Grass Description
Alkaline or saline soils in meadows and valleys, sandy soils of desert foothills or roadsides, and dry gravely slopes.
General Description
A robust bunchgrass, often with stems bent outward (decumbent) at the base; forms large, tough clumps; coarse, glossy roots, and culms(stems) which appear to be solid, especially near the base. Reproduction is by seeds and by tillers.
Large, tough clumps 1-1/2 to 3 feet tall, open inflorescences with pedicels(spikelet stems) less than 5mm long, upper glumes at least 2/3 as long as the florets, sheath apices smooth with a few scattered hairs.
Flower Characteristics
Loose and open, with widely spreading branches, half or more of the height of the plant which is 20 to 40 inches tall. Lemms 1-nerved. Appears to be one-flowered, 2nd flower is infertile.
Vegetative Characteristics
Frequently minute salt crystal can be seen with a hands lens. Blades firm and fibrous, less than 1/16 inch wide, tapering to a fine tip, midrib is prominent.
Fair to good for large grazing animals, poor when dry.