Natural History

Side oats grama

Classification
Kingdom - Plantae
Division - Magnoliophyta
Class - Liliopsida
Order - Cyperales
Family - Poaceae (grass family)
Genus species - Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr.

Etymology
The common name was inspired by the alignment of the seeds along one side of the stalk, and by the Spanish explorers who called this and other related grasses "grama," or "grass" in Spanish. Bouteloua is named after Claudio Bouteloua (1774-1842), a Spanish gardener Curtipendula is Latin for "short-hanging"

Description
This plant has a slender, somewhat zigzag-shaped. Many flower clusters are aligned along one side of this stalk, giving it the appearance of flags on a ship's mast.

Flower heads
From 20 to 80 spikes are attached along two sides of the stalk, but align themselves along one side of the stalk.

Flowers
When in flower, with the anthers in evidence, the spikes are a distinct orange-red color.

Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the
grasses of the United States. USDA Misc. Publ. No. 200.
Washington, DC. 1950.

Stem
Stem is erect, flattened, zigzag
Grows from 1 to 3 feet high

Leaves
Leaves are wide and flat with stiff hairs along their margins
1 to 12 inches long
Most leaves are clustered at the base of the plant, with a few attached to the stalk.
As the grass matures, the leaves become curled and whitish-brown.

Habitat
This grass grows in bunches, usually in association with big bluestem and little bluestem.
Rarely does it grow in great abundance, and only occasionally does it grow in pure stands.
Occurs on rocky hillsides and dry, open grassland.   Prefers fine-textured soils that are calcareous or somewhat alkaline.

Sources
http://www.northern.edu/natsource/GRASSES/Sideoa1.htm
http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/sideoats.html
http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=BOUCURvCUR
http://www.missouriplants.com/Grasses/Bouteloua_curtipendula_page.html