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Early‐Spring Blue Grama Inflorescences from Fall‐Initiated Spikes 1
Author(s) -
Launchbaugh J. L.,
Hackerott H. L.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1969.0011183x000900050037x
Subject(s) - bouteloua gracilis , biology , inflorescence , dormancy , agronomy , horticulture , botany , grassland , germination
Blue grama ( Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. ex Steud.) was discovered flowering less than 1 month following severe winter weather, and 2 months before the normal onset of heading in native range near Hays, Kans. Variable spike damage was an indication of freezing or drought injury to the inflorescences during early development. The short interval between start of growth and spike exertion under field and experimental conditions suggests the early spikes were initiated the previous fall, started to develop, went into winter dormancy, and completed development during the earliest favorable growth period in the spring.