Sideoats Grama: the Texas State Grass
In 1971 the Texas Legislature focused on Texas farmlands, meadows and rangelands. Texas needed a grass for different soils, pastures, wildlife pres...
In 1971 the Texas Legislature focused on Texas farmlands, meadows and rangelands. Texas needed a grass for different soils, pastures, wildlife preservation, recovery crops, rainfall variances and durability. Sideoats grama (Boutiloua curtipendula) became the grass of choice and was officially named the Texas state grass. The scientific name refers to two Spanish botanists (Boutelou). The curtipendula is derived from curtis meaning shortened while pendidula meaning hanging. Those conspicuous, side-hanging seeds leave no doubt about the grass' name.