Chloris verticillata Nutt., tumble windmillgrass 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season, perennial bunch grass. 
Height: 4 to 12 inches. 
Leaf blade : Crowded at base; 3 to 7 inches long; tightly 
folded ; abruptly pointed ; light green. 
Leaf sheath: Shorter than inter nodes; compressed; flattened. 
Stem: Erect or decumbent; sometimes roots at lower nodes. 
Seedhead: 7 to 10 slender spikes 2 to 6 inches long, arranged 
in 1 to 3 whorls, finally widely spreading; each spikelet 
tipped with short awn. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Growth starts in spring. Becomes dormant in fall. May produce 
two seed crops during growing season — first, from May to July; 
second, in September. Seedheads break off at maturity and tumble 
in the wind. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Missouri and Colorado, south to Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, 
and Arizona; introduced into California, Indiana, Illinois, and 
Maryland. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Adapted to wide range of soils; best adapted to acid to neutral 
medium- and coarse-textured soils. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Tumble windmillgrass is grazed by all livestock in spring and 
early summer. If grazed during dormancy, supplement with pro- 
tein and mineral concentrates. Its quality is moderately high but 
production is low. It is not a choice forage plant but is important 
as an indicator of fair to poor range condition. 
This grass is seldom, if ever, a key management species. When 
it is, it responds to proper grazing use and deferred grazing 
periods of 50 to 60 days. 
ir 
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