Hilaria mutica (Buckley) Benth.

Hilaria mutica, synonym Pleuraphis mutica,^[1] is a species of grass known by the common name tobosa, or tobosa grass. It is native to Northern Mexico, and the Southwestern United States, in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.^[2]

Description

Hilaria mutica is perennial grass that is rhizomatous and forms sod. It usually grows 30 to 60 cm (0.98 to 1.97 ft) tall, sometimes reaching up to 90 cm (3.0 ft). The stems have decumbent bases and erect tops.

Most of the stiff, hairless leaves are basal. They are up to 15 cm (5.9 in) long. The bases of the stems come from a thick, woody rootstock and a system of roots that penetrates up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft) deep in the soil.

The inflorescence is a few centimeters long and is white, straw, or purplish. Spikelets are borne in clusters of three. The plant reproduces mainly by spreading by its rhizome, and does not often form viable seeds.^[2] The plant is susceptible to ergot.^[3]

Distribution

Hilaria mutica is one of the most common species on the semidesert grasslands in the region. It is a climax species on frequently flooded lowlands. It also occurs on upland territory. Habitat types that feature the grass include pinyon-juniper woodland and mesquite, creosote, and grassy shrubsteppe. It does best on land that is flooded for a few days and then dries up. It also grows on drier soils, and it is somewhat drought-tolerant.

It grows on clay with honey mesquite and other species such as burrograss (Scleropogon brevifolius), alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) and sacaton (S. wrightii) and other dropseed grasses (Sporobolus spp.), grama grasses (Bouteloua spp.), muhly grasses (Muhlenbergia spp.), and tarbush (Flourensia cernua).

Uses

Tobosa is an important forage for cattle and horses in the American Southwest. It is productive and palatable until it becomes rough at maturity. It is especially valuable during drought when it persists after other grasses die. It can be cut into hay when still green. In Texas, it yields 1000 pounds per acre, and this can be increased with careful and deliberate management. In areas with adequate precipitation, burning is used to remove litter, which then stimulates the stems to produce more green matter.

The grass can cause ergot poisoning if eaten when infested with the fungus.^[2]

References

Zacate toboso (Hilaria mutica) es una especie de gramínea perenne de la familia Poaceae. Es endémica de México y EE. UU. Sus rizomas tiene una altura de 30 a 50 cm. Se distribuye desde el sureste de Estados Unidos hasta los estados mexicanos de Sonora y Chihuahua. Actualmente se utiliza como una planta forrajera.

Descripción

Posee rizomas breves, culmos erectos de 30–50 cm de largo; con internudos distales glabros, y nudos pubescentes. Hojas más largas que los tallos internodales, venación estriada; escabrosos; márgenes glabros, o pilosos. Lígula membranosa de 1 mm de largo, laceradas. Láminas foliares achatadas, o involutas, 5–10 cm × 2–4 mm; superficie foliar ribeteada; escabrosa; rugosa en ambos lados; glabras, o pilosas.

Taxonomía

Hilaria mutica fue descrita por (Buckley) Benth. y publicado en Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany 19: 62. 1881.^[1]​

Etimología

Hilaria: nombre genérico que fue nombrado en honor del botánico francés Augustin Saint-Hilaire.^[2]​

mutica: epíteto latino que significa "sin puntos".

Sinonimia

• Pleuraphis mutica Buckley^[3]​

Distribución

En Estados Unidos está presente en Nuevo México y Arizona , mientras que en México en Sonora y Chihuahua. ^[4]​

Nombres comunes

• Toboso común, zacate galleta.

Referencias

Bibliografía

1. Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville.
2. Barkworth, M.E., K.M. Capels, S. Long & M.B. Piep. 2003. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 2. Fl. N. Amer. 25: i–xxv, 1–783.
3. Beetle, A.A. 1977. Noteworthy grasses from Mexico V. Phytologia 37(4): 317–407.
4. Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Man. Vasc. Pl. Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson.
5. Gould, F. W. & R. Moran. 1981. The grasses of Baja California, Mexico. Mem. San Diego Soc. Nat. Hist. 12: 1–140.
6. Hitchcock, A. S. 1951. Man. Grasses U.S. (ed. 2) 1–1051. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
7. Peterson, P. M. 2001. Hilaria. In Catalogue of New World Grasses (Poaceae): II. Subfamily Chloridoideae. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 41: 128–129.
8. Shreve, F. & I. L. Wiggins. 1964. Veg. Fl. Sonoran Des. 2 vols. Stanford University Press, Stanford.
9. Sohns, E. R. 1956. The genus Hilaria (Gramineae). J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 46(10): 311–321.
10. Soreng, R. J., G. Davidse, P. M. Peterson, F. O. Zuloaga, E. J. Judziewicz, T. S. Filgueiras & O. N. Morrone. 2003 and onwards. On-line taxonomic novelties and updates, distributional additions and corrections, and editorial changes since the four published volumes of the Catalogue of New World Grasses (Poaceae) published in Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. vols. 39, 41, 46, and 48. http://www.tropicos.org/Project/CNWG:. In R. J. Soreng, G. Davidse, P. M. Peterson, F. O. Zuloaga, T. S. Filgueiras, E. J. Judziewicz & O. N. Morrone (eds.) Internet Cat. New World Grasses. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.

Pleuraphis mutica là một loài thực vật có hoa trong họ Hòa thảo. Loài này được (Buckley) Benth. mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1881.^[1]

Chú thích

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