Grass Description
Grows on dry ridges, sandy mesas, calcareous rock outcrops, and rocky slopes.
General Description
Ring muhly derives its name from the peculiar growth habit it characteristically develops. As the basal tuft becomes larger with continued growth, the center dies out, leaving a ring several inches to a few feet in diameter.
Seedhead is open and diffuse, usually less than 6 inches tall; leaf blades are usually curved like a sickle and no more than 3 inches long; often grows in patches that form rings.
Flower Characteristics
Seedhead open, often purple, much branched, branches fine and spreading. Pedicels are as long or longer than the spikelets.
Vegetative Characteristics
Blades numerous, slender to the point of being threadlike, curved rather like a bow and inrolled at the edges; from 3/8-3/4 inch long.
Fair palatability before midsummer, this is not a good forage species and its chief value is as a soil-binder on denuded range lands.