Guadalupe fescue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guadalupe fescue |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Festuca
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| Species: |
ligulata
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The Festuca ligulata, also known as Guadalupe fescue, is a very rare type of grass. It's so rare that it's only found in a few special places in the world! This unique grass grows in parts of Texas in the United States and Coahuila in Mexico.
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What is Guadalupe Fescue?
The Guadalupe fescue is a perennial grass, which means it lives for many years. It grows from underground stems, similar to how some plants spread their roots. These grasses form clumps of stems that can reach up to 80 centimeters (about 31 inches) tall.
How Does It Look?
The part of the grass that holds its flowers, called an inflorescence, can be up to 16 centimeters (about 6 inches) long. It has branches that either stand straight up or spread out, with tiny flower clusters called spikelets at their ends. This grass usually blooms and produces its flowers in August and September.
Where Does This Rare Grass Live?
The Guadalupe fescue is super rare, with only a few known groups of plants left.
- Texas, USA: One small group of these grasses, with about 150 plants, lives in Big Bend National Park in Texas.
- Coahuila, Mexico: A larger group is found in a place called Maderas del Carmen in Coahuila.
Sadly, another group of Guadalupe fescue plants in the Guadalupe Mountains in Texas hasn't been seen since 2002. We also don't know what happened to a second group that was once found in Coahuila.
Why is Guadalupe Fescue in Danger?
Because it's so rare, the Guadalupe fescue faces several challenges that make it hard for it to survive.
Stepping on Plants
In Big Bend National Park, a walking trail goes right through where some of these grasses grow. This means that hikers and horses using the trail might accidentally step on the plants, which can damage them.
Fire and Its Habitat
This grass might need small, natural fires to help its home stay open and healthy. However, efforts to stop all fires in the park (called fire suppression) might be hurting the grass. Without these small fires, other plants could grow too much and crowd out the Guadalupe fescue.
Grazing Animals
The Guadalupe fescue is tasty to animals like livestock (cows, sheep, etc.). If these animals graze too much in the areas where the grass grows, they can eat too many plants and prevent them from growing back.
Scientists and park rangers are working to protect this special grass so it can continue to grow and thrive for many years to come!
