| | |
 |
|
| 
| ||
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Wildlife, Animals, and Plants |
|
|||
|
BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS:Green needlegrass is a tufted, perennial, native, long-lived, cool-season bunchgrass [1,8,14,18,20,24,29,30,36,43,48,66,75,95,100,102,126,128]. At maturity, the plants are 12 to 48 inches (30-122 cm) tall [4,26,50,52,62,73,87,98,109,127,128,139,141]. It has "good" drought tolerance [34,44,109,127], is moderately tolerant of flooding [58] and short-term submergence [139], and is capable of vigorous seedling growth [79]. Green needlegrass has a weak tolerance to shade from scattered shrubs and woodland openings and is very winter hardy [139]. The numerous, mostly basal leaves, are flat to involute and taper to threadlike tips [139]. Average length of leaves ranges from 4 to 12 inches (10.2-30.5 cm) [127]. Inflorescences are narrow, loose spikelets and 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm) [62,98] long. Awns are bent twice and are 0.75 to 1.5 inches (1.9-3.8 cm) long [52,62,73,98,141]. Old sheath bases are often persistent [141]. Green needlegrass has a deep, up to 4 to 5 feet (122-152 cm) [140], fibrous root system [4,22,89,127,139], similar to needle-and-thread grass. The main roots are 0.04 inch (1 mm) in diameter; lateral spread is 14 inches (35.6 cm) in the first 6 inches (15.2 cm) of soil, and 18 inches (45.7 cm) in the first 12 inches (30.5 cm). The system is well branched and rootlets are abundant to depths of 2.5 feet (76.2 cm) [140].
RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM [108]:Hemicryptophyte
REGENERATION PROCESSES:Green needlegrass reproduces from seed and through tillering [95,98]. New seeds of green needlegrass have a higher occurrence of dormancy and a lower germination rate than mature seeds. Stratification in moist sand was found to be the best treatment to break dormancy. Fall plantings are successful because overwintering in soil can break the dormancy [113].
SITE CHARACTERISTICS:Green needlegrass is found on foothills, open hillsides and parks, in mountain meadows, canyons, and open woodlands [52,58,62]. It is a pioneer on abandoned croplands and coarse textured disturbed sites [139]. Green needlegrass is generally found in semi-arid, continental climates in a wide range of elevations [7,33,48]. Elevational ranges for green needlegrass are as follows:
Green needlegrass is found in a wide range of temperatures. Mean annual temperatures where green needlegrass is present are 3.4 to 117 degrees Fahrenheit (-15.9 to 47 oC). Green needlegrass occurs in areas with an average precipitation of 10-26 inches (254-660 mm) and the majority of the precipitation occurs between April and September [5,9,11,20,124,134,148]. Mean annual precipitation ranges for green needlegrass are as follows:
Soils: Green needlegrass is found on a variety of soil types [4,9,32,36,48,49,51,83,84,88,103,109,110,123,144,151]. It is tolerant of heavy clay soils, is less common on loams and sandy soils [91,127], and is weakly to moderately tolerant of soil salinity [139].
SUCCESSIONAL STATUS:In North Dakota, green needlegrass is considered a major species of the climax vegetation with western wheatgrass, blue grama, needle-and-thread grass, and threadleaf sedge [59]. It is considered a major climax grass, dominant with western wheatgrass [101]. Green needlegrass is an early seral species on disturbed sites [95].
SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT:Green needlegrass is one of the first in its association to start spring growth in the western Northern Great Plains [58]. It generally starts growth in March, grows vegetatively in May and June, heads out in June, and matures in July [4,22,97,127,139]. Goetz [50] observed these dates of development in North Dakota during 1955-1962:
White and Wight [145] observed these dates of development in Montana during 1975 and 1976:
Related categories for SPECIES: Nassella viridula | Green Needlegrass |
 |
 | |
| |
| |
| Content on this web site is provided for informational purposes only. We accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person resulting from information published on this site. We encourage you to verify any critical information with the relevant authorities. | |
| |
|
About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy | Links Directory |
| 1Up Info All Rights reserved. Site best viewed in 800 x 600 resolution. |
