Scientific Name: BOUTELOUA ERIOPODA
Common Name: BLACK GRAMA
Erosion Index: EXCELLENT
Erosion Index Value: 8.1
Wildlife Index: GOOD
Wildlife Index Value: 6.15
Ecological Distribution: EDWARDS PLATEAU, ROLLING PLAINS, HIGH PLAINS, TRANS-PECOS
Topographic Tolerance: UPLAND,
Elevation Tolerance: TOLERANT OVER WIDE ELEVATION RANGE
Slope Tolerance: LEVEL TO GENTLY SLOPING, MODERATE OR UNDULATING SLOPES
Aspect Tolerance: TOLERANT ACROSS RANGE
Light Tolerance: TOLERANT TO FULL SUN
Wetland Regional Indicator: OBLIGATE UPLAND
Physical Form: GRASS
Habit: OTHER
Life Cycle: PERENNIAL
Seed Age: 1 TO 4 YEARS OLD
Seed Interval: 1 YEAR OR LESS
Growth: RAPID GROWTH, LONG-LIVED, SOD-FORMING
Hardiness: DROUGHT TOLERANT, DISEASE TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period: JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Flowering Period: JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Fruiting Period: AUG, SEP, OCT
Soil Moisture: WELL-DRAINED ONLY
Soil Texture: TOLERANT TO LOAMY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SANDY SOILS, TOLERANT TO GRAVELLY OR ROCKY SOILS
Soil Fertility: TOLERANT OVER WIDE FERTILITY RANGE
Parent Material: TOLERANT OVER WIDE RANGE
Soil pH: NEUTRAL, SLIGHTLY ALKALINE
Optimum pH: SLIGHTLY ALKALINE
Soil Depth: SHALLOW SOILS (0 - 12 IN.)
Salinity: OBLIGATE TO NON-SALINE (FRESH) SOIL/WATER CONDITIONS
Short-term Biomass: MEDIUM
Short-term Pest: NONE KNOWN
Long-term Biomass: MEDIUM
Long-term Pest: NONE KNOWN
Dominance Characteristics: DOMINANT
Honeybee Relations: POLLINATED WITHOUT BEES, NOT HONEY PRODUCING
Parasite Host Potential: NONE KNOWN
Food for Wildlife/Livestock: CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, HORSES
Small Mammal Food: GOOD
Large Mammal Food: GOOD
Upland Game Birds Food: GOOD
Waterfowl Food: FAIR
Nongame Birds Food: GOOD
Small Mammal Cover: GOOD
Large Mammal Cover: FAIR
Upland Game Birds Cover: GOOD
Waterfowl Cover: FAIR
Nongame Birds Cover: GOOD
Toxicity Potential: NONE KNOWN
Toxicity Season:  
Effectiveness Period: SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
Raindrop Impact: HIGH
Erosion Hardiness: HIGH
Ease of Propagation: MEDIUM
Soil Binding: LOW
Soil Enrichment Potential: LOW
Nitrogen Fixation Potential: LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production: LOW
Source Availability: SPECIALIZED COMMERCIAL OR WHOLESALE OUTLET, HARVEST FROM LOCAL WILD STOCK
Seed Germination Ratio: LOW
Reproduction: SEEDS, STOLONS, TILLERS
Seed Dispersal Success Potential: GRAVITY, WIND
Seed Establishment Success Potential: MEDIUM
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential: LOW
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential: UNKNOWN
Establishment Time Interval: 2 TO 3 YEARS
Recommended Establishment: SEEDS
Relative Expense: MODERATELY EXPENSIVE
Notes: - Generally grows in pure stands produced from stolons, each plant reproducing 6-9 stolons. - Requires 2 favorable successive growing seasons to produce established stolons and new plants. - Easily killed by overgrazing.

Associated Species:

ALKALI SACATON ALLTHORN
BLUE GRAMA BUFFALOGRASS
CATCLAW ACACIA CREOSOTEBUSH
FOURWING SALTBUSH HAIRY GRAMA
HONEY MESQUITE LOTEBUSH
SAND DROPSEED SCURFPEA
SIDEOATS GRAMA SUMAC SPP.