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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Growth habit: A moderately coarse bunchgrass, 2
to 3 feet tall, with a rather open, somewhat spreading growth habit.
Occurrence Widespread in the upper desert grassland and oak woodland
of Gila, Maricopa, Cochise, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties, and has been
found in Coconino and Yavapai counties. This grass was originally much
more abundant than it is today. Its reduction is probably the result
of years of heavy spring and summer grazing. Some of the best stands
in the state are at Fort Huachuca. Forage Value In spite of its coarseness, plains lovegrass is a good
forage species. Prior to 1910, when plains lovegrass was still abundant,
Professor Thornber wrote that it was eaten by livestock wherever they
could get at it, and that even on the steeper slopes it was the first
species to be grazed. He noted also that it was one of the earliest
grasses to start growth in the spring. Because of its palatability and early greening habit,
plains lovegrass is often overgrazed in early spring. Where possible,
it should be deferred during July and August at least every third year.
Because of its importance as an early spring forage plant, ranges where
this grass still remains should be managed to maintain or increase it.
In fact, plains lovegrass is often the key management species where
it occurs.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona