Tobosagrass
Scientific Name: Pleuraphis mutica Buckley
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Usda Symbol | PLMU3 |
| Group | Monocot |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Growth Habits | Graminoid |
| Native Locations | PLMU3 |
Plant Guide
Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Tobosagrass is planted.
Fact Sheet
Alternate Names
Tobosa, tobosa grass
Uses
Tobosagrass is grazed by cattle and horses. It makes good quality hay if cut about the time that seedheads appear, generally in July.
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). Tobosagrass is a native, warm-season rhizomatous perennial. The height ranges from 18 to 36 inches. The leaf blade is flat or somewhat rolled inward. The leaf sheath is shorter than the internodes. The nodes are hairy. The stems twist and curve inward at the top at maturity. The seedhead is a spike 1 ½ to 2 inches long. The spikelets are bearded at the base and whitish at maturity. © Robert Soreng @ plants.usda.gov Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.
Management
Because tobosagrass is less palatable than blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), it increases under continuous grazing. It respons readily to extra moisture during the growing season. Water spreading on some sites increases the production. Overgrazing an area kills this grass.
Establishment
Tobosagrass grows and spreads from vigorous scaly rhizomes and is a low seed producer, On some sites, it forms a sod, while on others it grows more like a bunch grass, It often grows in pure stands, It grows best on adobe (clay) flats and upland clay loams, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Tobosagrass., Occasionally, it grows on loams or sandy loams and on slopes, Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Please contact your local NRCS Field Office,
Plant Traits
Growth Requirements
| Temperature, Minimum (°F) | 2 |
|---|---|
| Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Fine Textured Soils | Yes |
| Adapted to Medium Textured Soils | Yes |
| Anaerobic Tolerance | None |
| CaCO3 Tolerance | Low |
| Cold Stratification Required | No |
| Drought Tolerance | Medium |
| Fertility Requirement | Medium |
| Fire Tolerance | High |
| Frost Free Days, Minimum | 160 |
| Hedge Tolerance | None |
| Moisture Use | Low |
| pH, Maximum | 7.8 |
| pH, Minimum | 6.0 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Maxim | 19000 |
| Planting Density per Acre, Minim | 11000 |
| Precipitation, Maximum | 13 |
| Precipitation, Minimum | 5 |
| Root Depth, Minimum (inches) | 12 |
| Salinity Tolerance | Medium |
| Shade Tolerance | Intolerant |
Morphology/Physiology
| After Harvest Regrowth Rate | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Toxicity | None |
| Resprout Ability | No |
| Shape and Orientation | Erect |
| Active Growth Period | Spring and Summer |
| Bloat | None |
| C:N Ratio | High |
| Coppice Potential | No |
| Fall Conspicuous | No |
| Fire Resistant | No |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Flower Conspicuous | No |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Foliage Porosity Summer | Moderate |
| Foliage Porosity Winter | Porous |
| Fruit/Seed Color | Brown |
| Nitrogen Fixation | None |
| Low Growing Grass | No |
| Lifespan | Long |
| Leaf Retention | No |
| Known Allelopath | No |
| Height, Mature (feet) | 2.3 |
| Growth Rate | Rapid |
| Growth Form | Rhizomatous |
| Fruit/Seed Conspicuous | No |
| Foliage Texture | Medium |
Reproduction
| Vegetative Spread Rate | Slow |
|---|---|
| Small Grain | No |
| Seedling Vigor | Medium |
| Seed Spread Rate | Slow |
| Fruit/Seed Period End | Fall |
| Seed per Pound | 204000 |
| Propagated by Tubers | No |
| Propagated by Sprigs | Yes |
| Propagated by Sod | No |
| Propagated by Seed | Yes |
| Propagated by Corm | No |
| Propagated by Container | No |
| Propagated by Bulb | No |
| Propagated by Bare Root | No |
| Fruit/Seed Persistence | No |
| Fruit/Seed Period Begin | Summer |
| Fruit/Seed Abundance | Low |
| Commercial Availability | Field Collections Only |
| Bloom Period | Indeterminate |
| Propagated by Cuttings | No |
Suitability/Use
| Veneer Product | No |
|---|---|
| Pulpwood Product | No |
| Protein Potential | Medium |
| Post Product | No |
| Palatable Human | No |
| Palatable Graze Animal | Medium |
| Palatable Browse Animal | Low |
| Nursery Stock Product | No |
| Naval Store Product | No |
| Lumber Product | No |
| Fodder Product | Yes |
| Christmas Tree Product | No |
| Berry/Nut/Seed Product | No |
