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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Growth habit: A low, densely tufted perennial bunchgrass
3 to 6 inches tall, often with runners and sometimes forming an open
sod.
Occurrence Throughout the state up to an elevation of about 5,500
feet. It rarely grows in abundance on productive sites and is a reliable
indicator of areas of low potential productivity. Forage Value Fluffgrass is one of the poorest forage grasses on Arizona
ranges. When young and actively growing the plants are covered with
a bluish-white down that may be objectionable to grazing animals. Later,
when the plants mature, the leaves become harsh, wiry and sharp pointed.
Because of these features and low productivity fluffgrass is not considered
a major forage species. Even moderate use of this low value plant is an indication that stocking levels are too high or grazing periods too long in relation to grazing capacities. In this case a reduction in numbers or time of grazing is required, both from the point of view of the immediate welfare of the cattle and the long-time condition of the range.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona