VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Aristida stricta | Pineland Threeawn 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Pineland threeawn provides primary cattle forage in recently burned pine
flatwoods in Florida and Georgia [14].  Following burning, it is grazed
primarily in the spring, after which cattle shift to other grasses such
as bluestems (Andropogon spp.) and panicums (Panicum spp.)  [27,37].  In
areas not burned for 2 or 3 years, cattle do not graze pineland threeawn
because of large accumulations of dead material [14].



PALATABILITY : 
On unburned range, pineland threeawn is largely unpalatable to grazing
animals.  New growth is tender and nutritious, and highly palatable for
about 6 weeks [8,14].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Mature pineland threeawn is a low quality forage.  Compared with other
native forage grasses, it is poorly digested and nutritionally inferior
[18,27].  Nutritional quality is greatly increased by prescribed burning
[see Fire Management Considerations].


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Longleaf pine/pineland threeawn ecosystems have been reduced by as much
as 98 percent since presettlement times and are considered endangered
[30].  Pineland threeawn establishment is essential for restoration of
these ecosystems, yet little is known about pineland threeawn
propagation [9].  Research has shown that pineland threeawn can be
regenerated from seed collected in natural stands 5 to 8 months after
summer burning [36].  This suggests that pineland threeawn can be
reestablished by direct seeding or by transplanting container-grown
material.


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Timber/Soil/Ecosystem Management:  To reduce competing vegetation and
facilitate easy planting of pines, mechanical site preparation is a
common management practice following timber harvest in pine savannas and
flatwoods.  Chopping or disking, which is most common, nearly eliminates
pineland threeawn because it has shallow roots.  These practices have
destroyed thousands of acres of pineland threeawn annually, promoting
growth of weedy grasses.  Once removed from a site, pineland threeawn
does not reestablished, even after several decades, because of
negligible seed production [2,8,30].

Grazing:  Pineland threeawn increases slowly on areas burned annually
and grazed year-round.  It decreases in areas grazed heavily in spring
and left ungrazed during summer and fall [22].

Related categories for Species: Aristida stricta | Pineland Threeawn