Amphicarpum muehlenbergianum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amphicarpum muehlenbergianum |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Amphicarpum
|
| Species: |
muehlenbergianum
|
Amphicarpum muehlenbergianum, also known as blue maidencane or goobergrass, is a type of grass. It grows naturally in the southeastern United States.
Contents
About Blue Maidencane
Blue maidencane is a special grass that grows year after year. It is known for its unique way of producing seeds. Some flowers open up and are pollinated by wind or insects. But other flowers stay closed and pollinate themselves underground. This helps the plant make sure it always produces seeds.
What Does Blue Maidencane Look Like?
This grass has stems that spread out along the ground. They can grow up to one meter (about 3 feet) long. These stems can even grow roots where they touch the soil. This helps the plant spread and grow in new spots.
The plant also has a special underground stem called a rhizome. This rhizome helps the grass store energy and survive.
Its leaves are a pretty blue-green color. They are firm and shaped like a spear, wider near the tip. Each leaf can be up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) long and 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) wide. The edges of the leaves are a bit stiff and turn white when they dry out.
Where Does Blue Maidencane Grow?
Blue maidencane likes to grow in certain places. You can find it in pine woods and savannas. It also loves wetlands, which are areas with wet soil. This grass can grow in shallow puddles or along the edges of lakes and ponds. However, it does not like very deep or still water.
This grass has a strong root system with many rhizomes. This makes it great at holding soil in wet areas. Because of this, it is sometimes used to help fix up damaged wetlands. It can also grow well in places that have some shade.
Other plants often grow near blue maidencane. These include creeping bluestem, broomsedge bluestem, and wiregrass. You might also see switchgrass and bottlebrush threeawn growing nearby.
Why Is Blue Maidencane Important?
Blue maidencane is a good food source for animals. It is eaten by cattle and wild animals like deer. It can produce a lot of food, sometimes as much as 4000 pounds per acre. This makes it an important plant for both farms and wildlife.
