Sideoats Grama

This is an American pasture grass (Side-oats Grama) reported to be excellent in China for grazing and also for hay.

Perennial with short, slender, scaly rhizomes. Culms tufted, erect, 30–100 cm tall. Leaf sheaths glabrous or nearly so; leaf blades flat or slightly involute, 20–30 cm, 1–5 mm wide, both surfaces and margins scabrous, base pubescent; ligule ca. 1 mm. Inflorescence axis 15–25 cm; racemes 10–50, 1–2 cm, purplish, secund along axis, usually nodding, with 3–6 (–10) appressed or ascending spikelets, falling entire. Spikelets 4.5–10 mm; lower glume linear-lanceolate, 2.5–4 mm; upper glume lanceolate, 4(–7) mm; lemma of fertile floret usually somewhat exceeding glumes, acuminate, lateral veins extended into ca. 1 mm mucros; palea slightly longer than lemma; 2nd floret rudimentary, with long central awn and 2 shorter laterals, or greatly reduced, or lacking. Fl. and fr. summer to autumn. 2n = 28, 35, 40, 42, 56, 70.

Cultivated in China [native to America].

Chloris curtipendula Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 59. 1803; Atheropogon curtipendulus (Michaux) E. Fournier; Cynodon curtipendulus (Michaux) Raspail; Dinebra curtipendula (Michaux) P. Beauvois; Eutriana curtipendula (Michaux) Trinius.