Taxon: Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths

Summary

Genus:

Bouteloua

Section:

Chondrosum

Family:

Poaceae (alt. Gramineae)

Subfamily:

Chloridoideae

Tribe:

Cynodonteae

Subtribe:

Boutelouinae

Nomen number:

7527

Place of publication:

Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 14:375. 1912, nom. cons. (Steudel, Nomencl. bot. ed. 2, 1:219. 1840, pro syn.)

Comment:

conserved (nom. cons., Shenzhen ICN Art. 14.10 & App. IV) against the earlier homonym (Shenzhen ICN Art. 53) Bouteloua gracilis Vasey, nom. rej.

Verified:

03/27/2006 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

178 (151 active, 63 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Chondrosum gracile Kunth

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Atheropogon oligostachyus Nutt.
Bouteloua oligostachya (Nutt.) Torr. ex A. Gray

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)

Links

Forestry Images – from www.forestryimages.org
Spikelets and/or florets – Seed ID Workshop image, from Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, Ohio State University

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Brummitt, R. K. 2002. Report of the Committee for Spermatophyta: 53. Taxon 51:797. Note: conservation proposal recommended
Cronquist, A. et al. 1972-. Intermountain flora. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 41-42.
Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage Note: = Bouteloua oligostachya (Nutt.) Torr. ex A. Gray
Englert, J. M. et al. 1999. USDA-NRCS Improved conservation plant materials released by NRCS and cooperators
FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
Gandhi, K. N. et al. 2001. (1479) Proposal to conserve the name Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Griffiths against B. gracilis Vasey (Poaceae). Taxon 50:573-575.
Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2 Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag.
Gould, F. W. 1975. The grasses of Texas Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
Gould, F. W. 1979. The genus Bouteloua (Poaceae). Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 66:392. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Griffiths
Herrera-Arrieta, Y. et al. 2004. Revisión de Bouteloua Lag. (Poaceae) Note: CIIDIR Unidad Durango, CONABIO, & Editorial Filo de Agua
Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: higher plants of California
Johnson, P. G. 2000. An overview of North American native grasses adapted to meet the demand for low-maintenance turf. Diversity 16:40-41.
Kartesz, J. T. & K. N. Gandhi. 1990. Nomenclatural notes for the North American flora. IV. Phytologia 69:302.
Kenna, M. P. 2000. The United States Golf Association: a leader in the science of turf for 80 years. Diversity 16:11-14.
Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1986. Flora of the Great Plains.
McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
Mejía-Saulés, M. T. & P. Dávila A. 1992. Gramíneas Útiles de México. Cuad. Inst. Biol. 16 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, Mexico. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag.
Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Welsh, S. L. et al. 1993. A Utah flora. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Bouteloua aristidoides

Common names

Language	Name	note	seq	Citation
English	blue grama		1	Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
English	blue grama grass		1	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
English	eyelash grass		1	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
English (Canada)	blue grama	Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada official name	2	Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 41-42.
French (Canada)	boutelou gracieux	Agriculture & Agroalimentaire Canada nom officiel	2	Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 41-42.
Spanish	navajita		2	Mejía-Saulés, M. T. & P. Dávila A. 1992. Gramíneas Útiles de México. Cuad. Inst. Biol. 16 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, Mexico. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag.
Spanish	navajita azul		2	Mejía-Saulés, M. T. & P. Dávila A. 1992. Gramíneas Útiles de México. Cuad. Inst. Biol. 16 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, Mexico. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag.

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Kansas		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Minnesota		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	North Dakota		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	South Dakota		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Wisconsin		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Chihuahua		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Coahuila de Zaragoza		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Durango		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Nuevo León		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	San Luis Potosí		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sonora		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Tamaulipas		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Zacatecas		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Colorado		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Idaho		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Montana		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Wyoming		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	New Mexico		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Aguascalientes		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Ciudad de México		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guanajuato		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guerrero		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Hidalgo		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Jalisco		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	México		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Michoacán de Ocampo		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Morelos		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Nayarit		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Oaxaca		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Puebla		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Querétaro		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Tlaxcala		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave		McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Arizona		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	California		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Nevada		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Utah		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Alberta		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Manitoba		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Saskatchewan		FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
4	Naturalized					natzd. elsewhere

Native
Northern America

EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Ontario]
WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin]
NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arkansas]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico, Texas]
SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Aguascalientes, Ciudad de México, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Tlaxcala, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave]

Naturalized (natzd. elsewhere)

Reference(s)

FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
McVaugh, R. 1983-. Flora Novo-Galiciana. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Animal food	forage	grazing	Cronquist, A. et al. 1972-. Intermountain flora. Note: lists as Bouteloua gracilis (Kunth) Lag. ex Steud.
Environmental	lawn/turf	potential	Kenna, M. P. 2000. The United States Golf Association: a leader in the science of turf for 80 years. Diversity 16:11-14.
Environmental	lawn/turf	potential	Johnson, P. G. 2000. An overview of North American native grasses adapted to meet the demand for low-maintenance turf. Diversity 16:40-41.

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=7527. Accessed 12 May 2026.