Difference between revisions of "Muhlenbergia expansa"

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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>
 
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===Habitat===  
 
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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>
 
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>
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''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>
 
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Revision as of 16:26, 14 June 2018

Common names: cutover muhly [1], wiregrass [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

Variety: none

Description

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

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. [1]

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]

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. [4]

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

Burning is a successful solution to managing the grass. [1]

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 1.6 USDA Plant Database
  2. Garren, K. H. (1943). "Effects of fire on vegetation of the southeastern United States." Botanical Review 9(9): 617-654.
  3. Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
  4. DiMiceli, J. K., et al. (2007). "Seed preferences of wintering Henslow's sparrows." Condor 109: 595-604.