Grass Description
Open rocky slopes, plains, forest openings, and mountain meadows.
General Description
Densely tufted bunchgrass, semi-sod or ring forming, sometimes has rhizomes. Leaves mostly basal and short. Seedheads erect ending in 1 to 3 comb-like branches of spikelets. Older clumps may die in center leaving a ring of active growth.
Tufted perennial, stems mostly erect. Leaves basal, mostly flat, curled when dry. Seedheads typically 2 branches of 80 one-sided spikelets of 1 bisexual with a hairy lemma and 1 rudimentary, branch tip not exceeding the spikelets. Glumes do not fall.
Flower Characteristics
Seedheads typically bear 2 branches of spikelets, sometimes 3 or 4. Spikelets have 1 sterile floret and 1 fertile floret, with tufts of hair at the base of fertile floret. Central and lateral awns <1/4 inch, glumes hairy on midvein, do not fall with seed.
Vegetative Characteristics
Blades 2 to 10 inches long, 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide, flat to involute and curled at maturity, hairs usually present basally.
Good forage value for livestock and wildlife, retains its palatability when mature or during dry periods.