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Bouteloua gracilis - (Willd. ex Kunth.)Lag. ex Griffiths.

Common Name Blue Grama
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Deserts and prairies[216, 235]. Grows in pure stands in mixed prairie associations and disturbed habitats, usually on rocky or clay soils and mainly at elevations of 300-3000 metres[270].
Range Southern N. America - Wisconsin to North Dakota, south to Arizona and Mexico.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Bouteloua gracilis Blue Grama


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pethan
Bouteloua gracilis Blue Grama
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Curtis_Clark

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Bouteloua gracilis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

B. oligostachya.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[257]. It can be ground into a powder, mixed with water and eaten as a mush, often with corn meal[257]. It is also used to make bread[257].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Salve  Women's complaints

The chewed roots have been applied to cuts[257]. A decoction of the whole plant has been used as a post-partum medicine[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

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Other Uses

Basketry  Broom  Brush

The grass is sometimes used in the fill of coiled basketry[216, 257]. The stems can be used as a comb and broom material[257]. The blades can be bundled by a cord and the stiff end used as a hair comb whilst the other end can be used as a broom[257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in full sun on any well-drained garden soil[200]. Prefers a near-neutral or lime-free soil[200]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. All members of this genus use the method of photosynthesis knwn as C4. This allows for the more effective capture of carbon dioxide and thus less water loss through transpiration since the stomata do not have to be open for transpiration. This is an advantage in the arid environments where these plants are usually found[274].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Only just cover the seed. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in early summer. Division.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan), United States (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Ciudad de México, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Tlaxcala, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Willd. ex Kunth.)Lag. ex Griffiths.

Botanical References

200236270

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

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