The male and female plants of this grass grow in separate colonies. The female spikelets have long awns and break off at maturity and form small tumbleweeds that are moved around by the wind. The male seedheads are awnless.
Grows in nearly pure stands on dry, calcareous clay and clay loam soils.
Is grazed some by cattle, horses, and sheep.
Is seldom overgrazed because it grows so close to the ground.
