Digitaria californica is a species of grass known by the common name Arizona cottontop. It is native to the Americas, where it can be found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America.[2]
This perennial grass forms a clump of stems reaching up to a meter in height. The branching root system can reach one meter deep. There are no rhizomes or stolons. The leaf sheaths around the stems can be very hairy to woolly. The leaves are usually short and narrow. The inflorescence is a dense, narrow panicle containing pairs of woolly-haired spikelets.[2][3]
This plant grows in a number of habitat types, including desert scrub and shrublands, shrubsteppe, and savanna. In the desert it sometimes grows beneath mesquites where it thrives in the local nutrients. It tolerates varying precipitation amounts and survives easily in drought conditions, becoming dormant at times, then growing quickly when rain returns. Much of its growth occurs in the summer, after the spring and summer rain cycles.[3]
This species is a preferred grass for livestock such as cattle. It tolerates high grazing activity, but not overgrazing.[3]
Digitaria californica is a species of grass known by the common name Arizona cottontop. It is native to the Americas, where it can be found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
This perennial grass forms a clump of stems reaching up to a meter in height. The branching root system can reach one meter deep. There are no rhizomes or stolons. The leaf sheaths around the stems can be very hairy to woolly. The leaves are usually short and narrow. The inflorescence is a dense, narrow panicle containing pairs of woolly-haired spikelets.
This plant grows in a number of habitat types, including desert scrub and shrublands, shrubsteppe, and savanna. In the desert it sometimes grows beneath mesquites where it thrives in the local nutrients. It tolerates varying precipitation amounts and survives easily in drought conditions, becoming dormant at times, then growing quickly when rain returns. Much of its growth occurs in the summer, after the spring and summer rain cycles.
This species is a preferred grass for livestock such as cattle. It tolerates high grazing activity, but not overgrazing.
Digitaria californica es una especie de hierba perteneciente a la familia de las poáceas. Es nativa de las Américas, donde se encuentra en el suroeste de Estados Unidos, México, América Central y América del Sur.[1]
Esta hierba perenne forma una mata de tallos que alcanzan hasta un metro de altura. El sistema de raíces de ramificación puede alcanzar hasta un metro de profundidad. No tiene rizomas o estolones. Las vainas de las hojas alrededor de los tallos pueden ser muy peludas para lanosas. Las hojas son generalmente cortas y estrechas. La inflorescencia es densa, en una estrecha panícula que contiene pares de espiguillas lanudas de pelo largo.[1][2]
Esta planta crece en una serie de tipos de hábitat, incluyendo el matorral xerófilo y arbustales, estepa arbustiva y sabana. En el desierto, a veces crece debajo de los mezquites en el que se desarrolla en los nutrientes locales. Tolera diferentes cantidades de precipitación y sobrevive con facilidad en condiciones de sequía, puede convertirse en estado latente, a veces, y a continuación, vuelve a su desarrollo, cada vez más rápidamente, cuando vuelve la lluvia. Gran parte de su crecimiento se produce en el verano, después de los ciclos de lluvia de primavera y verano. [2]
Esta especie es una hierba preferida para el ganado vacuno. Tolera una actividad alta de pastoreo, pero no el sobrepastoreo.[2]
Digitaria californica fue descrita por (Benth.) Henrard y publicado en Blumea 1(1): 99. 1934.[3]
Digitaria: nombre genérico derivado del latín "dígitus" = (dígito o dedo) ya que se distinguen por sus alargadas inflorescencias que parecen dedos.[4]
californica: epíteto geográfico que alude a su localización en California.
Digitaria californica es una especie de hierba perteneciente a la familia de las poáceas. Es nativa de las Américas, donde se encuentra en el suroeste de Estados Unidos, México, América Central y América del Sur.
Digitaria californica là một loài thực vật có hoa trong họ Hòa thảo. Loài này được (Benth.) Henrard mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1934.[2]
Digitaria californica là một loài thực vật có hoa trong họ Hòa thảo. Loài này được (Benth.) Henrard mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1934.