The dark green leaves are erect and covered with short, stiff hairs. If you hold the leaf tip and run your fingers gently down the blade, it feels like sandpaper.
Another common name is, “speargrass”. This refers to the seed, which has a sharp base and a long, bent and twisted awn. The characteristic assists in the planting of the seed. Also, the seed may become attached to the hair and wool of grazing animals, which help distribute the seed.
Adapted to dry prairies, sandy or deep loam soils.
Grazed by all livestock and is good forage; primarily because it is green and succulent during the winter when most other grasses are dormant.
By June this grass rapidly deteriorates and becomes useless as a forage plant, unless the area remains wet during the summer or the grass grows in a shaded environment.
