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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Growth habit: A perennial bunchgrass that may have
short underground stems or rootstocks. Individual bunches are often
rather open and may be as much as one to two feet in diameter. Flowering
stalks are usually no more than one foot tall but may grow to a height
of two feet.
Occurrence Spike muhly occurs at moderately high to high altitudes
in Arizona, commonly between elevations of 5,500 to 9,000 feet. It grows
most abundantly in meadows or parklike openings of forested areas in
Apache, Navajo, Coconino, Yavapai, Gila and Pima counties. Forage Value This is one of the most palatable grasses in that portion
of Arizona where it occurs. It is grazed readily by all classes of domestic
livestock and withstands moderate grazing well.
On good- to excellent-condition ranges with an abundance of spike muhly the principal management practice needed is to see that the plants are not heavily grazed. They will stand moderate use indefinitely, particularly if seed is allowed to mature before grazing begins. On deteriorated ranges deferment through the summer growing season every 2nd to 5th year will be required to build the range back to top production.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona