Bouteloua

Bouteloua is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae, commonly known as grama grasses. The genus is native to the Americas, with species distributed from the southwestern United States and Mexico through Central America and into parts of South America. Bouteloua species are typically perennial, forming tufts or low sods, and they often tolerate poor, well-drained soils. The inflorescence is distinctive: spikelets are arranged along a central axis in one-sided or irregular patterns, giving a comb-like or side-oats appearance in several species. Leaves are narrow and linear, with a ligule at the leaf sheath.

Habitat and ecology: Bouteloua grasses are well adapted to hot, dry climates and are common in prairies, savannas, deserts, and rangelands. They are valued for drought tolerance, relatively low maintenance, and soil stabilization. They are frequently used in native plant restorations and xeriscaping, as well as in low-water turf mixtures for arid regions.

Species and uses: Notable species include blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides), side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), and hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta). Buffalo grass is often used as a turf, while blue grama and related species provide forage for grazing animals and play important roles in native landscapes and restoration projects.

Taxonomy and etymology: The genus Bouteloua honors the 19th-century Spanish-Mexican botanist Claudio Boutelou. The species within the genus are diverse in form and habitat, but share adaptations to dry, well-drained environments.