Hairy Grama (Bouteloua hirsuta)

Prairie Home Introduction A small, delicate grass usually growing to a height of no more than 10 inches, hairy grama has unusually attractive seedheads. The leaves are at the base of the plant, and are covered with hair. The flowers of the hairy grama are in hairy, comb-like clusters on one side of the stem. Hairy grama grass prefers relatively dry conditions and is often found in sandy soils where water retention is low. It is also drought resistant as one might expect. Although not an important forage crop in our area, hairy grama grass can be an important forage crop for hoofed wildlife and birds in the American Southwest, especially in the autumn. Find It Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area Want to Help Us Better Understand the Park? See our iNaturalist project, "The Life of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area" and contribute to it by downloading the iNaturalist app and uploading your sightings of this species, and others, to the project. You can also upload your sightings from your computer as well.