Agrostis thurberiana facts for kids

Agrostis thurberiana is a type of grass. It grows naturally in parts of the western United States and Canada. You can find it in places like Alaska, British Columbia, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and California. It also grows on the Aleutian Islands.

About This Grass

This grass is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It has short underground stems called rhizomes. Its main stems, called culms, grow about 15 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) tall.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves have smooth bases that wrap around the stem. There's a small, thin flap called a ligule where the leaf blade meets the stem, about 1 to 3 millimeters long. The leaf blades themselves are narrow, only about 0.5 to 3 millimeters wide.

The flowers of this grass grow in a loose, open cluster called a panicle. This cluster is shaped like a spearhead and is about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) long. The tiny flower units, called spikelets, are about 2 to 2.3 millimeters long. Each spikelet usually has one fertile floret, which is the part that develops into a seed.

Spikelet Details

The outer protective leaves of the spikelet are called glumes. They are also about 2 to 2.3 millimeters long and have a pointed tip. Inside, the fertile lemma (another protective leaf) is about 2 millimeters long. The flowers have two small, thin structures called lodicules. There are also three stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen, each about 0.4 to 0.6 millimeters long. The seeds are a type of fruit called a caryopsis.

Where It Grows

Agrostis thurberiana is native to the western part of North America. Its range stretches from the Aleutian Islands all the way down to California. In California, you can often find this grass growing in wetlands. It grows alongside trees like lodgepole pine, red fir, and subalpine firs.