# Deertongue (*dichanthelium clandestinum*) Deertongue is a soft, grassy plant that can be found in many forests and meadows! Its leaves are shaped like tongues, and they dance in the breeze, making it fun to watch! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Deertongue grows in forests, meadows, and grasslands, often in shaded areas. - **Also known as:** Deer Tongue Grass, Dichanthelium, Tongue Grass ![Deertongue](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dichanthelium_clandestinum_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Matthew C. Perry, USGS, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dichanthelium_clandestinum_1.jpg) ## Appearance The Deertongue has broad, flat, tongue-shaped leaves, often quite hairy and rough to the touch. Its sturdy, upright stems can reach up to three feet tall. The flowers are tiny, green spikelets, often hidden among the leaves or along the stem. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Poales - **Family:** Poaceae - **Genus:** Dichanthelium ## Interesting facts - Deertongue can prevent soil erosion on hillsides by forming a dense mat with its roots! - Find it often near wetlands or shady woods, where it loves the moist, rich soil! - Its scientific name 'clandestinum' means 'hidden,' referring to its tiny, often unseen flowers! - This grass is a super snack for deer and other grazers, helping them stay full and healthy. ## Special abilities - **Shade Seeker:** Deertongue can grow well in low light, helping it thrive in the shadowy understory of forests where other plants struggle. - **Underground Network:** Deertongue has rhizomes, underground stems that help it spread efficiently and form dense, stable colonies. - **Fuzzy Moisture Trap:** Deertongue's hairy leaves can help collect dew and moisture from the air, assisting its survival in drier spells. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — A common browser of its leaves and stems - **Eats:** [White-footed Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-footed-mouse) (*Peromyscus leucopus*) — Feeds on its small seeds and plant parts - **Eats:** [Differential Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/differential-grasshopper) (*Melanoplus differentialis*) — Chews on its leaves and tender shoots - **Shelter:** [Northern Cardinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-cardinal) (*Cardinalis cardinalis*) — Uses dense clumps for cover and nesting ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Deertongue? Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Deertongue? 30-90 cm ### How wide does Deertongue spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Deertongue? 0.3-0.4 cm ### When does Deertongue bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is Deertongue edible? No ### Is Deertongue toxic? None ### What is Deertongue's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Quehanna Wild Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/quehanna-wild-area) — Pennsylvania, US · Nature Reserve - [Stevens-Coolidge House and Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/stevens-coolidge-house-and-gardens) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Bailey Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bailey-arboretum) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Bellport Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellport-village-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Maumee State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/maumee-state-forest) — Ohio, US · Forest - [Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/planting-fields-arboretum-state-historic-park) — New York, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Deertongue](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/deertongue) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Deertongue: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deertongue)