Which of the following is native to the United States?

Which of the following is native to the United States?

• A. Buffalograss
• B. Zoysiagrass
• C. Bermudagrass
• D. St. Augustinegrass

Answer: (A)

Where a grass species originally comes from determines whether it is native to the United States. Buffalograss is native to North America, specifically the Great Plains, where it evolved with the prairie ecosystem and grazing by buffalo. This natural distribution in the U.S. is what makes it a native species. The other grasses originate elsewhere and were introduced to the U.S. Zoysiagrass comes from Asia, bermudagrass from Africa (and parts of Asia), and St. Augustinegrass from the Caribbean and parts of Central/South America. Their origins are outside the United States, so they aren’t native.

Where a grass species originally comes from determines whether it is native to the United States. Buffalograss is native to North America, specifically the Great Plains, where it evolved with the prairie ecosystem and grazing by buffalo. This natural distribution in the U.S. is what makes it a native species.

The other grasses originate elsewhere and were introduced to the U.S. Zoysiagrass comes from Asia, bermudagrass from Africa (and parts of Asia), and St. Augustinegrass from the Caribbean and parts of Central/South America. Their origins are outside the United States, so they aren’t native.