Bouteloua aristidoides (Kunth) Griseb., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 9 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Dinebra aristidoides Kunth

Common name(s): [more details]

English: needle grama

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Annual; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; slender; 6-50 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 2-7 cm long; 1-2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.  Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 4-15; borne along a central axis; spreading, or deflexed; unilateral; 1.5-3.5 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2-4 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 2.5-10 cm long; tip subulate. Rhachis deciduous from axis; flattened; pubescent on surface; terminating in a barren extension; extension bristle-like; extension 5-10 mm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Raceme-bases linear; 1 mm long; shed with the raceme; acute, or pungent.  Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.  Basal sterile spikelets rudimentary; 1 in number.  Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 6-8 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.  Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.5-2 mm long; 0.3-0.4 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5-6 mm long; 0.7-0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.  Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6-8 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; mucronate; 3 -awned (mucros). Palea apex with excurrent keel veins. Rhachilla extension glabrous. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; rudimentary. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 3 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns equal; 2-6 mm long.  Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2.5-3 mm long; light brown. Embryo 0.75 length of caryopsis"  (GrassBase).

Habitat/ecology:  (no habitat/ecology info known by PIER)

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  "North America: southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico. South America: Caribbean, western South America, and southern South America"  (GrassBase).

Presence:

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2011)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2011)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Bouteloua aristidoides is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Bouteloua aristidoides as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Bouteloua aristidoides may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. 2011. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.