Eriochloa sericea (Scheele) Munro, Texas cupgrass 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season, perennial bunch grass. 
Height: 1 to 4 feet. 
Leaf blade: 4 to 12 inches long; basal; tightly rolled inward; 
hairy at collar. 
Leaf sheath: Shorter than internodes; lower sheath hairy. 
Ligule: Dense ring of straight hair. 
Seedhead: Several racemes pressed against rachis; 4 to 10 
fuzzy spikelets ; pedicels with several stiff hairs one-half as 
long as spikelets ; seedhead 4 to 8 inches long. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Growth starts in late winter or early spring, giving it some 
characteristics of a cool-season grass. Produces seedheads in early 
summer, usually June and July. May become semidormant in 
midsummer and grow again in fall if moisture is available. Gen- 
erally, leaves stay green during winter. After seed are dissemi- 
nated, seedhead appears hairy and end of rachis is cup shaped. 
DISTRIBUTION 
South-central Oklahoma to south Texas and a few locations in 
eastern New Mexico. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Best adapted to dry, mostly limestone soils on prairie and hill- 
side sites. Seldom grows in thick stands. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Texas cupgrass is relished by all livestock after new growth 
starts and remains palatable all year. Forage quality is high. 
When grazed in winter, supplement with protein concentrate. It 
is an indicator of good range condition. 
Because this grass seldom dominates a site, it is seldom a key 
management species. An early spring grazing deferment of at 
least 90 days every 2 to 3 years allows it to maintain vigor and 
produce a seed crop. 
97 
