On the Cover – Buffalo Grass

Abstract

Buffalo grass, Buchloë dactyloides Engelm., is a North American native short-grass, sod-forming, shade-intolerant perennial. The genus name comes from the Greek rendering of the common name: boubalos, buffalo and chloë, grass (synonymous with Bulbilis dactyloides Raf.). 1 Hitchcock A.S. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. in: 2nd Ed. Dover Publications Inc, New York1971: 545-546 Google Scholar When unmixed with other grasses, it forms a dense soft, grayish-green turf, 5–10 cm thick. It is dominant over large areas of the upland Great Plains referred to as “short-grass prairie.” 1 Hitchcock A.S. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. in: 2nd Ed. Dover Publications Inc, New York1971: 545-546 Google Scholar , 2 Lewis W.H. Vinay P. Zenger V.E. Airborne and Allergenic Pollen of North America. in: Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore1983: 105-121 Google Scholar , 3 Gould F.W. Common Texas Grasses: An Illustrated Guide. in: Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX1978: 69-72 Google Scholar Its range is from southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, through Montana to Minnesota, western Iowa, from Arizona to western Louisiana, and through much of northern Mexico. 1 Hitchcock A.S. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. in: 2nd Ed. Dover Publications Inc, New York1971: 545-546 Google Scholar , 2 Lewis W.H. Vinay P. Zenger V.E. Airborne and Allergenic Pollen of North America. in: Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore1983: 105-121 Google Scholar , 4 Barkworth M.E. Anderton L.K. Capels K.M. Long S. Piep M.B. Manual of Grasses for North America. Utah State University Press, Logan, UT2007 Google Scholar It is best adapted to loamy clay soils with runoff during rainy seasons. It is very hardy and persists with long summer droughts as well as periods of flooding. 5 Haddock M.J. Wildflowers & Grasses of Kansas. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, KS2005 Google Scholar Buffalo grass is one of the most important grazing grasses, providing nutritious feed even during the winter. 1 Hitchcock A.S. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. in: 2nd Ed. Dover Publications Inc, New York1971: 545-546 Google Scholar , 3 Gould F.W. Common Texas Grasses: An Illustrated Guide. in: Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX1978: 69-72 Google Scholar , 4 Barkworth M.E. Anderton L.K. Capels K.M. Long S. Piep M.B. Manual of Grasses for North America. Utah State University Press, Logan, UT2007 Google Scholar It is good grazing for livestock and fair for wildlife. It provides good cover for exposed dry banks. The sod houses of early Great Plains settlers were made mostly from this grass. 1 Hitchcock A.S. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. in: 2nd Ed. Dover Publications Inc, New York1971: 545-546 Google Scholar It can be used as a xeroscape lawn grass.