Santa Rita grama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa Rita grama |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Bouteloua
|
| Species: |
eludens
|
Bouteloua eludens, also known as Santa Rita grama, is a special type of grass. It grows naturally in southern Arizona in the United States and northern Sonora in Mexico. It belongs to a group of grasses known as the grama family.
What Does Santa Rita Grama Look Like?
Santa Rita grama is a perennial grass, which means it lives for more than two years. It can grow from about 25 cm (9.8 in) (10 inches) to 70 cm (28 in) (28 inches) tall.
Its grass blades are flat and firm. They are light green and have a special powdery, bluish-white coating called a glaucous coating. Each blade is about 1 mm (0.039 in) to 2.5 mm (0.098 in) wide. The base of the plant spreads underground like a rhizome, helping it grow new shoots.
The plant also produces flower clusters, called inflorescences. These are found in groups of 8 to 18 on each plant.
Where Does This Grass Grow?
Santa Rita grama likes to grow at higher elevations. You can find it between 4,000 ft (1,200 m) (1,200 meters) and 5,000 ft (1,500 m) (1,500 meters) above sea level.
It prefers dry, rocky slopes or open desert grasslands. This grass is found in the Santa Rita Mountains in Arizona, which is where it gets its name. It also grows in the Santa Catalina Mountains, near Nogales, and in parts of Sonora, Mexico. It is a fairly rare type of grass in these areas.
