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Excerpts from Jim Conrad's
Naturalist Newsletter
from the the October 20, 2020 Newsletter issued from the valley of the Dry Frio River in southern Real County, southwestern Texas, on the southern border of the Edwards Plateau; elevation ~1750m (~5750 ft); N29.62°, W99.86°; USA
HAIRY GRAMA
I read at the Wildflower.Org website that Hairy Grama, BOUTELOUA HIRSUTA, is never found naturally in pure stands, but the picture above of Hairy Grama flowering heads was taken in a nearly pure population in very thin, dry soil atop a cliff along the Dry Frio River. Seven grama species, genus Bouteloua, occur in Texas. This species is distinguished by its hairy, eyebrow-like flowering heads with a needle-like extension of the flowering stem issuing well beyond the heads, and its tufted, perennial form. Ours are no more than ankle high, though in moister soild they might get taller.
Below, you can see our plant's small size.
And here you can see the habitat, the nearly pure stand atop a cliff overlooking the valley of the Dry Frio River, outlying hills of the southern slope of the Edwards Plateau in the background:
This is a native species characteristic of the prairies of the Great Plains, meadows, pastures, savannas, open woodlands, roadsides and fence rows. Despite flourishing in all those environments, around here I've found Hairy Grama only in this one spot, and that spot only about the size of a one-car garage. Other grama species are much more common, even abundant.