October 2025 • Nebraskaland 47
to prepare for their long winter's "nap,"
storing sugars and starches deep
underground where the cold can't
touch them.
While the above-ground parts may
appear to be shutting down — turning
brown, wilting and seemingly "dying"
— the plant is thriving below the
surface.
Seed Scattering
When fall hits, prairie plants go
into reproduction mode, and they
have some clever ways to spread the
next generation across the landscape.
But instead of just tossing their seeds
randomly, these plants have mastered
creative tactics to make sure their
seeds have the best shot at fi nding the
perfect place to grow.
Have you ever noticed those fl uff y,
feather-light seeds on plants such as
goldenrod? It's not just for looks —
those fl uff y, little "parachutes" are
key to their strategy. The seeds are
designed to catch the wind, so they
can fl oat and soar across the prairie,
landing far from the parent plant to a
new location.
But wind isn't the only trick. Some
prairie plants are downright sneaky
about getting their seeds out there.
Take stickseed, for example. Its seeds
are tiny hitchhikers, equipped with
sticky barbs that latch onto the fur
and clothing of passing animals
and humans. These seeds use
unsuspecting critters as their personal
cab service, getting a free ride to a
new home where they'll eventually
drop off and, hopefully, settle
At the Platte River fl oodplain tallgrass prairie at the Lillian Annette Rowe Bird Sanctuary in Buff alo County, plants
include big bluestem, Indian grass, prairie cordgrass, switchgrass, goldenrod, white aster and Maximilian sunfl ower.
JON FARRAR, NEBRASKALAND
