Molinia caerulea, known by the common name purple moor-grass,[1] is a species of grass that is native to Europe, west Asia, and north Africa. It grows in locations from the lowlands up to 2,300 m (7,546 ft) in the Alps. Like most grasses, it grows best in acid soils, ideally pH values of between 3.5 and 5, however, it can continue to live under more extreme conditions, sometimes to as low as 2. It is common on moist heathland, bogs and moorland throughout Britain and Ireland. Introduced populations exist in northeastern and northwestern North America.[2]
Molinia caerulea is a herbaceousperennialbunchgrass (tussock-forming), growing up to 120 cm (47 in) tall (taller when sheltered by gorse and heather), with many closely packed stems. The leaves are coarse, green, taper to a point, long, flat and sometimes slightly hairy on top.[4] Due to the dense tussock it is very resistant to heath fires. Its ligule is a ring of hairs, as in heath grass (Danthonia decumbens). The long narrow purple spikelets are a major identification feature – the panicle is 15 cm (6 in) long.[5]
It flowers between July and September, later than any other species.
Molinia caerulea is cultivated for its panicles of purple spikelets on yellow stems. In cultivation it grows to 1.5 m (5 ft) tall by 40 cm (16 in) broad.[7] Numerous cultivars have been selected, of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:[8]
Fitter, Richard; Fitter, Alastair; Farrer, Ann (1984). Grasses, Sedges, Rushes and Ferns of Britain and Northern Europe. Collins Pocket Guides. Collins. ISBN0002191369.
Rose, Frances (1974). The Observer's Book of Grasses, Sedges and Rushes. Frederick Warne & Co. pp. 18–19.
External linksedit
Noyes, Alfred (16 September 2021). "The Highwayman".
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Molinia caerulea.
April 12, 2024
molinia, caerulea, known, common, name, purple, moor, grass, species, grass, that, native, europe, west, asia, north, africa, grows, locations, from, lowlands, alps, like, most, grasses, grows, best, acid, soils, ideally, values, between, however, continue, li. Molinia caerulea known by the common name purple moor grass 1 is a species of grass that is native to Europe west Asia and north Africa It grows in locations from the lowlands up to 2 300 m 7 546 ft in the Alps Like most grasses it grows best in acid soils ideally pH values of between 3 5 and 5 however it can continue to live under more extreme conditions sometimes to as low as 2 It is common on moist heathland bogs and moorland throughout Britain and Ireland Introduced populations exist in northeastern and northwestern North America 2 Purple moor grassHabitusScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade MonocotsClade CommelinidsOrder PoalesFamily PoaceaeGenus MoliniaSpecies M caeruleaBinomial nameMolinia caerulea L MoenchSynonymsAira caeruleaThe specific epithet caerulea means deep blue 3 and refers to the purple spikelets Contents 1 Description 2 Ecology 3 Cultivation 4 Gallery 5 References 6 External linksDescription editMolinia caerulea is a herbaceous perennial bunchgrass tussock forming growing up to 120 cm 47 in tall taller when sheltered by gorse and heather with many closely packed stems The leaves are coarse green taper to a point long flat and sometimes slightly hairy on top 4 Due to the dense tussock it is very resistant to heath fires Its ligule is a ring of hairs as in heath grass Danthonia decumbens The long narrow purple spikelets are a major identification feature the panicle is 15 cm 6 in long 5 It flowers between July and September later than any other species Ecology editThe caterpillars of some Lepidoptera use it as a foodplant e g the chequered skipper Carterocephalus palaemon Claviceps purpurea is an ascomycetous fungus which grows on the seeds of purple moor grass Purple moor grass and rush pastures is a United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan habitat on account of its rarity 6 Cultivation editMolinia caerulea is cultivated for its panicles of purple spikelets on yellow stems In cultivation it grows to 1 5 m 5 ft tall by 40 cm 16 in broad 7 Numerous cultivars have been selected of which the following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society s Award of Garden Merit 8 M caerulea subsp arundinacea Windspiel 9 M caerulea subsp caerulea Edith Dudszus 10 M caerulea subsp caerulea Moorhexe 11 M caerulea subsp caerulea Poul Petersen 12 M caerulea subsp caerulea Variegata 13 Gallery edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Inflorescence nbsp Habitus German Horst nbsp Leaf and vegetative parts nbsp Molinia caerulea at natural habitat near Silkeborg Denmark nbsp Sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea which grows on the seeds of purple moor grass References edit BSBI List 2007 xls Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland Archived from the original xls on 2015 06 26 Retrieved 2014 10 17 Molinia caerulea L Moench Harrison Lorraine 2012 RHS Latin for gardeners United Kingdom Mitchell Beazley p 224 ISBN 9781845337315 Grasses by C E Hubbard 1978 published by Penguin books Cope Tom Gray Alan 2009 Grasses of the British Isles London Botanical Society of the British Isles UK BAP Purple Moor and Rush Pastures Archived 2007 12 06 at the Wayback Machine RHS A Z encyclopedia of garden plants United Kingdom Dorling Kindersley 2008 p 1136 ISBN 978 1405332965 AGM Plants Ornamental PDF Royal Horticultural Society July 2017 p 65 Retrieved 4 April 2018 RHS Plantfinder M caerulea subsp arundinacea Windspiel Retrieved 4 April 2018 M caerulea subsp caerulea Edith Dudszus RHS Retrieved 6 January 2021 RHS Plantfinder M caerulea subsp caerulea Moorhexe Retrieved 4 April 2018 Molinia caerulea subsp caerulea Poul Petersen RHS Retrieved 6 January 2021 RHS Plant Selector Molinia caerulea subsp caerulea Variegata Retrieved 24 May 2013 Fitter Richard Fitter Alastair Farrer Ann 1984 Grasses Sedges Rushes and Ferns of Britain and Northern Europe Collins Pocket Guides Collins ISBN 0002191369 Rose Frances 1974 The Observer s Book of Grasses Sedges and Rushes Frederick Warne amp Co pp 18 19 External links editNoyes Alfred 16 September 2021 The Highwayman nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Molinia caerulea Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Molinia caerulea amp oldid 1186480544, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
