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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Growth habit: A small perennial bunchgrass, 1 to
1 1/2 feet tall. Similar in vegetative appearance
to blue grama or hairy grama with which it is often associated.
Occurrence In all counties except Maricopa, La Paz, and Yuma, at
elevations of 4,000 to 7,000 feet. It is found occasionally as pure
stands, but usually grows interspersed with other grasses. It is most
abundant on rocky, open slopes in the upper desert grasslands, chaparral,
and oak woodland. Forage Value Wolftail provides good forage for all classes of livestock.
Although slightly less palatable than blue grama it is better than most
of the coarser range grasses. Growth occurs largely in summer after
the rains begin, but the plants do green up early in the spring.
Because wolftail greens up early, ranges where this grass is abundant can be used to advantage in the spring. The summer growth on this and associated grasses also makes it well-suited to summer grazing. When grazed during both spring and summer, use should be light enough to assure setting of a good crop of seed and pastures should be deferred from grazing until after seed production at least every third year.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona