Scleropogon brevifolius Phil., burrograss 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season, weak, stoloniferous perennial. 
Height: 4 to 8 inches. 
Leaf blade: Flat; narrow; sharp pointed. 
Leaf sheath: Rounded; shorter than internodes; mostly 
basal. 
Seedhead: Raceme; staminate (male) spikelets, awnless ; pis- 
tillate (female) spikelets, numerous long awns. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Growth starts in May or June. Seedheads appear 3 to 4 weeks 
later. Burrograss is a low forage producer. It reproduces from 
seed and from stolons. Generally grows in pure stands. Because it 
is shallow rooted, this grass cannot compete with taller, deeper 
rooted grasses. Mature female spikelets with awns break off and 
form tumbleweeds that are moved around by wind. 
DISTRIBUTION 
West Texas to Arizona, north to Colorado, south to central 
Mexico, and in Argentina. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Grows on calcareous clay and clay loam soils. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Burrograss is grazed by cattle, horses, and sheep. 
Cattle and horses seldom overgraze this grass because it grows 
so close to the ground. Sheep can graze it close enough to kill it. 
Sheep should graze this grass only in spring before seed mature 
and in late fall and winter after seed dissemination to prevent 
awns from collecting in their wool and causing eye irritation. 
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