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Strickland, Sam C.

Bouteloua rigidiseta

Bouteloua rigidiseta (Steud.) Hitchc.

Texas Grama

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: bori

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Tufted, slender, weak culms. Culms: numerous, 15-40 cm tall, densely clustered in small clumps. Blades: Narrow, flat, 4-12 cm long x 1-2 mm broad. Inflorescence: Wedge-shaped spikelets .8-1.6 mm long with 3-5 spreading spikelets.

From the Image Gallery

9 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 Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Panicle
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 16 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AR , MA , OK , TX
Native Distribution: Texas: Rio Grande Plains, Edwards Plateau, east Plains Country, south and western parts of east Texas and north-central Texas. General: Oklahoma south to northern Mexico.
Native Habitat: Hillsides, Slopes, Woodlands' edge, Openings, Prairies, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas, Roadsides

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Bunching, warm weather grass with a weak root system. Has spreading bell-shaped seeds that are purplish on the outside, drying to wheat color. Seeds are distributed along a spike above the leaves. Supplemental water is not required but will help to maintain the grass green through the summer. Texas Gamma has poor ecomonic value for wildlike and livestock.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Attractive, seed heads ornamental
Use Wildlife: Seeds - granivorous birds. Plants - poor grazing for livestock and wildlife.
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Branded skippers, Satyrs
Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Seed Treatment: No special pre-treatment.

Find Seed or Plants

Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

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

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Patsy Glenn Refuge, c/o Wimberley Birding Society - Wimberley, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Jacob's Well Natural Area - Wimberley, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0931 Collected Oct 2, 1994 in Comal County by Mary Beth White

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-2 Collected 2006-05-08 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1992 VOL. 9, NO.1 - Research Update, Creating Native Lawn with Sod, Director's Report, What Makes Pl...

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-10-03
Research By: DEW, JSC

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