Sonoran Desert Grasses

Many, many species. Just a few shown for now ...

Sixweek Threeawn	Aristida adscensionis	Fluff Grass	Erioneuron pulchellum
Annual grass of spring (sometimes fall) with three purplish awns per spikelet. Rocky slopes in Sonoran Desert. Detailed Description		Perennial bunch grass normally less than 10 cm tall. Spiny around base. Common. Blooming in spring and then again after summer rains begin. Detailed Description Sponsored Links:
Six-Weeks Fescue	Vulpia octoflora	Bigelow Blue Grass	Poa bigelovii
Annual grass of spring with up to 8 florets per spiklet and short awns from each floret. Sandy or gravel soils in Sonoran Desert. Detailed Description		Delicate spring annual. The flattened spikelets have a distinct blue-green color. Detailed Description
Arabian Schismus	Schismus arabicus	Mediterranean Grass	Schismus barbatus
Annual grass of spring growing mostly as a weed near agricultural concerns. Introduced. Requires magnification to distinguish from more common Mediterranean Grass. Detailed Description		Annual spring grass - common to abundant on vacant urban lots, roadsides, rocky slopes and desert flats through much of the Sonoran Desert. An invasive exotic weed from Eurasia that contributes to fire hazards when it dries out after spring. Detailed Description

Needle Grama	Bouteloua aristidoides	Red Grama	Bouteloua trifida
Annual grass appearing in late spring or after summer rains begin. Narrow spikelets arranged along one side of rachis. Common across the Sonoran Desert. Detailed Description		Small perennial grass of rocky slopes that is normally obscure. Spiklets are purplish-red. Sonoran Desert. Detailed Description
Curly-mesquite	Hilaria belangeri	Red Brome Grass	Bromus rubens
Low growing perennial summer grass found at upper elevations of Sonoran Desert in transition to grassland and open mesquite woodland. Narrow spike inflorescence. Detailed Description		Invasive, weedy, annual grass of spring growing abundantly on rocky bajadas and along roads and wash banks. Long, conspicuous, reddish awns. Detailed Description
Bermuda Grass	Cynodon dactylon	Red Sprangletop	Leptochloa panicea brachiata (Leptochloa filiformis)
Perennial grass cultivated in lawns but also abundant and weedy along desert washes and into gardens and at roadsides. Umbel-like branched inflorescence. Detailed Description		Annual grass in drying washes after flood. Spikelets w/o awns and 2-4 florets per spike. Sometime reddish or purple color. Detailed Description