Chionochloa rubra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chionochloa rubra
Scientific classification
Genus:	Chionochloa
Species:	rubra

Chionochloa rubra, known commonly as red tussock grass, is a type of tussock grass. It belongs to the grass family. This plant is famous for its unique look and its reddish-bronze color.

What it Looks Like

New Zealand has 22 types of Chionochloa grasses that are found nowhere else. Chionochloa rubra stands out from the others. It lives for a very long time. This means you rarely see dead leaves on the plant. It looks very neat, sleek, and grows straight up.

This grass can grow quite tall, up to 1 to 1.2 meters (about 3 to 4 feet) high. This happens when it grows in rich, moist soil. Its seed heads can even reach higher. The leaves themselves can be up to 1 meter long. The whole plant can spread about 50 centimeters wide.

You can often tell this plant apart by the long hairs near the bottom of its leaves. It also has tiny prickle-teeth near the leaf tips. If it grows in dry places, like dry clay soil, it might only reach 90 centimeters high. This can sometimes make it look like other Chionochloa species. So, where it grows can help identify it.

The leaves of red tussock grass can be greenish. But they are usually a beautiful bronze or reddish color. Many people think it is one of the prettiest tussock grasses because of its striking colors. In general, Chionochloa rubra is a tall, reddish-brown plant. Its slender leaves grow in a clump, forming its classic arch shape.

Where it Grows

Around the World

Chionochloa rubra is a plant that naturally grows only in New Zealand. It is considered a native species there.

In New Zealand

Red tussock grass is a very tough plant. It grows across a large part of New Zealand. You can find it from the central volcanic areas to Stewart Island. It grows from high up in the mountains (the lower subalpine areas) all the way down to sea level in the south of New Zealand.

Favorite Places to Live

There are two main types of tussock-grassland. "Low tussock-grassland" has smaller tussock grasses. "Tall tussock-grassland" has larger ones. Red tussock grass usually grows in "Tall tussock-grassland."

It covers much of the pumice-scoria soil on the volcanic plateau. This is at a height of about 900 to 1200 meters (about 3,000 to 4,000 feet). Red tussock can also change wetland areas. This is because it grows very densely and releases many seeds at once. This makes it hard for other plants to get enough light.

Red tussock grass is very adaptable. It can grow in windy and exposed places. It can also handle soil that doesn't have many nutrients. It grows well in both wet and relatively dry soil. It's a useful plant for bringing back wildlife habitats. It's especially good as a buffer plant around wetlands.

Even though Chionochloa rubra can grow slowly, it is very tough once it gets established. It prefers cooler, wetter, and less humid weather. It can handle a lot of rough conditions because of its strong texture.

How it Grows and Spreads

The seeds of Chionochloa rubra are spread by gravity and the wind. Nature is the main way this plant gets pollinated. Insects or animals don't help much with pollination.

The plant uses a special method called "mass seeding." This means it produces a huge number of seeds. Then, it releases them all at once over a large area. This helps prevent animals from eating all the seeds. It also helps it compete with other plants. It usually takes the plant a few years to make enough seeds for this process. This way of spreading is very common in the Takahe Valley in the Southland of New Zealand.

The seeds fall on soil that drains well and is moist. Then, they start to grow. The plant flowers during the summer, from October to December. It produces fruits from November to May.

Animals and Diseases

The volcanic plateau area where red tussock grows has changed over time. Wild horses and cows have grazed there for many years. More recently, rabbits have also become common visitors to these tussock lands. However, the red tussock grass itself is still thriving.

The flowers of Chionochloa grasses can be attacked by at least two types of flies and one moth. For example, a fly called Diplotoxa Similis lays its eggs in the flowers. Its larvae eat the flowers. Another fly lays its eggs in the pollen. A moth called Megacraspedus Calamogonus has caterpillars that appear early in the season. These caterpillars are quite active.

Growing in Gardens

Chionochloa rubra is also grown in gardens. In the UK, it has won a special award. This award is called the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. It was confirmed in 2017.

Cultural Uses

Long ago, the Māori people in southern New Zealand used tussock grass. They made leggings from it to protect their bare legs from sharp speargrass. Tussock was also used inside paraerae (sandals). It helped keep their feet warm. They found it was much warmer with the grass around their feet.

Red tussock is also known by its common name: Red tussock.

Cool Fact

Scientists have studied Chionochloa rubra and found something interesting. This plant produces many seeds when there are fewer animals trying to eat them. But it produces fewer seeds when there are more animals trying to eat them.

Red tussock grass produces seeds every year in lower mountain areas. This is different from other Chionochloa species. Red tussock uses "mast seeding" (releasing many seeds at once) more often at higher altitudes. One idea for these differences is that red tussocks don't have strong differences based on altitude. Also, releasing many seeds at once might not work as well in lower areas.

See also

In Spanish: Chionochloa rubra para niños