Gypsum Grama

Scientific Name: Bouteloua breviseta Vasey

Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Bouteloua Lag./ Bouteloua breviseta Vasey

Gypsum Grama
General Information
Usda SymbolBOBR
GroupMonocot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsGraminoid
Native LocationsBOBR

Plant Guide

Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Gypsum Grama is planted.

Fact Sheet

Alternate Names

Gypsum grama

Uses

Cattle, horses, sheep, and goats graze Chino grama, Sometimes limited amounts are harvested for hay, It is an important conservation grass, because it is adapted to sites on which few other species will grow, , Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Gypsum Grama.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

Description

Grass Family (Poaceae). Chino grama is a native, warm-season, perennial bunch grass. The height is between 8 and 12 inches. The leaf blade is usually flat, narrow, 1 to 3 inches long, and curls during prolonged dry periods and at maturity. The leaf sheath is rounded, smooth, and overlapping about two-thirds as long as the internodes. The ligule is hairy and the stem is solid. The seedhead has 2 spikes resembling a chicken's comb on top of each stalk. From Hitchcock (1950) @ plants.usda.gov Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Management

This grass dies if overgrazed. It requires a full growing season deferment every 2 to 3 years for maximum production.

Establishment

It reproduces largely from auxillary buds at basal nodes. Some new plants are established from seed. When growth starts in the late spring or early summer, most of old growth greens up, because this grass stores nutrients in stems as well as in roots. It grows in nearly pure stands on gypsum sands and highly calcareous clay loam soils. Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Please contact your local NRCS Field Office.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)-3
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Drought ToleranceHigh
Fertility RequirementLow
Fire ToleranceHigh
Frost Free Days, Minimum160
Hedge ToleranceNone
Moisture UseLow
pH, Maximum7.9
pH, Minimum5.5
Precipitation, Maximum40
Precipitation, Minimum12
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)12
Salinity ToleranceNone
Shade ToleranceIntolerant


Morphology/Physiology

After Harvest Regrowth RateModerate
ToxicityNone
Shape and OrientationErect
Nitrogen FixationNone
Resprout AbilityNo
Active Growth PeriodSummer and Fall
BloatNone
C:N RatioMedium
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorWhite
Flower ConspicuousNo
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerPorous
Foliage TextureMedium
Low Growing GrassNo
LifespanModerate
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)2.5
Growth RateModerate
Growth FormRhizomatous
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous


Reproduction

Vegetative Spread RateSlow
Small GrainNo
Seedling VigorMedium
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seed per Pound400000
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Commercial AvailabilityNo Known Source
Bloom PeriodMid Summer
Propagated by CuttingsNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Protein PotentialMedium
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalHigh
Palatable Browse AnimalHigh
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductYes
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

Gypsum Grama

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