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Tussock grass

January 30, 2023

Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae. They usually grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn, in meadows, grasslands, and prairies. As perennial plants, most species live more than one season. Tussock grasses are often found as forage in pastures and ornamental grasses in gardens.[1][2][3]

Many species have long roots that may reach 2 meters (6.6 ft) or more into the soil, which can aid slope stabilization, erosion control, and soil porosity for precipitation absorption. Also, their roots can reach moisture more deeply than other grasses and annual plants during seasonal or climatic droughts. The plants provide habitat and food for insects (including Lepidoptera), birds, small animals and larger herbivores, and support beneficial soil mycorrhiza. The leaves supply material, such as for basket weaving, for indigenous peoples and contemporary artists.

Tussock and bunch grasses occur in almost any habitat where other grasses are found, including: grasslands, savannas and prairies, wetlands and estuaries, riparian zones, shrublands and scrublands, woodlands and forests, montane and alpine zones, tundra and dunes, and deserts.

Tussock-bunch grasslands, dormant season, in the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic
Bunch-tussock grasses in the Konza tallgrass prairie

Fire resistance

In western North American wildfires, bunch grasses tend to smolder and not ignite into flames, unlike invasive species of annual grasses that contribute to a fire's spreading.[4]

Genera

Examples:

Species

Australia

 
Larvae of the Geitoneura klugii feed on grasses like slender tussock grass, kangaroo grass, and false brome.

New Zealand

Further information: Tussock grasslands of New Zealand

North America

Bunch grasses:[5]

South America

 
Tussock and various types of flora near Keetmanshoop in Namibia

Africa

Europe

See also

Non-Poaceae tussocks

References

  1. ^ R.H. Groves, R.D.B. Whalley "Grass and Grassland Ecology in Australia" in Flora of Australia Volume 43 Poaceae 1: Introduction and Atlas, CSIRO Publishing, Canberra. "Tussock" grass implies a vertical orientation of the grass clump. In North American usage "Bunch grass" is more specific and defines a clumping, non-rhizomatous or non-stoloniferous growth form, vertical to splayed, and usually perennial with a deeper rooting system than other Poacea.
  2. ^ Crampton, Beecher. "Grasses in California. University of California Press. Berkeley. 1974. ISBN 0-520-02507-5. p. 7 Walker, T.W. 1955 "The Ecology of Tussock Grasslands: Discussion" Proc. NZ Ecol. Soc 3:7 "One fifth of New Zealand carries tussock or bunch grass vegetation, more than other steppes, prairies, or grasslands of the world"
  3. ^ Walker, T.W. 1955 "The Ecology of Tussock Grasslands: Discussion" Proc. NZ Ecol. Soc 3:7 "One fifth of New Zealand carries tussock or bunch grass vegetation, more than other steppes, prairies, or grasslands of the world"
  4. ^ Ellsworth and Kauffman, 2010, Native Bunchgrasses Response to Prescribed fire in Ungrazed Grasslands
  5. ^ . Cnga.org. 2012-07-20. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-12-23.

