Diablo Canyon bluegrass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Diablo Canyon bluegrass |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Poa
|
| Species: |
diaboli
|
Poa diaboli is a very rare type of grass that has a cool common name: Diablo Canyon bluegrass. It's a special plant because it's only found in one small area, which means it's endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California. You can find it in the San Luis Mountains, close to the ocean.
Scientists first found this grass in Montaña de Oro State Park. They officially named it a new species in 2003.
Contents
Meet the Diablo Canyon Bluegrass
This unique grass grows on rugged mountaintops. It also likes north-facing slopes. It grows in thin soil that covers shale rock. You can find it just a few kilometers from the coastline. Its home includes different types of plant communities. These are chaparral, oak woodland, coastal sage scrub, and Bishop pine forest.
What Does It Look Like?
The Diablo Canyon bluegrass is a perennial grass. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows in clumps or mounds. Its stems can reach up to half a meter (about 20 inches) tall.
The flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster is a "panicle" and can be up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. The branches of the panicle can stand upright or spread out. The grass usually flowers in March and April. Its tiny flowers, called spikelets, are green and have webby fibers.
How Does It Grow?
This grass has a very interesting way of reproducing. Scientists call it "sequentially-adjusted gynomonoecism." That's a big word, but it means something special!
Most plants are either male or female, or they have both parts on the same flower. This grass is usually dioecious. This means it has separate male and female plants. But sometimes, the female plants can also have some flowers that have both male and female parts. This is called "gynomonoecism."
What makes Poa diaboli extra special is how it changes. Most plants with gynomonoecism have a set number of these "both-parts" flowers. But the Diablo Canyon bluegrass can change its ratio. It can make more of these special flowers at different times of the year.
What Threats Does It Face?
Because this grass is so rare, it faces some challenges. One big threat is from non-native grasses. These are grasses that don't naturally belong in the area. They can invade the habitat of the Diablo Canyon bluegrass. One example is purple veldtgrass (Ehrharta calycina). These invading grasses can take over space and resources. This makes it harder for the rare Diablo Canyon bluegrass to survive.
