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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Description Growth habit: A slender-stemmed perennial bunchgrass,
4 to 18 inches tall. Plants are usually rather stemmy with few broad
leaves. Individual stems tend to bend at the joints. Occurrence Common throughout most of the state below 6,000 feet, but particularly abundant in desert and semidesert areas in the upper southern desert shrub and desert grassland areas. This grass is known to occur in all counties of the state except Apache and Yuma.
Forage Value Moderately palatable, more so during the summer rainy
season than in the spring. The plants are most palatable before the
numerous hairy seed heads develop. The stems often remain alive as late
as November, which makes this grass valuable for late fall grazing. Grazing Management This grass seems to be rather short-lived for a perennial. However, it is a prolific seeder and reestablishes rapidly and abundantly during seasons of good rainfall. When intermixed with other grasses these are usually more palatable than pappusgrass. As a result this grass is grazed rather lightly until late in the season, when it is partially cured and can withstand heavier use. Like all grasses, however, it can be killed out by continued overuse.
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Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona