Poaceae
Grass Family
Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torrey
- Stem: perennial; tufted; flowering stalk 2’ to 3’ tall, lightly hairy.
- Leaves: sheath smooth but with stiff, marginal hairs; ligule 1/32” long, fringed; blade with auricles at the base, stiff marginal hairs near the base or sometimes only marginal bumps; 6” to 8” long, tapered to sharp tip.
- Inflorescence: many short spikes attached on one side of the zig-zag flower stalk; each spike 1/4” to 3/8” long; inflorescence 4” to 8” long.
- Spikelets: 3/16” long, glumes as long as the lemmas, one fertile floret per spikelet, with red anthers; flowering from mid-June to early July.
- Fruits: spikes drop as a unit; fruiting begins in early July; fruits begin dropping in mid-August.
- Habitat: common on dry prairies and Loess Hills prairies.
- Bibliography from Biodiversity Heritage Library
- Vascular Plants of Iowa
Can be found in these counties:
