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 Plant - cultivated Pioneer ParkSue Smith |  Plant - summer Pioneer ParkSue Smith |  Spikelet Pioneer ParkSue Smith |  Seedheads Mahan ParkJohn Kava |  Spikes w/o seeds Pioneer ParkSue Smith | |
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Origin: Native Season: Warm
Habitat Description: Open rocky slopes, plains, forest openings, and mountain meadows.
Plant Communities:Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Montane Conifer Forest
Elevation: 4000 - 8000 feet
Similar Species: Bouteloua hirsuta
Desc:
Densely tufted bunchgrass, semi-sod or ring forming, sometimes has rhizomes. Leaves mostly basal and short. Seedheads erect ending in 1 to 3 comb-like branches of spikelets. Older clumps may die in center leaving a ring of active growth.
Identification Notes: Tufted perennial, stems mostly erect. Leaves basal, mostly flat, curled when dry. Seedheads typically 2 branches of 80 one-sided spikelets of 1 bisexual with a hairy lemma and 1 rudimentary, branch tip not exceeding the spikelets. Glumes do not fall.
Grass Type: Perennial bunchgrass Rhizomes: Y Stolons: N
Large Dense Clump (> 2 feet): N Bushy (highly branched): N
Height with Seedheads: 12 to 24 inches
Seedhead Structure: Branched - comblike branches Seedhead Droops: N
Flowering Period: Jul - Oct
Number of Flowers per Spikelet: Multi-flowered Spikelets One-sided: Y
Awns: Less than 1/4 inch Three Awns: Y Awns Bent: N
Flower and Seedhead Notes: Seedheads typically bear 2 branches of spikelets, sometimes 3 or 4. Spikelets have 1 sterile floret and 1 fertile floret, with tufts of hair at the base of fertile floret. Central and lateral awns <1/4 inch, glumes hairy on midvein, do not fall with seed.
Blade Hairy:
Y
Blade with White Margins:
N
Blade Cross section:
Flat or involute
Blade Notes:
Blades 2 to 10 inches long, 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide, flat to involute and curled at maturity, hairs usually present basally.
Sheath Hairy:
Y
Tuft of Hairs at top of Sheath or Collar:
Y
Ligules:
Hairy
Auricles (Ear-like lobes at collar area:
N
Forage Value:
Good forage value for livestock and wildlife, retains its palatability when mature or during dry periods.
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