Bouteloua dactyloides
(Buffalo Grass)
Bouteloua dactyloides, staminate inflorenscence, Lubbock Lake Landmark, Lubbock Co. 2425
Bouteloua dactyloides,, staminate inflorenscence, Lubbock Lake Landmark, Lubbock Co. 2431
Bouteloua dactyloides,, staminate inflorenscence, Lubbock Lake Landmark, Lubbock Co. 2433
| Scientific Name | Bouteloua dactyloides (Buchloe dactyloides) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | BODA2 |
| Common Name | Buffalo Grass | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 782573 |
| Family | Poaceae (Grass) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Dry, limey clay loams in prairies and along roadsides; widespread on the Great Plains and sometimes used as a lawn grass. Plant: Colony-forming perennial grass spreading by runners (stolons) up to 6 inches long and with erect culms (stems) up to 12 inches tall, mostly unbranched; dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants); culms with female inflorescences much shorter than those bearing male inflorescences. Foliage: Narrow basal and alternate leaves, 3/4 to 5 inches long and less than 1/10-inch wide, flat, with long, white, spreading hairs, more densely on the lower leaves to nearly hairless above; hairy lower portions of sheaths, mostly hairless above. Inflorescence: Male inflorescences in a terminal (atop the culm) panicle usually exceeding upper leaves with 1 to 3 branches, spikelets are less than 1/4-inch long with 2 florets and brownish to red or orange anthers about 1/8-inch long; female inflorescences in terminal panicles barely or not exceeding the leaves, spikelets with 1 floret almost enclosed by upper glumes. Bloom Period: Spring to fall. References: SEINet, Minnesota Wildflowers and Buchloe dactyloides in "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024