Species Detail Grasses

Herbarium specimen - Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium, Usage Rights: Public Domain (CC0 1.0)		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Helictotrichon sempervirens - blue avena Other Common Names: blue oatgrass Plant Form: Grass Family: Poaceae


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	Grass Description - Glossary of Grass Terminology Origin: Introduced Season: Warm Habitat Description: Frequently grown as an ornamental species. Performs best in soils with good drainage and may rot in heavy soils, especially if over irrigated. The blue color seems best in dryer soils when plant is in full sun or bright shade. Plant Communities:Disturbed Areas Elevation: Below 9000 feet General Description Desc: Grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide in clumps of silver-blue blades. Plants cultivated as ornamentals. Identification Notes: Bunchgrass, 2 to 3 feet tall; ligule up to 1/16 inch long, truncate and hairy; sheath nearly open to the base; blades rolled, veins ribbed; basal blades deciduous when dead; seedheads branching 3 to 8 inches long; most branches have 3 to 10 spikelets. Grass Type: Perennial bunchgrass Rhizomes: N Stolons: N Large Dense Clump (> 2 feet): Y Bushy (highly branched): N Height with Seedheads: 24 to 36 inches Seedhead Structure: Branched - open and spreading Seedhead Droops: N Flowering Period: Jun - Aug Flower Characteristics Number of Flowers per Spikelet: Multi-flowered Spikelets One-sided: Y Awns: Less than 1/4 inch Three Awns: N Awns Bent: N Flower and Seedhead Notes: Seedhead branches ascend, branches have 3 to 10 spikelets; spikelets with 3 to 5 florets, lower florets awned; glumes subequal to unequal. One-sided seed heads in June begin white then turn golden. Vegetative Charcteristics Blade Hairy: N Blade with White Margins: N Blade Cross section: Convolute Blade Notes: Blades up to 2 feet long, 1/8 inch wide, usually rolled, rough to the touch, basal blades deciduous when dead. Sheath Hairy: N Tuft of Hairs at top of Sheath or Collar: Y Ligules: Membranous and hairy Auricles (Ear-like lobes at collar area: N Forage Value: Not available.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailGrass.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer