SafePlants

Red Grama (Bouteloua trifida)

Bouteloua trifida, commonly known as Red Grama, is a perennial, warm-season grass native to North America. It is also known by the common names Grama, Red, Purple Grama, White Grama, Navajita azul, Navajita comun.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Bouteloua trifida Thurb.
• Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
• Tribe: Chlorideae
• Synonyms: Bouteloua trifida S. Watson
• Plant Symbol: BOTR2

Distribution and Habitat

• Red Grama is native to central and northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States.
• It is commonly found in shallow, gravelly, dry soils.
• It is a common, low-growing native grass on fine-textured soils in south Texas.
• It can also be found in areas like the Maricopa Mountains, Arizona, USA.

Morphological Characteristics

• Red Grama is a tufted bunchgrass with erect or prostrate stems growing from short rootstocks and occasional rhizomes.
• The plant typically grows up to sixteen inches tall.
• Numerous single stems protrude from the base.
• The leaves are short and narrow, either flat or lightly rolled with a rough surface and hairs.
• It has bristly seedheads.

Ecological Role

• Red Grama provides poor grazing for wildlife and livestock.
• Continued heavy grazing contributes to the increase in low-value grasses such as Red Grama.

Associations

• Red Grama is commonly associated with plants such as Narrow-leaf yucca, grassland pricklypear, juniper, Texas grama, sideoats grama, and purple three-awn.

Further Information

• USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• Discover Life
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species