SideoatsGrama

**(Bouteloua Curtinpendula)**
Sideoats Grama is a grass that can be found throughout the Ames High Prairie. It was named for the characteristic oats on its side and was given the spanish word "grama" which means grass.⁵ This species is very important for soil cover because it actually increases in abundance under grazing pressure and during drought. It is also good for agricultural uses, since it is food for other species.⁵ My evidence for this species being in the AHS prarie was through pictures taken and it was also on the paper titled "Species in the Ames High Prarie"

Picture of Sideoats Grama taken by Sam Primmer Here you can see the seeds coming out of one side

__**Characteristics/Appearance**__
Sideoats Grama is a perennial plant, which means that it lives for two or more years. This plant is medium size, it can range from 12-40 inches tall and it has a blueish-green color and flowers can be yellow or purple, when they bloom in the summer-fall season.¹ The sideoats grama flower is most characterizable by small seeds which sprout usually off just one side of the plant.² There are normally about 10-30 of these seeds. Sideoats grama is a member of the grass family and is very drought and cold tolerant.¹

__**Range**__
Sideoats Grama is native throughout the temperate and tropical Americas.¹ It is found in every state of the USA except for Nevada and it is the state grass of Texas.³ It is usually also found on open slopes, forests, and woodlands, below an elevation of about 7,000 feet.²

**__Interactions with other organisms__**
Sideoats Grama is one of the most important range grasses. It is more palatable (eatable) than many other grasses, so other organisms feed off of it, it provides forage for deer and antelpe, especially when it is green. Elk feed off of it throughout the entire year.² There are no serious pests of Sideoats Grama and it also attracts birds.⁴

**__References__**
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouteloua_curtipendula 2. http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_bocu.pdf 3. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=bocu 4. http://www.mobot.org/gardinghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=G730 5. http://www.northern.edu/natsource/GRASSES/Sideoa1.htm