• GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS
• RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM
• REGENERATION PROCESSES
• SITE CHARACTERISTICS
• SUCCESSIONAL STATUS
• SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT

GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Mesa dropseed is a warm-season, native, perennial bunchgrass. It is short-lived (4-5 years) and sometimes grows as an annual [2,5,7,14,21,36,41,46,49]. Mesa dropseed has long culms (11.8-39.0 inches (30-100 cm)) with many leafy blades and coarse roots [5,7,14]. Dwyer and DeGarmo [10] found that roots decrease in biomass from top to bottom at 1/3rd field capacity and were better distributed as soil moisture decreased. Sporobolus spp. have small seeds (0.04-0.12 inch (0.1-0.3 mm)) [20].

RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM:

Hemicryptophyte

REGENERATION PROCESSES:

Mesa dropseed reproduces from seed [5,15,33,46] that fall from the parent plant and can be wind blown [8,20,34]. The seeds have a hard seed coat that must be punctured before good germination occurs [23]. New culms or tillers originate from basal buds below the ground level and occasionally from a bud at an elevated node [15]. Development is quick during periods of adequate moisture and high night temperatures [7]. There is an almost immediate response to water, especially when soil water is supplied below 3.9 inches (10 cm) [15]. Mesa dropseed usually does not achieve maturity in an unbroken period. During periods of drought, it goes into a dormant stage [7]. New seedlings establish in open areas and under shrubs [30,34].

SITE CHARACTERISTICS:

Mesa dropseed occurs mainly in dry areas with mean annual precipitation of 12 inches (300 mm) or less; it can survive in areas with as little as 6 to 7 inches (150-180 mm) mean annual precipitation [41,46]. It occurs on well-drained sand, sandy loams, loamy sands and gravelly soils [3,7,15,29].

SUCCESSIONAL STATUS:

Daniel and others [9] classified mesa dropseed as a mid- and late-seral species. Bridges [2] placed it just below the climax stage of black grama and Valentine [43] included it in the climax vegetation of the sandy soils on the New Mexico State University College Ranch, along with black grama and spike dropseed (Sporobolus contractus).

SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT:

Mesa dropseed greens up during the spring and again in late fall if moisture is adequate [19]. New culms appear in March and flowering starts 4 to 5 days after inflorescence elongation begins [15]. Mesa dropseed blooms from September to November [8,21,46].

Related categories for SPECIES: Sporobolus flexuosus | Mesa Dropseed