Bouteloua dactyloides
Bouteloua dactyloides | |
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Bouteloua dactyloides with pollen flowers Carter County, Montana | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Genus: | Bouteloua |
Species: | B. dactyloides
|
Binomial name | |
Bouteloua dactyloides (
Nutt. ) Columbus 1999 | |
Synonyms[2] | |
List
|
Bouteloua dactyloides, commonly known as buffalograss or buffalo grass, is a North American
Buffalograss is valued both as a
Description
Bouteloua dactyloides is a perennial plant that spreads by stolons (runners).[3] A plant may extend stolons outward to reach a length of 15 to 45 centimetres (6 to 18 in) by the end of a growing season.[4] In ideal experimental conditions stolons may grow as much as 5.71 centimetres (2.25 in) per day.[5] When blooming or going to seed it has short, upright stalks (clums) that may be anywhere from 1–30 centimeters tall.[3]
Buffalograss is a sod forming species usually forming a solid and tight mat of plants.[6] Roots are also numerous and thoroughly occupy the soil. The roots of buffalograss are significantly finer than those of most plains grasses, with a thickness of less than 1 mm (0.039 in) in diameter. Despite their narrow diameter they are quite tough and wire-like. Though the roots may reach depths of 1.2 to 1.8 metres (4 to 6 ft) 70% of their mass is in the top 15 centimetres (6 in) of the soil and 81% in the top 30 centimetres (12 in).[7] The main roots grow almost directly downward with only very short side roots and very little or no branching. Plants also produce surface roots that growing horizontally to a distance of 24 to 36 centimetres (9 to 14 in) from the plant.[8]
The leaf blades of buffalograss are quite narrow, soft, somewhat curly, hairy on both sides, and usually gray-green in color.[8] Each is 2–15 centimetres (1–6 in) long while being just 1.0–2.5 millimeters wide.[9]
Buffalograss usually produces pollen or seeds on separate plants and because it reproduces by stolons large patches of just one sex may form.[10] The seed producing flower stalks are much shorter than the pollen producing flower stalks, with the seed heads usually at the same level as the grass blades.[3][10] The seed producing inflorescences are very modified compared with other grasses including the other grasses in the Bouteloua genus, looking like a round globe topped with short spikes, appropriately called a spikelet, with three to seven spikelets per bur.[6][3] When ripe the seeds are contained within a hard, round diaspore of between 3–4 millimeters in size.[11]
Unlike
The
Taxonomy
Bouteloua dactyloides was first scientifically described by the early American botanist Thomas Nuttall in 1818 with the binomial name Sesleria dactyloides.[2] Nuttall described it as growing, " On the open grassy plains of the Missouri;".[16] His placement of the species in genus Sesleria was almost immediately disputed with Constantine Samuel Rafinesque publishing a description the next year placing it in a new genus, Bulbilis.[2][17] Also significant in the taxonomic history of the species is the 1859 description by George Engelmann of it as Buchloë dactyloides the sole species in the new genus Buchloë.[3][2] This genus name was a shortened form of Bubalochloe, a Latinized form of the common name buffalo grass.[18] Until the end of the 20th-century this was the most widely used name for the species. In 1999 James Travis Columbus published a paper recommending that Buchloe and several other smalls genuses be combined with Bouteloua placing buffalograss with the grama grasses.[3] As of 2024[update] this is the most widely used classification of this species including in Plants of the World Online (POWO),[2] World Flora Online,[19] and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS database.[20]
Fossil evidence from Kansas indicates that the species evolved more than seven million years ago.[21]
Names
The genus name comes from the family name of the 19th-century Spanish botanists Claudio and Esteban Boutelou.[22] The species name, dactyloides, is from Latin meaning resembling fingers.[23]
It is known both as "buffalograss" and "buffalo grass",[24] though buffalo grass is also used as a common name for St. Augustine grass in Australia,[25] as an alternate name of Cenchrus ciliaris and Panicum stapfianum in South Africa,[26] and one of the names of Paspalum conjugatum in Singapore.[27] It is also occasionally called "gama grass".[18]
Range and habitat
Buffalograss is native to the shortgrass of North America from Canada to Mexico. In Canada it is found in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.[2] In the United States it is primarily found in the great plains mostly west of the Mississippi from Minnesota and Montana in the north to New Mexico and Louisiana in the south. East of the Mississippi it is also found in Illinois, and in one county in Virginia and Georgia.[20] Though it is found in Wisconsin, POWO lists it as an introduced species in that state.[2] Similarly, NatureServe lists it as an introduced species in Virginia.[1] Though the World Plants database lists it as native there.[28] West of the Rocky Mountains it is also found in Arizona and in one county in both Utah and Nevada.[20] It is found through much of Northern Mexico from Sonora in the west to Tamaulipas in the east and south to Morelos and Veracruz, though the species is not found on the west coast south of Sonora.[28]
Worldwide it has become establish in Spain and Greece in Europe. In Asia it is not found in south-central and southeastern China.[2] It is also listed as growing outside cultivation in New Zealand.[28]
Along with
Conservation
NatureServe evaluated buffalograss in 2015 with a conservation status of "Apparently Secure", G4. At the same time they found it to be "Secure" (S5) in Kansas and "Apparently Secure" (S4) in Montana and Wyoming, but did not evaluate most of its range at the state or provincial level.[1] The province of Manitoba considers it to be a "at risk" species as it is very rare there and in neighboring Saskatchewan.[32] NatureServe gave it a rating of "Critically Imperiled" (S1) in Manitoba and in Saskatchewan, Arizona, Iowa, and Utah. They consider it to be "Imperiled" (S2) in Illinois and "Vulnerable" (S3) in Minnesota. They list it as "Possibly Extripated" in Missouri.[1] Though its range in the short-grass prairie covers more than 777,000 km2 half of this area has been degraded or converted to other uses. Many of the surviving areas of natural buffalograss habitat are highly fragmented.[33] The largest areas of uninterrupted areas of native prairie are in the Central Shortgrass Prairie, in eastern Colorado and western Kansas with as much as 50% of it still in place, though used for grazing of cattle instead of the mix of native grazers.[34]
Ecology
Having a single sex on a plant (
Buffalograss is eaten by all types of livestock and it increases under heavy grazing pressure.[37] The US Department of the Interior evaluated it as good to fair forage for elk in Utah and Colorado.[29] Though it is not their favorite plant food, buffalograss together with blue grama grass is the most commonly consumed plant for American bison grazing in the shortgrass biome. At times the combined bulk of the two plants making up 80% of their diet.[38]
In
The seeds of buffalograss break their dormancy more readily with some damage to the outer layers of the seed.
Two species of
Diseases
Buffalograss false smut is a fungal disease caused by Porocercospora seminalis (formerly placed in the genus Cercospora). Infection by the fungus prevents normal caryopsis development, resulting in loss of yield and reduced seed germination.[44]
Buffalograss is the sole host to the sex-altering fungus, Salmacisia buchloëana is relatively uncommon in fields and causes minimal loss in yield.
Wildfire
Fire was an essential part of the prairie ecosystem and buffalograss has many adaptations to survive or take advantage of fires. Warm season grasses can catch fire in all seasons, including winter and early spring.[29]
Uses
Cultivation
Buffalo grass is particularly noted for thriving in clay soils and full sun.[47] It is intolerant of salt and moisture in excess of about 750 millimetres (30 in) per year.[48] Many cultivars have been developed or collected for different purposes.[49] Though seed is available and less expensive than sod, it is more expensive than common lawn grass species due to the difficulty in harvesting seeds which grow very low to the ground in the grass canopy. In addition the bur that contains the seed must be removed or treated to weaken it or the germination rate will be quite low and this adds to expense of establishment using seed.[21]
In addition to having more drought resistance than Kentucky blue grass or
It is of good quality for domesticated animals including cattle, horses, sheep, domesticated goats, and rabbits with a digestible protein content of between 2.7 and 2.9%.[29]
The
Forage cultivars
Both "Texoka" and "Comanche" were developed to feed livestock and can reach as much as 30 centimetres (12 in) in height.[49]
Lawn cultivars
Only three North American grasses are both drought tolerant and suitable for use as a lawn. Of these, only buffalograss is commonly available and so it has become quite popular since the 1980s. Though the other two, blue grama and curly mesquite grass (Hilaria belangeri) are occasionally used.[49] All female cultivars are preferred for their lower maintenance needs.[52] Because of their lack of pollen production they may also be preferred by people who suffer from allergies.[14] While all male types are planted when a more naturalistic look is desired or where the grass will be mowed regularly.[52]
"Bowie": This is a later developed seeded cultivar that was released to the public in 2001. Compared to "Cody" it has improved color and is quicker to establish.[47]
"Cody": A seeded cultivar that was released in 1995. It is widely adapted and a reliable performer.[47] It is also resistant to damage caused by the western chinch bug.[51]
"Legacy": Also known as 'NE86-61', this cultivar was developed by the University of Nebraska.
"Prairie": This cultivar was developed by Texas and Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Stations. It was released in 1990 and has a denser foliage compared to many other selections. It is an all female cultivar and must be established from plugs or cuttings.[55] It is not well adapted to colder conditions and can experience significant winter kill in the Front Range region of Colorado.[12]
"Prestige": This cultivar is noted for its resistance to damage by the western chinch bug.[51]
"Stampede": A very short cultivar that does not get taller than 10 centimetres (4 in).[49]
"Sundancer": A seeded cultivar that was released in 2014 which has improved color and an earlier spring green up compared to older varieties.[47]
"UC Verde": This cultivar was developed by the University of California, Riverside to have better performance in the hot summers of California.[56] It grows 7.5–15 centimetres (3–6 in) in height and will stay partially green in the warm winters of southern California if not mowed in the fall.[57]
"609": The "609" cultivar was also developed by Texas and Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Stations and released in 1990.[55] Compared with other cultivars it has a deeper green color.[58] Like some other cultivars developed for warmer climates it is sensitive to cold, dry conditions and can experience significant winter kill in Colorado.[12]
Building
Settlers used its dense sod to build sod houses.[59]
References
- ^ a b c d NatureServe (2024). "Buchloe dactyloides". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) Columbus". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Snow, Neil. "Buchloë - FNA". Flora of North America. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ JSTOR 1943101.
- ISSN 0012-9615. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-56098-656-0. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ JSTOR 1942275.
- ^ a b c d Weaver, J.E.; Albertson, F.W. (1956). Grasslands of the Great Plains : Their Nature and Use. Lincoln, Nebraska: Johnsen Publishing Company. pp. 36–37, 210–212.
- ^ Snow, Neil (11 May 2021). "Buchloë dactyloides - FNA". Flora of North America. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-57205-7. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ JSTOR 2445331. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Koski, T.; Cox, R. (2014). "Buffalograss Lawns - 7.224". CSU Extension. Colorado State University. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- S2CID 187019240. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-945352-80-8. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- PMID 24024986.
- ^ Nuttall, Thomas (1818). The genera of North American plants : and a catalogue of the species, to the year 1817. Philadelphia: Printed for the Author by D. Heartt. p. 65. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Bulbilis Raf". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-333-61535-5. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) Columbus". World Flora Online. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Bouteloua dactyloides, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Profile, 5 March 2024
- ^ a b Fresenburg, Brad S. (2015). "Establishment and Care of Buffalograss Lawns". MU Extension. University of Missouri. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- JSTOR 1218854. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Plant Finder : Buchloe dactyloides". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ISBN 978-0-07-027693-2. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ISBN 978-92-5-101128-7. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ISBN 1-874907-16-1.
- ^ Duistermaat, Helena (2005). Field Guide to the Grasses of Singapore (Excluding the Bamboos). Singapore: National Parks Board, Singapore Botanic Gardens. p. 106. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Hassler, Michael (1 March 2024). "Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Version 19.1". World Plants. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Howard, Janet L. (1995). "Bouteloua dactyloides". Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ Diamond, David D.; Riskind, David H.; Orzell, Steve L. (1987). "A framework for plant community classification and conservation in Texas". The Texas Journal of Science. 39 (3). Texas Academy of Science: 211, 214. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ISBN 978-0-87480-459-1. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "Manitoba's Species At Risk – Buffalograss – Buchloë dactyloides" (PDF). Government of Manitoba. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 September 2017.
- ISBN 978-3-319-97120-9.
- ^ "Central Shortgrass Prairie". LandScope America. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ISBN 978-0-374-53712-8. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- PMID 36844915.
- ^ Johnson, James R.; Nichols, James T. (1982). "Plants of South Dakota Grasslands: A Photographic Study". Research Bulletins of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. 566: 21. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ISSN 0003-0031. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ Agnew, William; Uresk, Daniel W.; Hansen, Richard M. (1986). "Flora and Fauna Associated with Prairie Dog Colonies and Adjacent Ungrazed Mixed-grass Prairie in western South Dakota" (PDF). Journal of Range Management. 39 (2): 135–139. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-57205-7. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ISBN 978-0-8061-3554-0. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- JSTOR 25083906. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ "Prionapteryx indentella – 5327". Moth Photographers Group. Mississippi Entomological Museum at the Mississippi State University. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
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- ^ a b c d e Browning, Sarah (30 May 2015). "Selection and establishment guidelines for buffalo grass success". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Reynolds, Casey (2022). "Buffalograss". AggieTurf. Texas A&M. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d NPC (2018). "Bouteloua dactyloides". Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Plant Database. The University of Texas at Austin. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- .
- ^ S2CID 34259675.
- ^ a b Schild, James A.; Gaussoin, Roch E.; Shearman, Robert C. "Establishing Buffalograss Turf in Nebraska" (PDF). Nebraska Turfgrass Science. University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Bouteloua dactyloides 'NE86-61' LEGACY® - LEGACY® buffalo grass". Santa Fe Botanical Garden. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "Waterwise, Low Mow Turf Grasses from Plugs". High Country Gardens. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ a b Duble, Richard L. "Buffalo Grass". Texas Cooperative Extension. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "UC Verde Buffalograss". University of California, Davis. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ "Buffalo grass". Waterwise Garden Planner. Chino Basin Water Conservation District. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ "609 Buffalograss". King Ranch Turfgrass. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ISBN 978-0-471-44410-7.
Further reading
- McConnell, Primrose (1911), Chisholm, Hugh (ed.), Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 12 (11th ed.), Cambridge University Press, pp. 367–369. , in
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911), , Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 12 (11th ed.), Cambridge University Press, pp. 369–377.