Side-oats Grama. Summary. Protection Endangered in New York State, not listed federally.

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1 Side-oats Grama Bouteloua curtipendula spikelets Scientific Name Family Name Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula Poaceae Grass Family Did you know? Side-oats grama is a very widespread and common grass west of New York but only occurs here in fewer than ten places. Many of them are close to or along current or historical railroad lines. It is one of the most beautiful and easy-to-recognize grasses in New York. Photo credits: Troy Weldy Summary Protection Endangered in New York State, not listed federally. This level of state protection means: listed species are those with: 1) 5 or fewer extant sites, or 2) fewer than 1,000 individuals, or 3) restricted to fewer than 4 U.S.G.S. 7 ½ minute topographical maps, or 4) species listed as endangered by U.S. Department of Interior. Rarity G5T5, S2 A global rarity rank of G5T5 means: Secure globally - Both the species as a whole and the subspecies/variety are common in the world; widespread and abundant (but may be rare in some parts of its range). A state rarity rank of S2 means: This plant is threatened/imperiled in New York because of rarity (typically 6-20 populations or few remaining individuals) or is vulnerable to extirpation NYNHP Conservation Guide - Side-oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula)

2 from New York due to biological factors. Conservation Status in New York There are eight existing populations, half of them good or excellent. The other half are small or under threat. There are about 10 historical populations and most of those are probably extirpated. Short-term Trends The short-term trend appears good as most current populations have have not changed in size over the last 30 years. Long-term Trends The long-term trend has been somewhat negative as many of the historical populations in the Hudson River Valley have not been found again. This was a result of habitat succession and the introduction of weedy species through the suppression of fire and other human disturbances. Conservation and Management Threats Populations are moderately threatened by succession and human disturbance which has introduced weedy species such as phragmites and European herbs. Unprotected populations may be threatened by development at the sites. Conservation Strategies and Management Practices Research Needs The control of invasive species is important in the open habitat where this grass occurs. There seems to be a specific rock and soil type that the species prefers, otherwise it would be much more common in the state. There is a need to understand these habitat preferences. Most of the occurrences are also near existing or old railroad tracks and this correlation needs to be studied. Habitat In New York this species is strongly associated with dry limestone-derived soils, as well as with disturbance, both natural and artificial, since it is also prefers open habitats. It occurs at riverside bluffs, shale cliffs and barrens, cedar glades, and limestone pavements as well as abandoned sandpits and pastures, railroads, and powerlines. (New York Natural Heritage Program 2007). Dry hills and plains (Fernald 1970). Dry woods (Gleason & Cronquist 1991). NYNHP Conservation Guide - Side-oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula) 2

3 Associated Ecological Communities Alvar Pavement Grassland This community consists of exposed, flat limestone or dolostone pavement with grassy or mossy patches interspersed throughout. Some examples may be solely grassland with no pavement. Calcareous Red Cedar Barrens A small-patch calcareous rocky summit community occurring on dry, south-facing to southwest-facing slopes and low summits. These sites are characterized by stunted, sparse woodlands with small grassland openings. Red Cedar Rocky Summit A community that occurs on warm, dry, rocky ridgetops and summits where the bedrock is calcareous (such as limestone or dolomite, but also marble, amphibolite, and calcsilicate rock), and the soils are more or less calcareous. The vegetation may be sparse or patchy, with numerous lichen covered rock outcrops. Other Probable Associated Communities Calcareous cliff community Calcareous pavement barrens Calcareous talus slope woodland Limestone woodland Northern white cedar rocky summit Shale cliff and talus community Associated Species Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) Bicknell's Sedge (Carex bicknellii) Crawe Sedge (Carex crawei) Maltese Star-thistle (Centaurea melitensis) Dwarf Juniper (Juniperus communis) Liatris borealis Morrow Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) White Sweetclover (Melilotus albus) Wild Bergamot Bee-balm (Monarda fistulosa) Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) Meadow Timothy (Phleum pratense) Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Nodding Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes cernua) Northern Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) Small Dropseed (Sporobolus neglectus) Eastern Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) Identification Comments Side-oats grama is a attractive perennial grass with erect stems up to 1m tall (usually less). The numerous spikes are relatively large (.8-2cm long) and well-spaced along a mostly NYNHP Conservation Guide - Side-oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula) 3

4 1-sided raceme. Best Life Stage for Identifying This Species Side-oats Grama is most easily identified when flowering or fruiting. The distinctive flower stalks may sometimes be recognized even in winter. The Best Time to See Side-oats grama flowers in mid-summer and the fruits persist from mid-july through the fall. Flowering Fruiting Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Similar Species The time of year you would expect to find Side-oats Grama in New York. There are no other species of Bouteloua in New York, and the overall form of this grass is quite distinctive. Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Plantae Anthophyta Order Monocots (Monocotyledoneae) Family Cyperales Poaceae (Grass Family) Additional Resources Links Illinois Wildflowers New York Flora Atlas USDA Plants Database BOUTELOUA+CURTIPENDULA NatureServe Explorer ENDULA NYNHP Conservation Guide - Side-oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula) 4

5 Google Images Missouri Plants Best Identification Reference Flora of North America Editorial Committee Flora of North America, North of Mexico. Volume 25. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 2. Oxford University Press, New York. 783 pp. References Fernald, M.L Gray's manual of botany. 8th edition. D. Van Nostrand, New York pp. Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp. Hitchcock, A.S Manual of the grasses of the United States. 2nd edition revised by Agnes Chase. [Reprinted, 1971, in 2 vols., by Dover Publications, Incorporated, New York.] Holmgren, Noel The Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. Keys, Jr.,J.; Carpenter, C.; Hooks, S.; Koenig, F.; McNab, W.H.; Russell, W.;Smith, M.L Ecological units of the eastern United States - first approximation (cd-rom), Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. GIS coverage in ARCINFO format, selected imagery, and map unit tables. NatureServe NatureServe Central Databases. Arlington, Virginia. USA New York Natural Heritage Program Biotics database. New York Natural Heritage Program. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY. Reschke, Carol Ecological communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Latham, NY. 96 pp. plus xi. Rhoads, Ann F. and Timothy A. Block The Plants of Pennsylvania, an Illustrated Manual. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, PA. Voss, E.G Michigan Flora, Part I. Gymnosperms and Monocots. Cranbrook Institute of Science Bulletin 55 and the University of Michigan Herbarium. Ann Arbor. 488 pp. Weldy, T. and D. Werier New York flora atlas. [S.M. Landry, K.N. Campbell, and L.D. Mabe (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research University of South Florida New York Flora Association Albany, New York Weldy, Troy W. and David Werier New York Flora Atlas. [S.M. Landry, K.N. Campbell, and L.D. Mabe (original application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research. University of South Florida]. New York Flora Association, Albany, NY. Available on the web at ( New York Natural Heritage Program 625 Broadway, 5th Floor, Albany, NY NYNHP Conservation Guide - Side-oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula) 5

6 Phone: (518) This project is made possible with funding from: - New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program NYNHP Conservation Guide - Side-oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula) 6

7 - Division of Lands & Forests, Department of Environmental Conservation - New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Information for this guide was last updated on Aug 11, 2017 This guide was authored by NYNHP Conservation Guide - Side-oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula) 7