Plant species of Tumamoc Hill

Names

Scientific Name: Bouteloua curtipendula

Synonym:

Common Names: Sideoats grama

Characteristics

Duration: Perennial

Growth Habit: Grass/grass-like

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Prairies, open brush, rocky slopes, forest openings

Flower Color: Small blooms are red, orange, yellow

Flowering Season: Summer through fall

Height: This is a clumping, sod-forming grass with oat-like spikelets that dangle from one side of the stem. Spikelets are reddish purple, becoming tan in the fall. The basal leaves of the plant may turn red or purple in the fall.

Description: Each flower head.

Special Characteristics

Sideoats grama is one of North America’s most important forage grasses for wildlife, providing forage for animals and food for birds as well. This grass also provides cover and nest material for birds. It is a larval host for green skipper and dotted skipper butterflies. Sideoats grama provides good erosion control. It is moderately shade tolerant.

Classification

Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae

SOURCES:

University of Texas at Austin, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Website
wildflower.org

Chadwick, Amy C. 2003. Bouteloua curtipendula. In: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).

Kearney, T. H. and R. H. Peebles. 1960. Arizona Flora. Los Angeles: University of California Press.

Bouteloua curtipendula – Sideoats grama

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[Return to Tumamoc's species list.] Bouteloua curtipendula – Sideoats grama
	Names Scientific Name: Bouteloua curtipendula Synonym: Common Names: Sideoats grama Characteristics Duration: Perennial Growth Habit: Grass/grass-like Arizona Native Status: Native Habitat: Prairies, open brush, rocky slopes, forest openings Flower Color: Small blooms are red, orange, yellow Flowering Season: Summer through fall Height: This is a clumping, sod-forming grass with oat-like spikelets that dangle from one side of the stem. Spikelets are reddish purple, becoming tan in the fall. The basal leaves of the plant may turn red or purple in the fall. Description: Each flower head. Special Characteristics Sideoats grama is one of North America’s most important forage grasses for wildlife, providing forage for animals and food for birds as well. This grass also provides cover and nest material for birds. It is a larval host for green skipper and dotted skipper butterflies. Sideoats grama provides good erosion control. It is moderately shade tolerant. Classification Order: Poales Family: Poaceae SOURCES: University of Texas at Austin, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Website wildflower.org Chadwick, Amy C. 2003. Bouteloua curtipendula. In: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Kearney, T. H. and R. H. Peebles. 1960. Arizona Flora. Los Angeles: University of California Press.