Sporobolus wrightii
| Sporobolus wrightii | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| (unranked): | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Sporobolus |
| Species: | S. wrightii |
| Binomial name | |
| Sporobolus wrightii Munro ex Scribn. | |
Sporobolus wrightii is a species of grass known by the common names big sacaton and giant sacaton. It is native to the western United States[1] and northern and central Mexico.[2] This species is sometimes considered a variety of Sporobolus airoides.[3][4]
This species is a perennial bunchgrass with thick stems that can reach 2.5 meters tall. The leaves are 20 to 70 centimeters long. The panicle is lance-shaped in outline and up to 60 centimeters long. It contains purplish or greenish spikelets.[2][4]
This plant grows in plains and desert grassland, shrubsteppe, and desert shrubland habitat. It may occur in desert wetland habitat types such as desert marshes, seasonal lakes, and floodplains. In this kind of habitat it is an important species for preventing erosion and slowing runoff by trapping sediments. It may be a common to prominent or dominant species. It dominates some grasslands in its native range, alongside other common grasses. This type of grassland has been reduced to a fraction of its pristine range by forces such as overgrazing and the channelization of water.[3]
This grass provides a good forage for livestock, producing large amounts of green matter. It is an important species for grazers on grasslands in parts of Arizona. It is also valuable for wildlife.[3]
References
- ↑ Sporobolus wrightii. NatureServe.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sporobolus wrightii. Grass Manual Treatment.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Esser, Lora L. 1995. Sporobolus wrightii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sporobolus wrightii. Jepson Manual Treatment.