist ground. Open woods. | Common in SE. Rare in W 1/4. Infrequent to frequent elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Sphenopholis obtusata | (Michx.) Scribner | var. obtusata | Wedge grass | Poaceae | Sphenopholis obtusata | (Michx.) Scribner | . | Prairies. Loess bluffs. Open woods. | Frequent to common in NC & SC. Infrequent to rare elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Sporobolus asper | (Michx.) Kunth | . | Dropseed | Poaceae | Sporobolus compositus | (Poir.) Merr. | . | Dry prairie slopes. Gravelly hills. Distrubed prairies. | Infrequent to rare in NE. Frequent to common elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Sporobolus clandestinus | (Biehler) A. S. Hitchc. | . | . | Poaceae | Sporobolus clandestinus | (Biehler) Hitchc. | . | Sandy prairies. | Rare in SE [Henry (1935), Jefferson (1935), & Muscatine Counties]. | SE | Yes | Yes | . |
| Sporobolus cryptandrus | (Torrey) Gray | . | Sand dropseed | Poaceae | Sporobolus cryptandrus | (Torrey) Gray | . | Loess bluffs. Dry, sandy prairies. | Frequent to common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Sporobolus heterolepis | (Gray) Gray | . | Prairie dropseed | Poaceae | Sporobolus heterolepis | (Gray) Gray | . | Dry prairies. Loess bluffs. | Common in NC & SW. Infrequent elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Sporobolus neglectus | Nash | . | . | Poaceae | Sporobolus neglectus | Nash | . | Dry prairies. Waste ground. Lawns. Pastures. | Frequent in NC & SW. Infrequent to rare elsewhere. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Sporobolus vaginiflorus | (Torrey ex Gray) Wood | . | Poverty grass | Poaceae | Sporobolus vaginiflorus | (Torrey & Gray) Wood | . | Dry, sandy soil. | Frequent to infrequent throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | E&R includes 2 varieties: var. vaginiflorus & var. inaequalis Fern. |
| Stipa comata | Trin. & Rupr. | . | Needle-and-thread, spear grass | Poaceae | Hesperostipa comata | (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth | . | Dry, gravelly prairies. Loess bluffs. | Rare in WC [Harrison & Woodbury Counties] & NW [O'Brien & Osceola Counties]. | NW, WC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Stipa spartea | Trin. | . | Porcupine grass | Poaceae | Hesperostipa spartea | (Trin.) Barkworth | . | Prairie remnants. Sandy, open soil. | Frequent to common throughout the state. | All | Yes | Yes | . |
| Stipa viridula | Trin. | . | Green needlegrass | Poaceae | Nasella viridula | (Trin.) Barkworth | . | Loess bluffs. Dry, disturbed soil along railroads. Pastures. | Rare in N 2/3. Possibly native only in northern Loess Hills. | NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC | Yes | Yes | . |
| Tridens flavus | (L.) A. S. Hitchc. | . | Purple top | Poaceae | Tridens flavus | (L.) Hitchc. | . | Sandy prairies. Disturbed prairies. Alluvium. | Common in SE. Infrequent to rare in extreme S & along Missouri River. | NW, WC, SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Triplasis purpurea | (Walter) Chapman | . | Sand grass | Poaceae | Triplasis purpurea | (Walter) Chapman | . | Dry, sandy soil. | Frequent in SE & SW. Infrequent to rare in NE & extreme E. | NE, EC, SE, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Tripsacum dactyloides | (L.) L. | . | Gama grass | Poaceae | Tripsacum dactyloides | (L.) L. | . | Low, moist ground. Roadsides. | Infrequent in S. | SE, SC, SW | Yes | Yes | . |
| Triticum aestivum | L. | . | Cultivated wheat | Poaceae | Triticum aestivum | L. | . | Roadsides. Waste ground. | Rare escapee from cultivation. Not persisting. | All | No | No | FNA does not include this plant in Iowa. |
| Zea mays | L. | . | Cultivated corn | Poaceae | Zea mays | L. | . | Edges of fields. Roadsides. Disturbed ground. | Infrequent escapee from cultivation. Not persisting. | All | No | No | . |
| Zizania aquatica | L. | . | Wild rice | Poaceae | Zizania aquatica | L. | . | Shallow marshes. Margins of streams. | Rare [scattered in N 2/3]. | NE, NC, NW, EC, C, WC | Yes | Yes | See comment 9 below. |
| 1. Regarding Festuca trachyphylla: From FNA [volume 24]: "For many years, Festuca trachyphylla was known, inappropriately, under other names, e.g., F. duriuscula L., F. ovina var. duriuscula (L.) W.D.J. Koch, and F. longifolia Thuill. ... It has frequently been included in F. ovina." |
| 2. Regarding Agropyron imtermedium: E&R list this taxon as native, however FNA [Vol. 24] states "Thinopyrum intermedium is native to Europe and western Asia. It has been widely introduced in western North America for erosion control, revegetation, forage, and hay." |
| 3. Regarding Agropyron repens X trachycaulum: FNA does not list this hybrid. See volume 24, pp. 338 - 343. In FNA this would be a hybrid between Elymus repens X Elymus trachycaulus. |
| 4. Regarding Aristida longispica: From FNA [Vol. 25]: "Aristida longespica grows along roadsides and in waste places, sandy fields, and clearings in pine and oak woods of southern Ontario and the eastern and central United States. The two varieties have a similar geographic range and are often found growing together." |
| 5. Regarding Elymus X maltei: FNA does not mention the name Elymus X maltei Bowden, but the hybrid combination of Elymus canadensis X E. virginicus is acknowledged. |
| 6. Regarding Festuca ovina: FNA does not include this plant in Iowa. From FNA [volume 24]: "For many years, Festuca trachyphylla was known, inappropriately, under other names, e.g., F. duriuscula L., F. ovina var. duriuscula (L.) W.D.J. Koch, and F. longifolia Thuill. ... It has frequently been included in F. ovina." |
| 7. Regarding Leptochlora fascicularis: E&R includes 2 varieties: var. fascicularis & var. acuminata (Nash) Gl. FNA includes 3 subspecies in N. America, but indicates only Leptochloa fusca subsp. fascicularis (Lam.) N. Snow is likely in Iowa. |
| 8. Regarding Sorghum sudanense: FNA: "The hybrids treated here as Sorghum bicolor subsp. drummondii are most common in the Eastern Hemisphere, but a few are cultivated in the United States. Among these are the plants known as 'chicken corn' and 'Sudangrass' [= S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf] (de Wet 1978)." |
| 9. Regarding Zizania aquatica: E&R includes 3 varieties: var. aquatica, var. angustifolia Hitchc., & var. interior Fassett. According to FNA only Zizania aquatica var. aquatica is rarely found in Iowa. However, in FNA Z. palustris [which E&R considers a part of Z. aquatica] is more widespread in the state. |
For a more detailed documentation of Iowa's grasses, please visit the Grasses of Iowa Project from Iowa State University.