Their vegetation includes bluegrass, bromegrass, Russian thistle, alfalfa, and seedlings of eastern cottonwood and willow. Plants found include Russian thistle, snakeweed, and needle-and-thread grass. In South Dakota, she found several farm wives serving Russian thistle soup to their children. They've even harvested Russian thistle to feed to their horses and cattle. "Kali tragus" is the so-called "Russian thistle". Russian thistle ("Salsola kali") is an important forb diet item. During winter, plains prickly pear ("Opuntia polyacantha"), Russian thistle, and underground roots are preferred. Russian thistle, also known as tumbleweed, is the primary plant species along with some grasses.