Difference between revisions of "Muhlenbergia expansa"

From Coastal Plain Plants Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Habitat)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{italic title}}
 
{{italic title}}
Common names: cutover muhly <ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref>, wiregrass <ref name="garren">Garren, K. H. (1943). "Effects of fire on vegetation of the southeastern United States." Botanical Review 9(9): 617-654.</ref>
+
Common names: Cutover muhly<ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref>, Savanna hairgrass<ref name="weakley">Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.</ref>
 
<!-- Get the taxonomy information from the NRCS Plants database -->
 
<!-- Get the taxonomy information from the NRCS Plants database -->
 
{{taxobox
 
{{taxobox
Line 19: Line 19:
 
}}
 
}}
 
==Taxonomic Notes==
 
==Taxonomic Notes==
Synonym: ''M. capillaris'' var. ''trichopodes'' (Elliott) Vasey
+
Synonym: ''M. capillaris'' var. ''trichopodes'' (Elliott) Vasey.<ref name="weakley">Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.</ref>
  
Variety: none
+
Variety: none.<ref name="weakley">Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.</ref>
  
 
==Description==  
 
==Description==  
''M. expansa'' is a perennial graminoid of the Poaceae family that is native to North America. <ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref>
+
''M. expansa'' is a perennial graminoid of the Poaceae family that is native to North America.<ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref>
 
<!-- Basic life history facts such as annual/perrenial, monoecious/dioecious, root morphology, seed type, etc. -->
 
<!-- Basic life history facts such as annual/perrenial, monoecious/dioecious, root morphology, seed type, etc. -->
 +
 +
This species has an open and diffuse panicle which is broader than 4 cm. This panicle is capillary, flexuous, and fragile, tending to break up over the winter. It lacks rhizomes, has old leaf bases that are fibrous and curly, and is tufted with terete and erect culms. The glume bodies are 2.0-3.3 mm long. Its spikelets are borne on slender or capillary pedicels, colored brown or bronze and 2.5-5 mm long. Finally, the lemma is acuminate and its awn is 0-1.5 mm long.<ref name="weakley">Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.</ref> 
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
The southeastern region of the United States is the native range of ''M. expansa''; specifically in FLorida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. <ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref>
+
''M. expansa'' ranges from southeastern Virginia to Florida and west to eastern Texas - nearly the exact range of ''Pinus palustri''s.<ref name="weakley">Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.</ref>
  
 
==Ecology==
 
==Ecology==
 
===Habitat===  
 
===Habitat===  
Fine textured soils, and strongly acid sands are part of the ideal habitat for ''M. expansa'' <ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref> In general, pine savannas, pine flatwoods, and mesic areas in sandhill-pocosin ecotones are the environments where ''M. expansa'' can be found. <ref name= "Weakley"> Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.</ref> Specimens have been taken from flatwoods with pine savanna sandy loam. <ref name = "FSU herbarium"> URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2018. Collectors: John Nelson, Pat Ferral, Richard Carter, R. Kral States and counties: South Carolina (Berkeley) Georgia (Wane)</ref> When exposed to soil disturbance by military training in West Georgia, ''M. expansa'' responds negatively by way of absence.<ref>Dale, V.H., S.C. Beyeler, and B. Jackson. (2002). Understory vegetation indicators of anthropogenic disturbance in longleaf pine forests at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. Ecological Indicators 1(3):155-170.</ref>
+
Fine textured soils, and strongly acid sands are part of the ideal habitat for ''M. expansa''<ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref> In general, pine savannas, pine flatwoods, and mesic areas in sandhill-pocosin ecotones are the environments where ''M. expansa'' can be found.<ref name= "Weakley"> Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.</ref> Specimens have been taken from flatwoods with pine savanna sandy loam.<ref name = "FSU herbarium"> URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2018. Collectors: John Nelson, Pat Ferral, Richard Carter, R. Kral States and counties: South Carolina (Berkeley) Georgia (Wane)</ref> When exposed to soil disturbance by military training in West Georgia, ''M. expansa'' responds negatively by way of absence.<ref>Dale, V.H., S.C. Beyeler, and B. Jackson. (2002). Understory vegetation indicators of anthropogenic disturbance in longleaf pine forests at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. Ecological Indicators 1(3):155-170.</ref>
  
''M. expansa'' has been determined as an indicator species for the Henslow's Sparrows habitats in southeastern Louisiana, it is one of the preferred seeds of the sparrow. <ref name= "dimiceli">DiMiceli, J. K., et al. (2007). "Seed preferences of wintering Henslow's sparrows." Condor 109: 595-604.</ref>
+
''M. expansa'' has been determined as an indicator species for the Henslow's Sparrows habitats in southeastern Louisiana, it is one of the preferred seeds of the sparrow.<ref name= "dimiceli">DiMiceli, J. K., et al. (2007). "Seed preferences of wintering Henslow's sparrows." Condor 109: 595-604.</ref>
 
<!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->
 
<!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->
  
 
===Phenology===
 
===Phenology===
April is the common month where much of the growth happens for ''M. expansa''. Seeds are produced during the late summer months that can be dispersed throughout the following year. <ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref>
+
April is the common month where much of the growth happens for ''M. expansa''. Seeds are produced during the late summer months that can be dispersed throughout the following year.<ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref>
 
<!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, seed dispersal, and environmental triggers.  Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ -->
 
<!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, seed dispersal, and environmental triggers.  Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ -->
 
<!--===Seed dispersal===-->
 
<!--===Seed dispersal===-->
 
<!--===Seed bank and germination===-->
 
<!--===Seed bank and germination===-->
 
===Fire ecology===
 
===Fire ecology===
Burning is a successful solution to managing the grass. <ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref>
+
This species is an important component to longleaf pine ecosystems and burning is a successful solution to managing the grass.<ref name= "USDA>[https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref> Flowering is stimulated by fire, so without it, large populations may be in a solely vegetative condition.<ref name="weakley">Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.</ref>
 
<!--===Pollination===-->  
 
<!--===Pollination===-->  
 
===Use by animals===
 
===Use by animals===
Animals use the grass for forage but is not used as a food source for any animal apart from some livestock but even then it is not their entire food source. <ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref>
+
Animals use the grass for forage but is not used as a food source for any animal apart from some livestock but even then it is not their entire food source.<ref name= "USDA"> [https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEAM USDA Plant Database]</ref>
 
<!--==Diseases and parasites==-->
 
<!--==Diseases and parasites==-->
  

Revision as of 15:03, 28 September 2020

Common names: Cutover muhly[1], Savanna hairgrass[2]

Muhlenbergia expansa
Muhlenbergia expansa DL.jpg
Photo by Bobby Hattaway at Discoverlife.org
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Liliopsida - Moncots
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Muhlenbergia
Species: M. expansa
Binomial name
Muhlenbergia expansa
Poir.
MUHL EXPA DIST.JPG
Natural range of Muhlenbergia expansa from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Taxonomic Notes

Synonym: M. capillaris var. trichopodes (Elliott) Vasey.[2]

Variety: none.[2]

Description

M. expansa is a perennial graminoid of the Poaceae family that is native to North America.[1]

This species has an open and diffuse panicle which is broader than 4 cm. This panicle is capillary, flexuous, and fragile, tending to break up over the winter. It lacks rhizomes, has old leaf bases that are fibrous and curly, and is tufted with terete and erect culms. The glume bodies are 2.0-3.3 mm long. Its spikelets are borne on slender or capillary pedicels, colored brown or bronze and 2.5-5 mm long. Finally, the lemma is acuminate and its awn is 0-1.5 mm long.[2]

Distribution

M. expansa ranges from southeastern Virginia to Florida and west to eastern Texas - nearly the exact range of Pinus palustris.[2]

Ecology

Habitat

Fine textured soils, and strongly acid sands are part of the ideal habitat for M. expansa[1] In general, pine savannas, pine flatwoods, and mesic areas in sandhill-pocosin ecotones are the environments where M. expansa can be found.[3] Specimens have been taken from flatwoods with pine savanna sandy loam.[4] When exposed to soil disturbance by military training in West Georgia, M. expansa responds negatively by way of absence.[5]

M. expansa has been determined as an indicator species for the Henslow's Sparrows habitats in southeastern Louisiana, it is one of the preferred seeds of the sparrow.[6]

Phenology

April is the common month where much of the growth happens for M. expansa. Seeds are produced during the late summer months that can be dispersed throughout the following year.[1]

Fire ecology

This species is an important component to longleaf pine ecosystems and burning is a successful solution to managing the grass.[1] Flowering is stimulated by fire, so without it, large populations may be in a solely vegetative condition.[2]

Use by animals

Animals use the grass for forage but is not used as a food source for any animal apart from some livestock but even then it is not their entire food source.[1]

Conservation and Management

Cultivation and restoration

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 USDA Plant Database Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "USDA" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "USDA" defined multiple times with different content
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
  3. Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
  4. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2018. Collectors: John Nelson, Pat Ferral, Richard Carter, R. Kral States and counties: South Carolina (Berkeley) Georgia (Wane)
  5. Dale, V.H., S.C. Beyeler, and B. Jackson. (2002). Understory vegetation indicators of anthropogenic disturbance in longleaf pine forests at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA. Ecological Indicators 1(3):155-170.
  6. DiMiceli, J. K., et al. (2007). "Seed preferences of wintering Henslow's sparrows." Condor 109: 595-604.