Arizona Range Grasses
Their Description, Forage Value, and Grazing Management
Cooperative Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona

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BURROGRASS
Scleropogon brevifolius Phil.

Description

Growth habit: A creeping sodgrass with long, wiry, prostrate stems from which the erect or leaning leafy flower stalks arise. The creeping stems form an open so-called “sod” that bears little resemblance to the true sod of a lawn. The creeping stems tend to root at the joints when these come in contact with moist soil.
Color: Light green; the numerous female seedheads give the plants a silvery color at maturity.
Leaves: Mostly coming from the bases of the flower stalks and from the joints of the creeping stems; short and rather hard, either flat or folded, from 1/16 to 1/8, inch wide.
Inflorescence: Very conspicuous because of their numerous, long, silvery, threadlike, somewhat twisted awns. After maturity these awns, which are usually 2 to 4 inches long, are the most noticeable thing about the plant. They do not form a compact inflorescence as so many grasses do, but rather a slender, few-seeded stalk to which the awns seem to be attached.
Season: Warm Season
Origin: Native

Figure 64.—Burrograss (Scleropogon brevifolius), female plant and detached male inflorescence. View Larger Image Click Here

Occurrence

Rather widespread, occurring at 5,500 feet or lower in open valleys and mesas in Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Mohave, Yavapai, Graham, Cochise and Pima counties. This grass is often present on disturbed areas.

Forage Value

Burrograss has little forage value. It has little palatability for grazing animals, in part because of the long wiry awns on the seeds and in part because of the harsh, stiff leaves.

Grazing Management

Most ranges where this grass is abundant have deteriorated markedly. Its presence, therefore, generally indicates that changes in management are needed. When burrograss is widely distributed over a range, overall livestock numbers should be reduced and a rigid system of deferment and rotation should be set up and followed. When infestation is only local in swales or other restricted areas, the problem may be one of animal distribution.

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Document located http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/natresources/az1272/
published 2002
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