Brazos County Herbarium

Brazos County Horticulture Extension

Bush muhly

Muhlenbergia porteri

Poaceae

Description

Bush muhly forms large bunches of wiry, tangled stems and leaves that may resemble a bird's nest. Blades and stems are short and fine. Blades fall from the sheath at maturity. The inflorescence is 2 to 4 inches long, purplish to white, with single, short-awned florets borne on short pedicels. Has also been called "mesquitegrass" and "bush-grass".

Bush muhly is a perennial, warm-season, native - 6 to 24 inches tall.

Good grazing for livestock. Poor grazing for wildlife.

Habitat

Grows on hills, mesas and plains, often under the protection of brushy or thorny plants. Decreases with heavy grazing.

Images

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Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management

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