Stipa avenacea facts for kids

Stipa avenacea is a type of grass often called black oat grass, blackseed needle grass, or blackseed speargrass. Its scientific name was changed to Piptochaetium avenaceum. This plant is a bunchgrass, meaning it grows in clumps. It lives for many years and is native to eastern North America. It belongs to the large grass family called Poaceae.

Where Does Black Oat Grass Grow?

Black oat grass is commonly found in the eastern United States. It grows in many different places, including:

• Grasslands
• Dry woods and thickets
• Upland woodlands and forests, like dry oak woods
• Savannas and open areas
• Rocky slopes and outcrops

You can mostly find this grass in the southeastern and Northeastern United States. It also grows in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. Midwest and Ontario in Canada. Some can even be found in the shortgrass prairies of the south-central U.S.

It has been seen in many states. These include Alabama, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York, Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Illinois, and Oklahoma. Many other nearby states also have it.

What Does Black Oat Grass Look Like?

Black oat grass has thin leaves that look like bristles. Its long leaves can grow up to 3 feet (0.91 m) tall.

It is easy to spot when it is flowering or has seeds. You can recognize it by its open inflorescences. These are thin flower clusters that are hard to see from far away. The branches within these clusters are very thin. This can make the small flower parts, called spikelets, look like they are floating in the air.

The grass also has awns. These are hair-like parts that stick out from individual flowers. They help the plant get nutrients through photosynthesis. Awns can twist and untwist depending on how humid or warm the area is. This helps them grow well in the soil. These awns usually appear between late spring and early summer, from April to June.

The plant also has panicles. These are loose, branching flower clusters that rise above the plant's rolled, thread-like leaves. They have slender, open branches, a few narrow scales, and spikelets with one flower each. The ripe flower heads stay on the grass until autumn. At that time, the awns bend and twist, spreading wide from the scales.

The seeds of black oat grass are shaped like sharp needles. The palea, which is a small leaf-like part in grasses, is long and blackish. Its upper part has bent and twisted awns.

Why Is Black Oat Grass Important?

Black oat grass is used in several ways.

Gardens

Plant nurseries grow Stipa avenacea as an ornamental grass. People use it in traditional and native plant gardens. It is also used for natural landscaping and projects to bring back natural habitats. Black oat grass can handle dry conditions. This makes it good for xeriscaping, which is a way to design gardens that use less water.

This plant can grow in USDA Hardiness Zone 2. This means it can survive very cold temperatures. It needs good drainage and lots of sunlight. The plants flower during the summer.

The dried flower stalks can be used in flower arrangements. They can be made into soft, feathery decorations in many colors.

Erosion Control

Black oat grass, or blackseed speargrass, has a deep root system. This is typical for a bunchgrass. It is planted to help stop erosion control and take care of the soil. It can be planted along places like stream banks. There, its dense roots can form a thick mat that helps hold the soil when water flows.

Cover Crop

Stipa avenacea can be used as a cover crop. Farmers grow cover crops after they harvest their main crop. This helps to make the soil healthy again. The cover crop is then plowed back into the garden instead of being harvested. Oat grass is a good choice for a cover crop. When it dies in winter, its remains are easy to work with. This makes the soil ready for the next planting season.

Black oat grass can also act like a "net" to protect other seeds planted at the same time. It helps keep birds from eating the seeds and young plants.