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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GREEN SPRANGLETOP
Leptochloa dubia (H.B.K.) Nees

Description

Growth habit: A coarse, erect, few-stemmed perennial bunchgrass, usually 2 to 3 feet tall.
Color: Bluish-green to rather dark green; the portion of the leaf blade that encircles the stem often tinged with purple.
Leaves: Usually 1/8 , to slightly less than 1/4 inch wide, either flat or folded at the midrib but not inrolled at the edges.
Inflorescence: A single central stem with from two or three to as many as fifteen slender, flexible drooping branches. These branches are usually from 1 1/2 to 5 inches long and are well separated on the end 4 to 8 inches of the stem.
Season: Warm Season
Origin: Native

Figure 44.—Green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia), plant and spikelet. View Larger Image Click Here

Occurrence

From Greenlee to Yavapai county and south into Mexico; has not been reported north of the Mogollon Rim or from Mohave or Yuma counties. Generally grows at elevations from 2,500 to 6,000 feet on open upland sites.

Forage Value

Because of its coarseness, green sprangletop is only moderately palatable. It generally grows somewhat sparingly interspersed with other grasses and is not a particularly valuable forage species.

Grazing Management

Because green sprangletop is not an important source of feed on most areas, ranges supporting this grass should usually be managed primarily to maintain or improve the associated forage species.

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