N RANCHING


atural Resources


What Plant Is Important in May? Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)


Photos by Clint Rollins


Editor’s note: Jeff Goodwin and Kent Ferguson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), are providing us with plant identifi cation photo stories to help ranchers identify those forb, forages and brush species growing in the pastures.


S


IDEOATS GRAMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH the bluebonnet, mockingbird and pecan tree because it was


designated the State Grass of Texas in 1971.


30 The Cattleman May 2013


Staple of the plains • Very strong native bunchgrass • Thrives on many soil types • Can be found in 2 forms: a variety that spreads by underground til-


lers called rhizomes and a variety that spreads by seed • Normally found growing in close association with little bluestem


and indiangrass on loamy, sandy loam and clay loam soils • A midgrass that is highly palatable and used primarily by cattle,


sheep and many species of wildlife • Can be retained in the pasture by following a good planned grazing


system providing periodic growing season rest and avoiding overgrazing • Can be easily distinguished by the arrangements of seeds hanging


on one side of the stalk and leaf blades with glandular-based hairs along the edge of the leaves


thecattlemanmagazine.com


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