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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Description Growth habit: Perennial bunchgrass 1 to 3 feet
tall.
Occurrence The distributions of these three grasses overlap to cover
most of the state between elevations of 2,500 and 7,000 feet. These
grasses are usually more abundant on dry rocky hills than on fertile
areas with deep soil. Forage Value Poverty threeawn is generally classed as fair to poor forage. It greens up after the spring rains more rapidly than most grasses and is used most heavily at this time. It is grazed rather lightly after other, more palatable grasses begin to grow.
Ranges with an abundance of poverty threeawn may provide more spring grazing than ranges where this grass is not abundant. Where this grass occurs in mixed stands, proper use should be based on the amount of grazing that more productive associated grasses will stand. Where poverty threeawn is to be maintained, about one third of the seed stalks should remain ungrazed. * Several grasses are closely related to poverty threeawn
and for grazing purposes can be considered to be identical. Two that
are common are Arizona threeawn (Aristida terniper var. gentilis) and
spidergrass (Aristida ternipes). These may be distinguished from poverty
threeawn by the following characteristics: (1) A. ternipes has a single
awn. (2) A. divaricata has three awns at the end of a twisted awn column.
(3) A. ternipes var. gentilis has three awns at the end of a straight
awn column. Back to the Table of Contents The University of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative
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by the University of Arizona. |
Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona