Prairie Junegrass facts for kids

Koeleria macrantha is a type of grass known by a few different names. In North America, people call it prairie Junegrass. In the UK, it's known as crested hair-grass. This grass grows in many places around the world, including Eurasia and North America. You can often find it in different kinds of natural areas, especially prairies.

{{Speciesbox |image = Koeleria macrantha.JPG |image_caption = Koeleria macrantha |genus = Koeleria |species = macrantha |authority = (Ledeb.) Schult.

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What is Prairie Junegrass?

Prairie Junegrass, or Koeleria macrantha, is a type of grass that grows in clumps. It's a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years. This grass can grow to be about 20 to 70 centimeters tall.

How Does It Look?

The leaves of this grass grow from the bottom of the plant. They can be up to 20 centimeters long and have a blue-green color. The part of the plant that holds the seeds, called the inflorescence, looks like a cylinder. It might get a bit narrower at the top.

This part has shiny, tan-colored seed clusters called spikelets. Sometimes, these spikelets have a purple tint. Each spikelet is about half a centimeter long. When the seeds are ready, the fruit, which is a grain, breaks open.

Where Does It Grow?

Koeleria macrantha likes cooler weather, like early spring or fall. It often grows in rocky or sandy places that drain water well. You can find it in forests or open plains. This grass prefers lots of direct sunlight rather than shady spots. It can grow in high places, up to 2480 meters above sea level, and also in lower areas, as low as 121 meters.

Using It in Gardens

Prairie Junegrass is a great choice for lawns and golf course turf because it's very easy to take care of. It doesn't need much work! However, it grows slowly, so it's not good for areas where many people walk. It's often used in the "roughs" of golf courses, which are the longer grass areas around the main playing field.

Important for Wildlife and Farms

This grass is a food source for many animals that graze, like livestock (farm animals) and different kinds of prairie wildlife. It's especially important in early spring because it provides good food for animals. Deer, elk, and sheep eat it because it can grow in tough, remote areas where other plants might not survive.

Since it grows in scattered spots, it's not the main food for most wildlife. Still, it gives them some good nutrition. Animals find it tasty in spring and fall, especially after it has dried out a bit. But once it starts making seeds, many animals don't like to eat it as much.

Koeleria macrantha spreads slowly by dropping its seeds. Over time, it can spread into nearby plant areas. Some insects also eat this grass. For example, the Striped flea beetle (Phyllotreta striolata) feeds on its roots and leaves.

Helping with Wildfires

This grass has been used in areas where wildfires happen often because it doesn't burn easily. Its small size and rough leaves mean it burns quickly and doesn't send much heat into the ground. It also usually grows in small groups, which helps limit how much damage it can do if it does burn. While its exact effect on fighting wildfires can change depending on where it grows and its condition, it helps slow down fires once they start.

Other Cool Uses

As Food

The seeds of Koeleria macrantha can be ground into a powder. This powder can then be boiled with water to make a kind of porridge. It can also be made into flour for baking bread or other foods.

As a Material

The leaves of this plant can be woven together to make brooms or brushes. Long stalks of the plant can be tied with other plant fibers or string. These can then be used for cleaning pots and pans. People have also mixed this grass with adobe (a type of clay building material) to make strong buildings.