Plants of Texas Rangelands

Virtual Herbarium

Texas Grama , Bell Grama

Bouteloua rigidiseta

Poaceae

Description

Texas Grama forms small, distinct clumps which have just a few slender, weak stems. Stems are erect with smooth, dark nodes. Its leaves are very thin (2 mm), short (about 12 cm), and taper to a sharp point. They are crowded at the base and often wavy or curling at maturity. Leaves are also found going up the stem.  In the field, this grass catches your eye with its six to eight spikes attached to each stem and frequently all being on the same side. These deciduous spikes are short (about 8 mm), densely pubescent, and extend beyond the terminal cluster of spikelets. The clusters of three to five closely spaced spikelets have woolly bases and are bell shaped. Each spike holds three to five seeds.  Texas Grama is a perennial, warm-season, native grass reaching about 15 to 20 inches or 40 to 50 cm in height. It is one of the earliest warm-season grasses to flower. It provides poor grazing for livestock and wildlife as it produces little forage. 

Habitat

Grows on dry plains, rocky hills, grasslands, open woods, and roadsides in clayey or sandy soils. Increases on overgrazed rangeland. It is abundant on disturbed sites. 

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