4 CIRCULAR 328, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Improved strains of buffalo grass that are decidedly more rapid in 

 spread than the average plants have been selected and isolated at this 

 station. Repeated transplanting of this material in comparison with 

 the average sod has proved that the difference in spread is due to 

 inherent characters rather than to chance environmental conditions. 

 Numerous comparisons of staminate and pistillate plants showed no 

 consistent relation between the sex and spreading ability. Certain 

 plants have appeared to be more abundant seed producers than others, 

 indicating the possibility of selecting abundant seed-producing strains. 



SPREADING HABIT 



The grass spreads almost entirely by surface runners, or stolons, 

 which are equally abundant and vigorous on the staminate or so- 

 called "male" and pistillate or so-called "female" plants. When the 

 end of one of the stolons is raised it appears to have a springlike 

 tension, tending to return to the surface of the ground with more 

 force than that of its weight alone. This interesting characteristic 

 of the stolon structure promotes rooting of the stolons. 



SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT 



In the latitude of Hays, Kans., buffalo grass becomes dormant 

 shortly before the first killing frost in the fall, remains in that con- 

 dition all winter, and renews growth late in the spring, seldom before 

 the early part of May. Its maximum growth usually occurs in May 

 and June. During the summer there are usually one or more periods 

 when heat and drought cause a practical cessation of growth. The 

 grass greens up rapidly after a rain following one of these periods and 

 will remain green all summer if rains are timely and well distributed. 

 The leaves lie rather flat on the ground and tend to curl up at the ends 

 as the plants become dormant. The attractive gray-green leaves 

 assume a light-brown color in the fall. 



The flowers usually occur in greatest abundance in June, but con- 

 tinue to appear later in the season if conditions are favorable. The 

 seeds begin to mature in July and many remain attached to the plants 

 until dislodged by torrential rains, killed by freezing weather, or eaten 

 by livestock. 



ADAPTATION 

 DISTRIBUTION 



Buffalo grass is adapted to a rather wide range of soil and climatic 

 conditions in the Great Plains area, its natural habitat. 4 The grass 

 derives its name from the fact that it represented one of the chief 

 constituents of the native flora upon which vast herds of buffalo 

 grazed ir che early days. It seldom occurs in pure stands, even in 

 the central Great Plains where it is best adapted, but usually is asso- 

 ciated with other grasses, chiefly blue grama {Bouieloua gracilis Lag.). 

 The latter, also one of the so-called "short grasses", is often errone- 

 ously referred to as buffalo grass, but is taller, spreads less readily, and 

 does not lend itself so well to vegetative methods of propagation. 

 Blue grama has narrower and more erect leaves and no stolons. 



* The writer is particularly under obligation to the following men for supplying information as to the 

 distribution of buffalo grass: A. E. Aldous, A. S. Hitchcock, H. L. Shantz, J. T. Sarvis, Herbert C. Hanson, 

 B. F. Kiltz, E. F. Chilcott, V. L. Cory, Alvin Kezer, Matthew Fowlds, O. R. Mathews, J. C. Stephens, 

 L. L. Zook, J. F. Brandon, Owen Nelson, C. P. Wilson, H. E. Morris, A. E. Seamans, Leroy Moomaw, 

 R. S. Towle, A. L. Nelson, Lyle F. Watt, and A. L. Frolik. 



