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Sideoats grama facts for kids

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Sideoats grama
Bouteloua curtipendula.jpg
Scientific classification
Genus:
Bouteloua
Species:
curtipendula
Synonyms

Bouteloua curtipendula, commonly known as sideoats grama, is a perennial, short prairie grass that is native throughout the temperate and tropical Western Hemisphere, from Canada south to Argentina.

The species epithet comes from Latin curtus "shortened" and pendulus "hanging".

Description

Bouteloua curtipendula closeup of spikes in bloom
The pendulous spikes in bloom. The spike in the center has three spikelets visible, and the lowest spikelet is blooming, with orange stamens hanging below and feathery stigmas protruding horizontally.

Sideoats grama is a warm-season grass. The culms (flowering stems) are 30–100 cm (12–39 in) tall, and have alternate leaves that are concentrated at the bottom of the culm. The leaves are light green to blue-green in color, and up to 6 mm (14 in) across.

Bouteloua curtipendula zoom
Alternately arranged spikes in a raceme

The flowers bloom in summer and autumn. They consist of compact spikes that hang alternately in a raceme along the top 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 in) of the culm. The spikes often fall to one side of the stem, which gives the plant its name. There are 10–50 spikes per culm, and in each spike there are three to six spikelets, or rarely as many as 10. Each spikelet is 4.5 to 10 mm (316 to 1332 in) long and consists of two glumes and two florets. One of the florets is fertile, and has colorful orange to brownish red anthers and feathery white stigmas during the blooming period, which contrasts with the pale green, pale red, greenish-red, or purple color of the spikes themselves.

After blooming, the spikes become straw-colored. The fertile florets produce seeds, and when they are ripe, the spikes fall to the ground.

Distribution and habitat

Sideoats grama grows well on mountainous plateaus, rocky slopes, and sandy plains. It is drought- and cold-tolerant and is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4–9 (average annual minimums of −30 to 25 °F, −34 to −4 °C).

Ecology

It provides larval food for the veined ctenucha (Ctenucha venosa).

Conservation

It is currently listed as a threatened species in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is considered as an endangered species in Connecticut.

Uses

Sideoats grama is considered a good foraging grass for livestock. It is planted for erosion control.

Cultivation

It is cultivated as an ornamental plant for native plant and drought-tolerant gardens.

Culture

Sideoats grama is the state grass of Texas.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bouteloua curtipendula para niños

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