AM Small Differences in Sporobolus heterolepis
What? This is a row of Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed)
Where? In a Northrop Auditorium plaza garden
So? The plants in this row show a variability in maximum height. The plants ranged anywhere from a little less than one meter to perhaps 1.25 meters. All of the plants are exposed to a similar environment, so whatever effect the environment is having on height of tallest culm in one plant is probably an equal effect on the other culms. This variable, small difference in phenotype shows there are differences in the genotype of the individual plants.