Grass Description
Heavier soils in lowland or wetland sites or seasonally flooded areas. Tolerant of highly alkaline and saline soil and poorly drained soils. Restricted to floodplains due to its need to access groundwater for survival.
General Description
A coarse, upright bunch grass that forms dense clumps and can grow from 3 to 8 feet tall. The pale flowers form in stiff, upright clusters.
Tall, densely clumping perennial. Blades flat or involute, rough margins. Sheath sparsely hairy behind the ligule. Seedhead narrow, branches appressed, spikelet bearing to the base. Spikelets one flowered, unequal glumes.
Flower Characteristics
Primary seedhead branches spreading, secondary appressed; 8 to 24 inches long; 5 to 10 inches wide; seedhead stems exserted from base of plant; spikelets are 1/2 to 1 inch long, crowded, purplish or greenish. Fruits elliptical, reddish-brown or blackish.
Vegetative Characteristics
Blade margins are roughened with stout projections. Blades are up to 1 foot long and 1 to 2-1/2 inches wide. The bottom of blades are rough, top surfaces are smooth.
A valuable forage species for livestock in arid and semi-arid regions.