Sideoats grama. Photo courtesy of S.Froelich
click on image for larger view

Sideoats grama

Bouteloua curtipendula

This medium sized grass is very distinctive - there certainly is no mistake as to who this grass is when encountering it on a hike. However, it is not as common as some of the other candidates, but what it lacks in abundance, it more than makes up for in charisma. Look for the florets that dangle down one side of the flowering head.

general description

a medium sized grass growing in small clumps of in solitary stems; 40-70 cm (15-28 in.) tall; perennial; short, slender scaly rhizomes; plant turns reddish in late summer or fall

leaves

narrow leaves with long pointed tips; 2-7 mm (1/4 in.) wide, 5-30 cm (2-12 in.) long; generally rough on upper side and sometimes hairy below; scattered long hairs along edges of the leaves; hairy ligule; sheaths usually hairy

flowers

purplish seed heads, 10-30 cm (4-12 in.) long, and generally hang down one side of seed stalk giving it the name sideoats; flowers July to September

click to open PDF of specimen

habitat

common on dry hillsides and in well-drained prairies; often associated with calcium-rich soils; most commonly found on fine textured soils

best places to see

Spruce Woods Provincial Park; Living Prairie Museum

Grass species descriptions are from: Moore, J. 2003. Common Native Pasture Plants of southern Manitoba; A landowner’s guide. Critical Wildlife Habitat Program. Winnipeg, Canada.