The Story of Grasses – Grasslands and Grassy Open Ecosystems
Grama Grasses of Missouri’s Prairies
Bouteloua curtipendulaa with orange anthers and white stigma
Missouri sits squarely in the tallgrass prairie region, and the grassland plants that normally dominate in remnant prairies are relative giants, such as big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides). These grasses are rightfully the major focus of attention by nature lovers and cattle producers with native pastures in the state, but there are many other grass species inhabiting the Missouri prairies that deserve some appreciation.
On page 16 of the new issue of Missouri Prairie Journal below, I give a summary of the Bouteloua genus in the state:
Glad you liked it. They are some of my favs as well. Even when i was in NJ I was looking into using Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalo grass) as a lawn alternative. And i loved the story of its escape to the university grounds, and seeing the way it looked different from the surrounding turf grasses.
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