Holcus lanatus
Holcus lanatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Pooideae |
Genus: | Holcus |
Species: | H. lanatus
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Binomial name | |
Holcus lanatus |
Holcus lanatus is a
In parts of northern Europe the grass is a common native species and a hardy pasture grass.
Characteristics and hybrids
Holcus lanatus has velvety grey-green leaves. The stems are round. The bases of the stems are white with pink stripes or veins; this character has been called the "stripy pyjamas".[4] The inflorescence is robust and often tinged purple. It produces a large amount of seed and is a rapid coloniser of disturbed ground. It prefers wetter ground; it is often seen around drainage ditches. The ligule is 1–4 millimetres (0.039–0.157 in) long, blunt, and hairy.
This species can be distinguished from
It spreads vegetatively by developing new shoots and roots at its nodes. Plants form a blanket of runners on the soil surface. Semi-prostrate rosettes of shoots called 'mops' may form at the end of the runners. These mops root readily in contact with moist soil.[3]
Invasive species and habitat preferences
In a European survey of weed contamination in cereal seed in 1970, Holcus lanatus seed was found in 1% of samples. H. lanatus is an indicator of poor soil, low grazing levels, and poor drainage. It is tolerant of a range of soil pH, but grows best between 5.0 and 7.5. It exhibits climatic tolerance over a wide altitude range, but severe frosts can kill it. It does not survive trampling and puddling. It can be controlled in some European locations by increasing available potassium and phosphorus, increasing stock, and improving drainage. These remedies are not as effective in North America.[3]
Noxious weed
Holcus lanatus is a significant pest weed in Australia, as it is a winter-growing C3 grass and survives droughts and hot summers as seed. It is distasteful to stock unless it is young and little other plant material is available. The flowers are wind-pollinated and usually out-crossing. The first seeds become viable 5 to 9 days after flowering and all are viable after 20 days. Seeds are shed from in summer and early autumn. One panicle has 100 to 380 seeds, with 177,000 to 240,000 seeds per plant, depending on time of emergence.[3]
Invasive species
In North America, Holcus lanatus is an
It is also established in Chile and Australia.
Ecology
Holcus lanatus in its natural habitat is a food source for
See also
- Invasive grasses of North America
References
- ^ CAL-IPC Invasive Plant Definitions. California Invasive Plant Council.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-14-013227-4
- ^ a b c d e Yorkshire Fog. Garden Organic. Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA).
- ^ Holcus lanatus. Archived 2013-09-29 at the Wayback Machine The Nature's Calendar Survey.
- ^ Invasive Plant Management. Yosemite National Park. National Park Service. Retrieved June 20, 2013.