Muttongrass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Muttongrass |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Poa
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| Species: |
fendleriana
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Poa fendleriana is a type of grass often called muttongrass. It grows naturally in western North America, from Canada all the way down to northern Mexico.
Contents
What is Muttongrass?
Muttongrass is a perennial grass, meaning it lives for more than two years. It has small underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant spread and store energy. The main stems of muttongrass can grow up to 70 centimeters (about 2.3 feet) tall.
How Muttongrass Grows
The plant has narrow flower clusters called panicles. Each panicle can have up to 8 straight branches. These branches are packed with tiny flower parts called spikelets. A single plant can have over 100 spikelets!
Plant Reproduction
Muttongrass is a dioecious plant. This means that male and female flowers grow on separate plants. So, you'll find some muttongrass plants that are only male and others that are only female.
Some groups of muttongrass plants reproduce sexually. This means they need both male and female plants to make seeds. However, many groups of muttongrass are all female. These female plants can make seeds without needing pollen from a male plant. This is a type of asexual reproduction.
The groups that reproduce sexually usually live in warmer places. These areas often get rain in the summer. The all-female groups can handle colder weather. They can also grow in many different elevations, from lowlands to higher mountains.
Where Muttongrass Lives
Muttongrass is a very common grass across western North America. You can find it in many different kinds of places.
It grows in areas with sagebrush plants. It also thrives in oak woodlands and pinyon-juniper woodlands. You might see it in desert grasslands or coniferous forests too.
This grass often grows in dry areas. But it can also be found in moist spots, like next to rivers. It can grow in many different types of soil. Muttongrass likes open areas or places with some shade. It doesn't grow well in very shady spots, like under a thick forest canopy. It is often a very important plant in its habitat. This means it's a dominant species in many of these areas.
Uses of Muttongrass
Muttongrass is useful for both animals and the environment.
Food for Animals
This grass is a great food source for many animals. It's considered "good to excellent forage" for livestock like cattle, horses, and sheep. Wild animals such as elk, deer, and pronghorn also enjoy eating muttongrass.
Helping the Soil
Muttongrass has a strong, fibrous root system. These roots help to hold the soil in place. This is important for controlling erosion, which is when soil is washed or blown away. The grass is also good at handling dry weather and being grazed by animals.
