Hilaria belangeri (Steud.) Nash, curly mesquite 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season, stoloniferous perennial. 
Height: 4 to 10 inches. 
Leaf blade: Flat; curly; usually short. 
Leaf sheath: Shorter than internodes; mostly basal. 
Stem: Erect and stoloniferous. 
Seedhead: Solitary spike usually 3/4 to 1 inch long. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Growth starts in late spring. Seedheads emerge 30 to 40 days 
later. Reproduces primarily from stolons. Some stolons are aerial 
and produce leaves and no roots; others creep along the ground 
and produce both leaves and roots at nodes, which usually have a 
ring of hair. Grows mostly in pure stands. Sometimes grows in 
clusters from axillary buds on basal nodes. Does not tolerate 
shade. Plants are pale green. This grass is not a vigorous compet- 
itor. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Most of Texas, southern Oklahoma, west to Arizona and in 
northern Mexico. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Grows on a wide variety of soils. Grows best on loams to clay 
loams that have a pH of 6.8 to 7.4. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Curly mesquite is grazed all year by horses, cattle, sheep, goats, 
antelope, and deer. 
For maximum production, this grass requires proper grazing 
use and periodic grazing deferments of 30 to 40 days all year. 
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