External links

January 30, 2023
tussock, grass, bunch, grasses, group, grass, species, family, poaceae, they, usually, grow, singular, plants, clumps, tufts, hummocks, bunches, rather, than, forming, lawn, meadows, grasslands, prairies, perennial, plants, most, species, live, more, than, sea. Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae They usually grow as singular plants in clumps tufts hummocks or bunches rather than forming a sod or lawn in meadows grasslands and prairies As perennial plants most species live more than one season Tussock grasses are often found as forage in pastures and ornamental grasses in gardens 1 2 3 Many species have long roots that may reach 2 meters 6 6 ft or more into the soil which can aid slope stabilization erosion control and soil porosity for precipitation absorption Also their roots can reach moisture more deeply than other grasses and annual plants during seasonal or climatic droughts The plants provide habitat and food for insects including Lepidoptera birds small animals and larger herbivores and support beneficial soil mycorrhiza The leaves supply material such as for basket weaving for indigenous peoples and contemporary artists Tussock and bunch grasses occur in almost any habitat where other grasses are found including grasslands savannas and prairies wetlands and estuaries riparian zones shrublands and scrublands woodlands and forests montane and alpine zones tundra and dunes and deserts Tussock bunch grasslands dormant season in the Falkland Islands in the south Atlantic Bunch tussock grasses in the Konza tallgrass prairie Contents 1 Fire resistance 2 Genera 3 Species 3 1 Australia 3 2 New Zealand 3 3 North America 3 4 South America 3 5 Africa 3 6 Europe 4 See also 4 1 Non Poaceae tussocks 5 References 6 External linksFire resistance EditIn western North American wildfires bunch grasses tend to smolder and not ignite into flames unlike invasive species of annual grasses that contribute to a fire s spreading 4 Genera EditExamples Brachypodium Calamagrostis Chionochloa Deschampsia Festuca Heteropogon tropical climates Leymus Melica Muhlenbergia Nassella Stipa Triodia formerly Plectrachne Australia Species EditAustralia Edit Larvae of the Geitoneura klugii feed on grasses like slender tussock grass kangaroo grass and false brome Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus button grass Joycea pallida red anther wallaby grass Poa labillardierei common tussock grass Poa sieberiana grey tussock grassNew Zealand Edit Further information Tussock grasslands of New Zealand Chionochloa australis carpet grass Chionochloa flavescens snow tussock Chionochloa oreophila snow patch grass Chionochloa rubra red tussock Festuca novaezelandiae fescue tussock or hard tussock Poa cita silver tussock Poa colensoi blue tussock Poa foliosa muttonbird poaNorth America Edit Bunch grasses 5 Aristida purpurea purple three awn Bouteloua gracilis blue grama Calamagrostis foliosa leafy reedgrass endemic to California Calamagrostis nutkaensis Pacific reedgrass Calamagrostis purpurascens purple reedgrass Danthonia californica California oatgrass Eriophorum vaginatum hare s tail cottongrass Festuca californica California fescue Festuca idahoensis Idaho fescue Festuca rubra red fescue Koeleria macrantha junegrass Leymus condensatus giant wildrye Melica californica California melic Melica imperfecta smallflower melic Muhlenbergia rigens deer grass Nassella lepida foothill needlegrass Nassella pulchra purple needlegrass the state grass of California Poa secunda pine bluegrass Sporobolus heterolepis prairie dropseed Sporobolus virginicus salt couch grass Tripsacum dactyloides eastern gamagrassSouth America Edit Deschampsia cespitosa tufted hair grass up through North America Nassella trichotoma serrated tussock common pasture weed in Australia Poa flabellata tussac grass synonyms Parodiochloa flabellata Festuca flabellata Dactylis caespitosa Tussock and various types of flora near Keetmanshoop in Namibia Africa Edit Heteropogon contortus perennial tussock grass to Asia Australasia Oceania Europe Edit Ampelodesmos mauritanicus rope grass Brachypodium sylvaticum false brome Molinia caerulea purple moor grass to west Asia and north Africa See also EditList of Poaceae genera Tussock grasslandNon Poaceae tussocks Edit Carex appropinquata fibrous tussock sedge Carex stricta tussock sedge Gahnia aspera rough saw sedgeReferences Edit R H Groves R D B Whalley Grass and Grassland Ecology in Australia in Flora of Australia Volume 43 Poaceae 1 Introduction and Atlas CSIRO Publishing Canberra Tussock grass implies a vertical orientation of the grass clump In North American usage Bunch grass is more specific and defines a clumping non rhizomatous or non stoloniferous growth form vertical to splayed and usually perennial with a deeper rooting system than other Poacea Crampton Beecher Grasses in California University of California Press Berkeley 1974 ISBN 0 520 02507 5 p 7 Walker T W 1955 The Ecology of Tussock Grasslands Discussion Proc NZ Ecol Soc 3 7 One fifth of New Zealand carries tussock or bunch grass vegetation more than other steppes prairies or grasslands of the world Walker T W 1955 The Ecology of Tussock Grasslands Discussion Proc NZ Ecol Soc 3 7 One fifth of New Zealand carries tussock or bunch grass vegetation more than other steppes prairies or grasslands of the world Ellsworth and Kauffman 2010 Native Bunchgrasses Response to Prescribed fire in Ungrazed Grasslands California Native Grasslands Association access date 6 9 2010 Cnga org 2012 07 20 Archived from the original on 2012 03 08 Retrieved 2012 12 23 External links EditCalifornia Native Grasslands Association Bunchgrass species amp habitats preservation amp restoration http www landcareresearch co nz resources identification plants grass key Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tussock grass amp oldid 1077955165, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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