This plant grows in plains and desert
grassland,
shrubsteppe, and desert shrubland habitat. It may occur in desert
wetland habitat types such as desert
marshes, seasonal lakes, and
floodplains. In this kind of habitat it is an important species for preventing
erosion and slowing runoff by trapping sediments. It may be a common to prominent or
dominant species. It dominates some grasslands in its native range, alongside other common grasses. This type of grassland has been reduced to a fraction of its pristine range by forces such as
overgrazing and the channelization of water. This grass provides a good forage for
livestock, producing large amounts of green matter. It is an important species for grazers on grasslands in parts of Arizona. It is also valuable for wildlife. ==References==