Plains muhly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plains muhly |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Muhlenbergia
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| Species: |
cuspidata
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Muhlenbergia cuspidata, also known as plains muhly, is a type of grass. It grows naturally in central Canada and the central United States. This grass is an important part of the plant life in these areas.
Contents
What Plains Muhly Looks Like
Plains muhly is a perennial grass, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows in clumps and has roots that stay close to the surface. Its stems can grow up to about 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) tall. These stems have thick, bumpy bases.
The leaves of this grass are thin and can be flat or folded. The plant's flowers grow on a special part called an inflorescence. For plains muhly, this is a very narrow, spikelike cluster called a panicle. It has small branches that are not all the same length. The tiny flower parts, called spikelets, are dark green or grayish. Each spikelet usually has one flower, but sometimes two. Plains muhly blooms from June through October.
Its Home: The Prairies
This grass is most common in the northern Great Plains region. It thrives in shortgrass prairies, which are grasslands with shorter grasses. Plains muhly is often a main type of plant on sloped land. It can grow alongside other grasses like blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii).
It also grows in mixed-grass prairies, sometimes with little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). It is less common in tallgrass prairies. Plains muhly prefers dry soils and can handle drought conditions well. It can even grow on land that has been eroded.
Animals and Plains Muhly
Many animals use plains muhly grass. Wild turkeys enjoy eating its seeds. Some types of true bugs live only on this specific grass. Many wild animals, like deer and bison, and farm animals, like cattle, also eat plains muhly. These animals are called ungulates, which means they have hooves.
How People Used Plains Muhly
The Navajo people traditionally used this plant in practical ways. They would gather the grass to make useful items like hairbrushes and brooms.
