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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Growth habit: Short-lived annual bunchgrass, 3
to 15 inches tall. Stems spread out almost parallel with the ground
from the central axis of the plant before they rise to an upright position.
This grass is often confused with Rothrock grama.
Occurrence Almost statewide below 6,000 feet. This grama grows most
commonly on open, rocky, or sandy slopes and washes, and on bare soil
areas or where other vegetation is sparse. Forage Value The forage value of sixweeks grama is low. The plants are small and produce little forage. They are short-lived, producing green herbage for a short period of time, and almost worthless as forage after maturity. The plants have a weak root system and pull up easily when grazed, a feature that makes them objectionable to grazing animals.
Ranges supporting an abundance of summer annuals and few perennial grasses reach a productivity peak within a few weeks after the first summer rains. They remain productive for usually about one month, and then rapidly deteriorate.
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Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona