Selected North Dakota and Minnesota Range Plants (continued)EB-69, 1998 Common Name: Hairy grama Species: Bouteloua hirsuta Lag. Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Chlorideae
Description: A tufted, perennial bunchgrass, 1-4 dm tall. Culms solid, erect to somewhat bent sharply near base. Leaf blades C-shaped in cross-section when in the bud, flat at maturity with a thickened margin, bristle-like hairs scattered on lower margins to both surfaces, otherwise smooth to rough texture, 1-13 cm long, 1-2.5 mm wide. Leaf sheaths are smooth to finely pubescent with soft hairs near the ligule; ligule is a short fringe of hairs 0.2-0.5 mm long. Inflorescence with 1 or 2 relatively straight branches with each branch persistent, 15-25 mm long, bearing numerous spikelets with the rachis pointed and prolonged beyond the last spikelet. Glumes awn-tipped, unequal, surrounded with bristle-like hairs on the midnerve. Lemmas are 0.5-4.5 mm long and awned. Anthers 1-2.8 mm long. Origin: Native Growing Season: A warm season grass beginning growth in early May, flowering July through October. Habitat: Found on rangeland, prairies, shallow uplands, and rocky ridges. Most commonly found on dry, loose sands. Distribution: This grass occurs in the Great Plains region and in southwestern United States. Hairy grama is not common in North Dakota and found primarily in the very southern regions of the state and in the southwestern two-third of Minnesota. Forage Value: This plant provides fair forage value to most classes of livestock and is most palatable later into the growing season as it cures well as standing dry forage. Since this species is not common and only scattered plants will exist when present, it provides minimal forage value. This plant is classified as an increaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: This plant provides little to no feed value to wildlife in North Dakota, but it does provide an important forage grass and seed source for small mammals, antelope, and songbirds in the southwestern regions of the United States. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Buffalo grass Species: Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm. Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Chlorideae
Description: A strongly stoloniferous, dioecious, mat-forming perennial, 0.3-2 dm tall, staminate plants averaging slightly taller than the pistillate plants. Culms solid. Leaf blades flat, rolled in the bud, smooth to sparsely hairy, 1-10 cm long, 0.8-2 dm wide; sheaths open, often smooth except in the collar. Ligule a short fringe of hairs less than 1 mm long, often flanked by long hairs; auricles lacking. Staminate inflorescences on slender culms, each consisting of 2 or 3 unilateral spicate branches, each branch 7-11 mm long, bearing spikelets in 2 rows; spikelets 2-flowered; glumes unequal, 1- to 2-nerved, 1.4-4.5 mm long; lower lemma 3.5-5 mm long, 3-nerved; palea subequal to the lemma, 2-nerved; anthers 2.2-3.3 mm long. Pistillate spikelets borne in 2 or 3 burlike clusters closely subtended by more or less modified foliage leaves, usually 2-4 spikelets per bur, bur falling off plant as a unit; pistillate spikelets usually 1-flowered; first glume small, membranaceous, 0.5-4.5 mm long; second glume hard at base, united with the hard axis of the bur, enveloping the lemma and terminating in 3 awnlike points; lemma also 3-nerved and with 3 short awns, 3.5-6 mm long. Origin: Native Growing Season: A warm season grass which begins growth in early May and flowers from early June through September. Habitat: This species is commonly found on medium to fine textured soils associated with the clayey and claypan range sites. It is drought-tolerant and becomes abundant on heavily grazed pastures composed of fine textured soils. Commonly found in a short grass prairie association with blue grama. Distribution: Buffalo grass only occurs in the Great Plains region of the central United States and Mexico. It can be found throughout North Dakota but rarely found in the eastern half, becoming more prevalent going west across the state. This plant is found on clayey soils in five southwestern counties in Minnesota. Considered common in the western quarter of North Dakota on clayey soils. Forage Value: This species is very palatable and has good grazing value for all classes of livestock. It cures well, providing good fall and winter range. It is a short grass that is not a high production grass, often displacing many of the mid and tall grass species under heavy grazing pressure. Considered a desirable grass due to calves coming off pasture with firm body tissue because the grass cures well. This species is considered an increaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: This grass species provides fair to good grazing value for antelope and white-tailed deer. The seeds have some feed value to bird species, especially the McCown longspur. Snow geese have been known to graze the young plants of buffalograss. Other: Buffalo grass has received much attention as a low-growing grass for lawns, picnic areas, golf courses, and airport runways because of the low maintanance required to achieve a short, healthy sod-forming grass. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Japanese brome, Japanese chess, Wintergrass Species: Bromus japonicus Thunb. ex Murr. Synonym: Bromus patulus Mert. & Koch Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Poeae
Description: Annual grass 2-6 dm tall. Leaf blades are flat, usually covered with soft, distinct, thin hairs, 2-20 cm long, 1-4.5 mm wide; sheaths covered with dense, long, soft hairs; ligules 0.5-2 mm long; auricles absent. Inflorescence an open panicle 6-17 cm long with spreading, often flexuous branches. Spikelets 6- to 10-flowered, 15-22 mm long, 4-7 mm wide; first glume usually 3- to 5-nerved, 3.5-6 mm long; second glume 5- to 9-nerved, 5-8.5 mm long; lemmas broader at upper-half, tapering to bottom, their margins not strongly inrolled in fruit, the lowest lemma 7-9 mm long, its awn 1.5-7 mm long, the longest awns of the spikelet up to 13 mm long; awns are very widely spreading at maturity; paleas 1-3 mm shorter than the lemmas. Anthers 0.7-1.5 mm long. Origin: Introduced from Old World, considered naturalized throughout the United States. Growing Season: A cool season grass that is classified as a winter annual; it germinates in autumn and the young plant overwinters with basal leaves. It starts growing in early to mid April, maturing by June or July. Habitat: Japanese brome is most commonly found on dry to moist soils and frequently found in waste areas, disturbed sites, roadsides, and dry and depleted rangelands. Often associated with cheatgrass. Distribution: This species can be found through-out much of the United States except for a few states in the southeast. It is commonly found throughout North Dakota and southern two-thirds of Minnesota. Forage Value: This species provides fair to good forage for most classes of livestock in the fall when it first emerges and again in early spring prior to emergence of inflorescence. It is practically worthless once maturation begins and its appearance is yellowish to reddish in color. Wildlife Value: This species will provide fair to good grazable forage for white-tailed deer, mule deer, and antelope in the fall and spring while green and actively growing. The seeds are relatively large and eaten by a number of songbirds and rodents. Partridge and ring-necked pheasant are known to utilize the seeds to some extent. Canada geese utilize the young plants in the fall. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Downy brome, Downy chess, Cheatgrass Species: Bromus tectorum L. Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Poeae
Description: Annual grass 2-6 dm tall, usually pubescent or with soft, distinct hairs throughout, except less so on culms and upper sheaths. Leaf blades are flat, usually covered with soft, distinct, thin hairs, 1-10 cm long, 1-5 mm wide; ligules 0.9-3.5 mm long; auricles lacking. Panicle 4-18 cm long, often nodding. Spikelets 4- to 7-flowered, 11-20 mm long, 3-6 mm wide; first glume usually 1-nerved, 4.5-7.5 mm long; second glume 3-nerved, 8-10.5 mm long; lowest lemma 8.5-12 mm long, its awn 7-13 mm long, the longest awns of the spikelet up to 7-17 mm long. Anthers 0.4-0.8 mm long, usually retained. Origin: Introduced from Europe, considered naturalized through the United States. Growing Season: A cool season grass that is classified as a winter annual, germinates in autumn and the young plant overwinters with basal leaves. It starts growing rapidly in early to mid April and matures by June or July. Habitat: Downy brome has adapted to a variety of soil textures but is most commonly found on dry sites. It is most commonly found on deteriorated rangelands, roadsides, and waste areas. Distribution: This species occurs throughout most of the United States. It can be found throughout North Dakota, primarily in the western two-thirds of the state, and is often associated with Japanese brome Bromus japonicus. This plant is found in the southern two-thirds of Minnesota. Forage Value: This species provides fair to good forage for most classes of livestock in the fall when it first emerges and again in early spring prior to emergence of inflorescence. It is practically worthless once maturation begins and its appearance yellowish to reddish in color. Wildlife Value: This species will provide fair to good grazable forage for white-tailed deer, mule deer, and antelope in the fall and spring when green and actively growing. The seeds are relatively large and eaten by a number of songbirds and rodents. Partridge and ring-necked pheasant are known to utilize the seeds to some extent. Canada geese utilize the young plants in the fall. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Northern reedgrass Species: Calamagrostis stricta (Timm.) Koel.
Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Aveneae
Description: A rhizomatous perennial 5-10 dm tall. The culms are smooth to somewhat rough, erect. Leaf blades are rolled inward, rough to finely haired above and smooth to rough below, 4-36 cm long, 1-4.5 mm wide. Leaf sheaths are smooth; ligules 0.8-6 mm long on the culm leaves and sometimes torn or irregularly split. Panicles are contracted, spikelike or lobed, 5.5-16 cm long, 0.6-3 cm wide when pressed, individual branches mostly obscured by the crowded spikelets. Glumes are some-what rough to smooth, 1.8-4 mm long, second glume slightly shorter than first, lemmas smooth to slightly rough, 1.5-3.5 mm long with callus hairs 1.2-3.5 mm long, awns usually straight and weak, 1-3 mm long, arising from behind the tip. Anthers 1.2-2.6 mm long. Origin: Native Growing Season: A cool season grass that begins growth in late April and flowers in June until August or September. Habitat: This grass is common in low ground and wet places such as stream banks, marshes and meadows where a fairly deep organic layer occurs and the water table is close to the surface throughout much of the summer. Often grows intermixed with other moisture loving grasses and sedges. Distribution: Northern reedgrass is found throughout the Great Plains region except Oklahoma and Texas. This species is commonly found on wet or moist soils throughout North Dakota and in all but the southeastern counties of Minnesota. Forage Value: The leaf material of northern reedgrass is relatively palatable while stems are seldom grazed. This plant provides good grazing value for cattle and horses and fair for sheep. The leaves of the plant are normally grazed with stems standing upright. Crude protein is around 17-20 percent in the spring, dropping to 6-7 percent by August. This plant is considered a decreaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: Northern reedgrass can be a valuable feed source for muskrats and used minimally or to a larger extent, depending on availability of cattails, burreed, and bulrushes. White-tailed deer have used this grass as a small component of their diet in the spring and summer months. This grass can also provide habitat in a mixed grass/sedge setting for nesting ducks and shorebirds, small mammals, and escape habitat for white-tailed deer. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Plains reedgrass Species: Calamagrostis montanensis (Scribn.) Scribn. Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Aveneae
Description: A rhizomatous perennial 1-4.5 dm tall. Culms are erect, rough, ridges and furrows pronounced on the upper surface, 3-18 cm long, 1-3.5 mm wide; sheaths smooth; ligules mostly 2-4.5 mm long on the culm leaves. Inflorescence a spikelike panicle 3-10 cm long, 0.6-2.2 cm wide; glumes rough, 4-5.5 mm long; lemmas 2.5-4.2 mm long, the callus hairs 1.4-3.2 mm long, the awns stout and bent, 1.3-3 mm long, arising from behind the tip, protruding from between glumes at maturity. Anthers 1.4-2.5 mm long. Origin: Native Growing Season: A cool season grass beginning growth in mid April, flowering and setting seed from June through July. Habitat: This species is common on dry, open prairies, mostly in native range and associated with clay slopes. Distribution: Plains reedgrass occurs from Manitoba to Alberta and south to Minnesota, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. It is found primarily in the western third of North Dakota but can be found through the state except for the north central portion. This plant is occasionally found in the prairie region of western Minnesota. Forage Value: This plant provides good forage value prior to the boot stage; it is much less palatable thereafter. Crude protein content is about 12 percent in late spring, dropping to less than 9 percent by mid summer. This species is considered a decreaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: This species has been used to a small extent by white-tailed deer and big-horn sheep as forage. The seeds provide little use for songbirds, upland gamebirds, or small rodents. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Smooth brome Species: Bromus inermis Leyss. subsp. inermis Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Poeae
Description: Strongly rhizomatous perennial, 4-10 dm tall. Culms, including the nodes, smooth. Blades flat, glabrous, 9-12 cm long, 4.5-10 mm wide; sheaths glabrous; ligules 0.5-2 mm long; auricles absent or present but relatively small and inconspicuous. Panicles 12-20 cm long, only moderately open, the branches ascending, or open in shade forms, with some branches reflexed; spikelets 4 to 10-flowered, 18-40 mm long, 2.5-5 mm wide; first glume usually 1-nerved, 5-8 mm long; second glume usually 3-nerved, 6.5-10 mm long; lowest lemma 9-12 mm long; lemmas not awned, or a few with awns up to about 2 mm long. Anthers 3-6 mm long. Origin: Introduced grass from Europe, Siberia, and China that is classified as naturalized in the United States. Growing Season: A cool season grass that begins growing in mid April, maturing in June and July. Habitat: This species is widely planted for permanent cover, pastureland, and hayland. Smooth brome has escaped from many planned planted areas into a wide variety of prairie habitats. Most associated with wetter soils or water collecting areas. Found in the temperate zone and in areas receiving greater than 13-14 inches of annual rainfall. Distribution: This plant is naturalized from Newfoundland to British Columbia, south to New Jersey, west throughout the Great Plains states to Arizona and California. This grass is found throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. Forage Value: This species provides excellent forage for livestock, remaining palatable even after flowering. This grass is often used in grass alfalfa hay mixtures. Wildlife Value: The large-sized seed of this grass is eaten by several upland gamebirds including ruffed grouse, gray partridge, ring-necked pheasant, and wild turkey. Several species of sparrows and horned larks will also use the seeds. Geese will forage on young plant material, while rabbits, antelope, deer, elk, and moose will eat both young and mature plant material from this species. Small mammals such as chipmunks, pocket gophers, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and several species of mice will readily consume bromegrass seeds when available. Mature bromegrass stands provide cover suitable for nesting waterfowl, some upland birds, and deer, especially young fawns. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Red threeawn Species: Aristida purpurea var. robusta (Merrill) A. Holmgren Synonym: Aristida longiseta Steud. Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Aristideae
Description: A tufted, perennial bunchgrass, 2-7 dm tall. Culms are erect, hollow, smooth to the touch. Leaves distributed well up the stem, blades rolled to C-shaped in cross section in the bud, rolled inward to flat at maturity, straight to flexuous, usually rough above, sometimes slightly haired, 5-22 cm long, 0.6-2.5 mm wide. Leaf sheaths smooth to rough but often having long, soft hairs in tufts at the collar; ligules 0.1-0.4 mm long. Inflorescence strict to somewhat open, sometimes the axis even curved or branchlets curved or flexuous; first glume 7-14 mm long, second glume 12-25 mm long; lemma 10-15 mm long to the base of the awns; three awns present, nearly equal and 5-10 cm long. Anthers 0.8-3.1 mm long. Origin: Native Growing Season: A warm season grass beginning growth in early May, flowering in late July, and setting seed through September. Habitat: This species grows in soils of all textures but is most frequent on sandy soils and drier upland sites, commonly found on hillsides. It can be found on prairies, waste grounds, and often becomes abundant on abused pastures. Distribution: Red threeawn is found primarily in the western half of the United States, North Dakota south through central Texas and into Mexico. This species can be found throughout the Great Plains states. It is commonly found throughout North Dakota and in the prairie area of Minnesota. Forage Value: This species is considered a poor forage plant for all classes of livestock, rarely utilized and grazed only slightly in early spring or after other grasses are overused or displaced. Red threeawn is often associated with poor and fair range condition pastures and considered an increaser with grazing pressure. Mature awns can cause injury if grazed or eaten in contaminated hay. Wildlife Value: This species is considered of little value as a grazable forage to most wildlife species. The long-awned, sharp-pointed, hard seeds are used by only a few species of wildlife. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Wild oats Species: Avena fatua L. Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Aveneae
Description: Annual 6-8 dm tall. Culms are erect and hollow. Leaf blades rolled in the bud, flat at maturity, 10-25 cm long, 4.5-8 mm wide; sheaths open; ligules membranaceous, 1.5-5 mm long. Inflorescence an open panicle, 13-25 cm long, the spikelets hanging down; spikelets 2- to 3-flowered, jointing above the glumes; glumes longer than the florets, subequal, the first 7-nerved, 17-23 mm long, the second 9-nerved, 19-24 mm long. Lemmas minutely hairy, 14-21 mm long, awned from about 5-7 mm above the base with a bent awn 2.5-4 cm long with its twisted basal portion about 1 cm long; paleas 2-nerved, fringed with marginal hairs on the nerves, shorter than lemmas. Anthers 1.5-3 mm long. Origin: Introduced from Europe, considered a naturalized species. Growing Season: A cool season grass beginning growth in late April, flowering by June and setting seed in July and August. Habitat: This species is rarely found on native rangeland in North Dakota but can be found on reclaimed lands planted to permanent cover, in ravines and open slopes. It is most commonly found on cultivated fields and disturbed areas such as roadsides. Distribution: Wild oats occurs throughout the United States except for the southeastern and southcentral areas. It can be found throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. Forage Value: This species provides good to excellent grazing for all classes of livestock until plant sheds seeds and foliage dies off. Hay quality is good when cut before maturity. Wild oats make excellent grazable feed after small grain fields are harvested and wild oats germinate or regrow in late summer. Wild oats is classified as an invader on native range. Wildlife Value: The foliage of this species is used by deer to some extent, but the seeds provide the greatest benefit to wildlife as feed. The seeds of wild oats are utilized by over 65 different songbirds and almost 20 different small rodents and furbearing mammals. The seeds are also a valuable food source for ducks and geese including mallards, Canada geese, and Ross geese. Many upland gamebirds use the seeds including doves, sharp-tailed grouse, turkey, and ring-necked pheasant. Wild oat seeds can be a primary food source for partridge and prairie chickens when present. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: American sloughgrass Species: Beckmannia syzigachne (Steud.) Fern. Synonym: Beckmannia erucaeformis (L.) Host Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Chlorideae
Description: A robust, smooth, sometimes stolon-iferous annual growing from 5-9 dm tall. Culms are erect and hollow. Leaf blades are rolled in the bud, flat at maturity, 8-17 cm long, 2.5-8.5 mm wide; sheaths open, cross-divided; ligules membranaceous, tapering gradually to a point, usually 5-10 mm long; auricles none. Inflorescence a rather narrow condensed panicle 12-25 cm long, spikelets closely overlapping in 2 rows. Spikelets compressed, nearly circular, jointing below the glumes, 1-flowered; glumes subequal, 3-nerved, compressed, inflated, sharply-tipped, mostly 2-3 mm long; lemmas faintly 5-nerved, much longer than broad, not filling the glumes, 2.4-3.5 mm long. Anthers 0.5-1.1 mm long. Origin: Native Growing Season: A warm season grass beginning growth in early May and flowering from early July to August. Habitat: This species is commonly found in low ground such as sloughs, marshes, ditches, and edges of ponds and lakes. American sloughgrass prefers a clay soil with a shallow organic layer, occasionally found in standing water. Distribution: This grass occurs throughout the northern Great Plains region and United States except for the southeastern region of the country, southern Canada and Alaska. It can be found in most wet areas throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. Forage Value: This species is palatable to cattle and horses in early spring and until seed setting. Crude protein is about 14 percent in early June, dropping to less than 5 percent by mid-August. This grass will contain a high percentage of water throughout its growing season, making it difficult for livestock to consume sufficient levels of dry matter and nutrients when comprising a high percent of diet. However, as a mix forage with upland plants, American sloughgrass will provide a more balanced feed. This grass will also provide a good palatable hay that is fairly nutritious but classified as a very light hay. This species is considered an increaser with grazing pressure but will be reduced in overuse situations. Wildlife Value: This plant will provide fair grazable forage for grazer and browser wildlife species. Stands of American sloughgrass have been used by overwater nesting ducks and shorebirds for nesting habitat and protective cover. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Sideoats grama, Tall grama Species: Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Chlorideae
Description: A rhizomatous perennial 4-7 dm tall. Culms are solid, erect, arising in clumps or almost solitary. Leaf blades are rolled in the bud, flat at maturity, usually smooth beneath and rough above, individual hairs evenly spaced on the margins, blades mostly 2-30 cm long, 2.5-5 mm wide. Leaf sheaths smooth or hairy near the summit; ligule a fringed or a gnawed-looking membrane 0.3-0.7 mm long. Inflorescence elongated, consisting of 20-45 reflexed branches; each branch deciduous as a unit, 5-14 mm long, bearing 3-8 spikelets; glumes unequal, the first 2.5-5 mm long, the second 4-7 mm long; fertile lemma 3-6.5 mm long with a short central awn; sterile rudiment usually consisting of a lemma 0.4-3.5 mm long, its central awn 1.5-4 mm long. Anthers 2-3 mm long. Origin: Native Growing Season: A warm season grass that begins growth in early May and flowers in early July through August. Habitat: This species is most commonly found on fine textured soils and weakly developed soils of steeper slopes, often associated with calcareous soils. It can be found growing on dry plains, rocky ridges, open grasslands, and hills. Distribution: Sideoats grama occurs throughout the United States, except for the northwestern and extreme southeastern states, and most of Mexico. It can be found growing throughout all of North Dakota and the western two-thirds of Minnesota. Forage Value: This species is considered a very palatable grass that provides good grazing value for all classes of livestock throughout much of the summer and fall. It cures well as standing hay, providing moderately palatable winter forage. Sideoats grama has good qualities for hay production, creating a good warm season grass in seed mixtures that can be used for pasture or hayland. Sideoats grama is classified as a decreaser with grazing pressure. Wildlife Value: This species provides good grazable forage for many grazer and browser wildlife species, utilized by antelope, mule deer, and to some extent by white-tailed deer and small rodents. The seeds are utilized by some songbirds. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ]
Common Name: Blue grama Species: Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. Synonym: Bouteloua oligostachya Torr. Family: Poaceae - Grass Family Tribe: Chlorideae
Description: Mat-forming perennial 1.6-4 dm tall, forming short rhizomes. Culms solid, slender, often bent sharply below. Leaf blades C-shaped in cross section in the bud, flat at maturity to rolling inward, especially toward the tip, short pubescent to scabrous above, smooth to lightly scabrous below, sometimes also sparsely haired on both surfaces, the margins not particularly thickened, 2-12 cm long, 0.5-2 mm wide; sheaths smooth to sparsely haired, especially on the margins near the ligule; ligule a short fringe of hairs 0.1-0.4 mm long. Inflorescences with 1-3 curved branches, each branch persistent, 14-30 mm long, bearing numerous spikelets; glumes unequal, the first 1.5-3.5 mm long, second 3.5-5 mm long, smooth to rough but with pustular-based hairs on the midnerve; fertile lemma 3.5-5 mm long, its central awn 0.4-1.5 mm long. Anthers 1.7-2.9 mm long. Origin: Native Growing Season: A warm season grass which begins growing in mid May. The plant blooms in late July and flowering culms remain for the remainder of the summer. Habitat: Blue grama is the most abundant grass on the short-grass prairie. Very common on drier upland sites and dry prairies. This species will inhabit sandy or gravelly soils and also compact loams and gumbos (heavy clays and claypans). Also found in open wooded areas in the drier areas of the state. Distribution: Occurs throughout the Great Plains; Manitoba to Alberta and Northwest Territories, south throughout central and western United States and into Mexico. This species occurs throughout North Dakota and the western two-thirds of Minnesota. Forage Value: This species is very palatable and nutritious to all classes of livestock. Blue grama is readily eaten throughout the summer as well as during the autumn and early winter months. The plant cures extremely well, and remains highly digestible throughout the growing season and into the fall and winter months. Its acid detergent fiber content rarely exceeds 50 percent. It recovers rapidly from drought and is quite resistant to grazing and trampling. Considered an increaser with overgrazing, but will decrease and become displaced by upland sedge species (Carex spp.) under long-term overgrazing. Crude protein content is 14 to 18 percent in May and is well-balanced until mid July. Protein levels tend to drop-off in August and are at 7 percent or less by November. Wildlife Value: This species is a very valuable plant for wildlife, both as a source of seeds for birds and forage for grazers. Wild turkeys and songbirds, such as finches, longspurs and sparrows utilize the seeds while mammals such as jackrabbits, antelope, deer, elk, and bison graze the vegetative plant parts. Small mammals such as pocket mice will use the seedheads and plant as food. [ Back to Index ] [ Home ] [ Glossary ] EB-69, 1998
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