Sprucetop grama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sprucetop grama |
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| A drawing of the grass, showing seed head and inflorescence | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Bouteloua
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| Species: |
chondrosioides
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Bouteloua chondrosioides, also known as sprucetop grama, is a type of perennial bunchgrass. This means it's a grass that lives for more than two years and grows in clumps. You can find it naturally in southern Arizona and northern Mexico.
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What is Sprucetop Grama Like?
Sprucetop grama is a small grass that can handle dry weather very well. It usually grows about 1 foot (0.3 meters) tall in the wild. If it has perfect growing conditions, it can reach up to 3 feet (0.9 meters) tall. It can even spread out like a lawn!
Flowers and Seeds
This grass produces flowers that look like spikes. They are easy to spot because of their bright orange anthers. Anthers are the parts of the flower that hold pollen. These flowers usually appear in July and August.
Seeds are ready and spread from September to October. Sprucetop grama can also grow from its roots. This means new plants can sprout from the underground parts of an existing plant.
The flowers grow on special stems called racemes. Each raceme has 3 to 7 smaller spikes. Each spike holds between 7 and 13 perfect spikelets. A perfect spikelet means it has both male and female parts.
Leaves and Roots
Most of the leaves grow from the bottom of the plant. They have short coverings called sheathes. The leaves are also slightly grooved. The roots of sprucetop grama are strong and stringy. However, they do not have one main, deep root like some other plants.
Where Does Sprucetop Grama Grow?
You will mostly find sprucetop grama in northern Mexico. It also grows in the desert hills of southern Arizona. Studies show that this grass prefers gentle slopes. It likes clay soils that are a bit acidic.
Sprucetop grama often grows with other grasses that can handle dry conditions. These include Bouteloua hirsuta and Hilaria belangeri. This grass is an important forage crop. This means it is a good food source for grazing animals like cattle.
