Bouteloua


Bouteloua is a genus of plants in the grass family. Members of the genus are commonly known as grama grass.

Taxonomy and systematics

The genus was named for Claudio and Esteban Boutelou, 19th-century Spanish botanists. David Griffiths produced a 1912 monograph on the genus.

Description

Bouteloua includes both annual and perennial grasses, which frequently form stolons. Species have an inflorescence of 1 to 80 racemes or spikes positioned alternately on the culm. The rachis of the spike is flattened. The spikelets are positioned along one side of the spike. Each spikelet contains one fertile floret, and usually one sterile floret.

Distribution

Bouteloua is found only the Americas, with most diversity centered in the southwestern United States.

Uses

Many species are important livestock forage, especially blue grama.

Species

Species of Bouteloua include:
Some grass species, formerly classified under Bouteloua, have been reclassified under other genera including: