Tanglehead (Heteropogon contortus) is a perennial C4 grass with a world-wide distribution in warm climates. Tanglehead is indigenous to the southwestern US on sandy and rocky soils; its occurrence in late-Wisconsin aged packrat middens in the Sonoran Desert confirms its presence over 12,000 years ago. Carter considered tanglehead one of the primary grasses in south Texas prior to European settlement and subsequent shrub invasion.

Tanglehead is fair to good cattle forage especially when grazed early in the growing season or after fire but of little grazing value for sheep and wildlife. Tanglehead provides excellent nesting cover for northern bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) and wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) and fawning cover for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).