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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Growth habit: A perennial bunchgrass, 1 to 4 feet
tall with rather hard round stems.
Occurrence All the counties of the state except Apache. It is most
abundant in the southern part of the state, largely between elevations
of 1,000 to 6,000 feet. Although one of our most common desert grasses,
it seldom forms pure stands but is found interspersed with other grasses,
burroweed and mesquite. Forage Value Arizona cottontop responds quickly to spring and summer rains, makes rapid growth, and provides highly palatable green forage. Its palatability decreases as maturity is reached. The foliage cures well and some stems remain green in winter. These characteristics make it an important winter forage for livestock and wildlife. Because cottontop is palatable throughout the year, it
is frequently overgrazed. This grass comes back rapidly if it is not
grazed during the summer. During the rest of the year it stands up well
to grazing and its succulent stems provide good forage.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona