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Anderson, Wynn

Sporobolus flexuosus

Sporobolus flexuosus (Thurb. ex Vasey) Rydb.

Mesa Dropseed

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SPFL2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Mesa dropseed is a 1-4 ft. perennial bunchgrass, usually in rather small clumps. The large, loosely-flowered, airy, elongate seedheads have slender branches and branchlets which spread and droop.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Panicle
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 4 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , KS , NM , NV , TX , UT
Native Distribution: S. UT to s.e. CA, s. to extreme w. TX, AZ & adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Mesas; 2500 to 5500 ft.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Dry to moist, sandy or gravelly soils.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC		FACU			FAC				UPL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Sporobolus flexuosus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Sporobolus flexuosus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Sporobolus flexuosus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-26
Research By: TWC Staff

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