Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) Columbus

synonyms: Buchloe dactyloides, Bulbilis dactyloides


American buffalo grass


Info

Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Genus etymology: Bouteloua = honorific for Claudio Boutelou (1774-1842)
Species etymology: dactyloides = "resembling fingers" [Latin] refering to the finger-like inflorescence
Photosynthetic type: C4 (warm season)
Nativity: naturalized - intentional
First recorded in Hawaiʻi: 2022

Map

 Distribution of Bouteloua dactyloides in Hawaiʻi.

Inflorescence

Bouteloua dactyloides Inflorescence
Bouteloua dactyloides Inflorescence
Bouteloua dactyloides Inflorescence
Bouteloua dactyloides Inflorescence
Bouteloua dactyloides Inflorescence
Bouteloua dactyloides Inflorescence

Plant

Bouteloua dactyloides Plant
Bouteloua dactyloides Plant

Spikelets

Bouteloua dactyloides Spikelets
Bouteloua dactyloides Spikelets

Description

Plants perennial; usually dioecious; strongly stoloniferous, sometimes mat-forming. Culms 1–30 cm, erect, solid, mostly unbranched, those of the pistillate inflorescences much shorter than those of the staminate inflorescences; nodes mostly glabrous. Leaves basally tufted, not clustered or strongly distichous; sheaths open, rounded, often sparsely pilose near the collar; ligules membranous or of hairs; blades usually flat basally, curling when dry, glabrous or sparsely pilose, apices involute. Staminate inflorescences terminal, usually exceeding the upper leaves, panicles of 1–3(4) racemosely arranged, unilateral, pectinate branches; branches not enclosed at maturity, spikelets densely crowded in 2 rows. Staminate spikelets with 2 florets; glumes unequal, glabrous, 1- or 2-veined; lemmas 3-veined, glabrous, unawned; anthers brownish to red or orange. Pistillate inflorescences terminal, panicles, partially hidden within bracteate leaf sheaths; branches 2–3(4), 2.5–4.5 mm, burlike, with 3–5(7) spikelets; disarticulation at the base of the panicle branches. Pistillate spikelets with 1 floret, almost completely enclosed by the upper glumes; lower glumes irregular and reduced; branch axes and lower portion of upper glumes globose, white, indurate, terminating in 3 awnlike teeth; lemmas firmly membranous, glabrous, 3-veined, unawned or shortly 3-awned. x = 10.”
(Description source: Barkworth, M.E., Capels, K.M., Long, S. & Piep, M.B. (eds.) 2003. Flora of North America, north of Mexico. Volume 25. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, Part 2. Oxford University Press, New York. 783 pp. http://floranorthamerica.org/Bouteloua_dactyloides )