Another way plants reproduce is by underground stems called rhizomes such as sideoats grama, switchgrass, and ragweed. Grasses like buffalograss and bermudagrass spread by runners above ground called stolons. New colonies develop from these. Plants help us by producing food and oxygen and storing carbon while protecting the land from erosion. They also provide shade, habitat for a variety of animals, hold water, and cycle nutrients and organic matter.
Grazing is helpful to most plants of the plains, especially grasses.
As long as no more than half the growing leaf is removed, the grasses are not harmed. Removing leaf material allows more sunlight to strike new leaves allowing plants to spread and grow vigorously. Grazing animals have bacteria in their stomach that helps them digest the fibrous plants. Humans do not have this type of bacteria so they must rely on the animals to convert these plants into food and fiber usable by humans. Grazing animals greatly influence rangeland by grazing.