Hairy grama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hairy grama |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Bouteloua
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| Species: |
hirsuta
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Bouteloua hirsuta, also known as hairy grama, is a type of short grass that grows back every year. It is a native plant found across much of North America, including the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies. You can also find it growing in Mexico and Guatemala.
About Hairy Grama Grass
Hairy grama is a "warm-season" grass. This means it grows best during the warmer months of summer. It can reach a height of about 10 to 20 inches (0.2 to 0.5 meters). This tough grass likes to grow in many different places. You can find it on high, flat areas called plateaus, on rocky hillsides, and in sandy, flat lands.
What Hairy Grama Looks Like
The leaves of hairy grama are usually flat or slightly curled. They are narrow and mostly grow from the base of the plant. A cool thing about its leaves is that they have tiny hairs along their edges! The part of the leaf that wraps around the stem, called the leaf sheath, is smooth and rounded.
When the plant is ready to make seeds, it grows a special part called a seedhead. This seedhead has one to four spikes. Before the seeds are fully grown, these spikes often have a pretty purplish color. Each spike is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The main stem of the seedhead, called the rachis, sticks out past the little seed parts. Farmers often use hairy grama for grazing animals because it's a good food source.
Where Hairy Grama Grows
Hairy grama grass prefers to grow in dry, sandy areas. It especially likes rocky slopes. You can find it growing at elevations between 4,000 and 6,500 feet (1,219 to 1,981 meters) above sea level.
