Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis)

Also Known As: Mosquito grass, Navajita azul, White grama, Red grama, Purple grama
Plant Family: Grasses (Poaceae)

Identification Guide: *Print version
Phenophase Field Guide: *Print version

2009 Live Map - View

Did you Know? Blue grama is valued as forage, and for landscaping and erosion control. It is tolerant of grazing. Blue Grama flowers are also used in dried flower arrangements. Blue grama is readily established from seed, but depends more on vegetative reproduction via tillers. Seed production is slow, and depends on soil moisture and temperature. Seeds dispersed by wind only reach a few meters; farther distances are reached with insects, birds, and mammals as dispersal agents. Blue grama is the state grass of Colorado and New Mexico, and is listed as an endangered species in Illinois.

Identification Hints: Blue grama has distinctive flowers clustered along branches of the flower stalks (spikes) which dangle from the stem, often described as resembling a human eyebrow. You can distinguish blue grama from similar species by its hairless stems and spikelets that extend to the tips of each flower stalk branch.

Phenological Observations of Interest: First Flower Stalk, First Pollen, End of Pollen, First Ripe Fruit, All Leaves Withered

---

2009 Live Map for Blue grama

Below you can view the latest 100 observations that have been reported in 2009 for Blue grama (If the map below is empty then there have not been any 2009 observations reported.)

Use the navigation buttons on the left to zoom in/out and pan around. Click on each place marker to get detail information about that observation.

= First Flower Stalk
= First Pollen
= End of Pollen
= First Ripe Fruit
= All Leaves Withered

--Back to Top--

*All downloadable materials require the free Adobe Reader.