Trichloris crinita (Lag.) Parodi, twoflower trichloris 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season, tufted, perennial bunch grass. 
Height: 1 to 2 feet. 
Leaf blade: Flat; 3 to 8 inches long; upper side hairy near 
base. 
Leaf sheath: Open ; shorter than internodes. 
Ligule: Ring of short hair. 
Stem: Branches at lower nodes. 
Seedhead: Dense, feathery spikes 1 to 2 inches long; green 
seedheads turn light brown at maturity; spikelets 2-flow- 
ered, thus the common name. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Twoflower trichloris is one of the last grasses to start growth 
in spring and one of the first to become dormant in fall. Growth is 
rapid during late spring and summer. May produce several seed 
crops in one season. Seedstalk to leaf and stem ratio is high. 
Growing points are several inches above ground. Plants have a 
weak root system. 
DISTRIBUTION 
Rio Grande plains in south Texas to northern Mexico. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Grows best on deep sandy to sandy loam soils. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Twoflower trichloris is grazed readily by livestock. 
This grass decreases under continuous grazing because it is so 
palatable that livestock graze it close to the ground all year. Also, 
young plants are easily pulled from the ground. Periodic grazing 
deferments of 60 to 70 days throughout the year are needed to 
maintain plant vigor. 
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