Poa Hunting at Tent Rocks and Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico

Bouteloua gracilis at Bandelier

There were quite a few interesting grass species at the nearby Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument and Bandelier National Monument.

Bromus tectorum at Bandelier

In addition to the native species, there were a number of colonies of the invasive cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), which sometimes coated hillsides with their dry golden-colored forms.

Bromus tectorum at Tent Rocks

Cheatgrass has become a scourge in the Northwestern states, destroying sagebrush ecosystems due to its propensity to cause more frequent and hotter burning fires.

Bromus tectorum at Tent Rocks

Another ubiquitous species was Blue grama grass (Bouteloua gracilis), whose comb-like inflorescence were quite distinctive and rather cute as they waved in the slight breeze.

Bromus tectorum at Bandelier

Blue grama is the state grass of New Mexico, and it is also the most valuable forage grass in the state. Native Americans are fond of Blue grama as well, and make bread from the seeds, which they grind up to make the flour.

Schizachyrium scoparium at Bandelier

In Bandelier, I also chanced upon single specimens of Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), their straight rigid forms quite distinctive among the other vegetation.

Bouteloua gracilis at Bandelier

All in all, I enjoyed Poa Hunting at the two national monuments, and I was especially interested in my introduction to Blue grama grass.