Havard's panicgrass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Havard's panicgrass |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Panicum
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| Species: |
havardii
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Panicum havardii, also known as Havard's panicgrass, is a special type of grass. It grows naturally in North America. You can find it in northern Mexico, and in the states of Texas and New Mexico in the United States.
Contents
What is Havard's Panicgrass?
Havard's panicgrass is a perennial plant. This means it grows back year after year. It also has rhizomes, which are underground stems. These rhizomes help the grass spread and grow new plants.
How It Looks
This grass can grow quite tall. Its stems can reach up to 63 inches (about 160 centimeters) long. It has an open, branching flower cluster called a panicle. This panicle can be up to 15 inches (about 38 centimeters) long and wide.
Where Havard's Panicgrass Lives
Havard's panicgrass likes to grow in sandy places. You can often find it on sand dunes. It also grows in dry creek beds called arroyos.
Its Important Job
This grass plays a very important role in its habitat. It helps to hold the sand in place. This stops the sand from blowing away in the wind. By doing this, it helps prevent erosion. Erosion is when soil or sand is washed or blown away.
Why This Grass Matters
Havard's panicgrass is important for the environment. It keeps sandy areas stable. This helps protect the land.
Food for Animals
When the grass is young, it can be eaten by cattle. However, as it gets older, animals usually don't like to eat it. This means it's not a main food source for them for very long.
