Grama Grass (4)

Blue Grama
Bouteloua gracilis

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: September 12, 2011
Location: White Rock, NM
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Dry sandy and rocky areas

Grows to 2ft with two flower heads per stem which look like false eyelashes. The first flower head is at the end of the stem. Flowers heads curl at maturity.

It is very common and the State Grass of Colorado and New Mexico.

Hairy Grama
Bouteloua hirsuta

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: September 18, 2011
Location: Wet Mountains, Eastern CO
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Dry sandy and rocky areas

Grows to over 2ft tall also with two flower heads per stem. It is very similar to Blue Grama and grows in the same areas. It can be distinguished by the needle-like spine that extends from the flower spike and fine hairs along the flower heads.

Black Grama
Bouteloua eriopoda

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: November 18, 2011
Location: Bandelier National Monument, NM
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Dry sandy and rocky areas

Grows to 2ft tall with several flower heads per stem that are smaller than the Blue and Hairy Gramas and do not curl at maturity. Also distinguished by the tuft of white hairs where the flower head joins the stem.

Sixweeks Grama
Bouteloua barbata

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA: Navajita
Photo taken on: August 19, 2013
Location: Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Dry sandy and rocky areas

Grows to about 12", shorter than the other gramas, and is delicate in appearance. The leaves are grass-like. The branches of the flower head are more erect than the other gramas.