Low growing, bunched or mat-forming native perennial. The 8-30 inch stems bear 1-3 comb-like flower clusters up to 1 inch long, the upper cluster always at the tip. Clusters consist of closely-packed flowers all arising from just one side of the secondary stem which is initially straight but curves upward slightly at maturity. Flowers extend out all the way to the tip of the stem.
Drier sites in upland prairies. This plant is rare at Neale Woods where only a couple of plants have been seen in Knull Prairie restoration. Sightings were in the general area between the Astronomy Building and the elevated viewing platform. Flowering occurs in July and August.
The similar male flower cluster of buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) is smaller and shorter stemmed. Buffalo Grass also commonly produces above-ground runners called stolons. Hairy Grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) has not been identified at FF/NW, but is mentioned because it very closely resembles Blue Grama. Close examination of the stem holding the one-sided flowers will show it to project well beyond the flower cluster in Hairy Grama while in Blue Grama (B) the flowers extend all the way to the tip. Blue Grama is a common, often dominant, component of short grass prairies to the west.
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