| Aristida basiramea | |
|---|---|
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| Illustration of A. basiramea | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Aristida |
| Species: | A. basiramea |
| Binomial name | |
| Aristida basiramea | |
Aristida basiramea, the forked three-awn, is a species of grass in the family Poaceae native to North America. The specific epithet basiramea means "branching from base".
Aristida basiramea is an annual grass and freely branches from the base, reaching 2–6 dm (7.9–23.6 in) in height. The wiry culms are sparingly branched. The narrow leaves of the grass are flat and become involute towards their tip. The panicles are borne in the basal sheathes. The glabrous glumes at the base of the spikelets gradually taper to a point, averaging from 1–1.5 cm (0.39–0.59 in) in length. The glumes have a single vein and are unequal in length. [1] The lemma, excluding the awns, is approximately 1 cm (0.39 in) long. The delicate lateral awns are 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) in length and can be erect or spreading. The middle awn is much longer and stouter, being 1–1.5 cm (0.39–0.59 in) long, and loosely spirals when dry. [2] The spikelets are light brown when mature. The seeds are chestnut brown and 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long. [3]
The grass flowers from August to October. [4]
Aristida basiramea is endemic to North America, particularly the midwest, though outliers in distribution include as far south as Texas and as far east as Maine. The grass is rare in Canada, only found in southern Ontario and Quebec. The grass is not found any farther north than the upper peninsula of Michigan.
The species grows in weedy conditions such as roadsides or pastures and will often grow in pine barrens. In Canada the grass can be found occasionally in open and dry sand ridges or dunes. It prefers dry or sandy soil and warm climates, though it is the hardiest member of its genus. [1]
Despite being a poor forage grass as well as being harmful to grazing animals due to its calli, Aristida basiramea is an important source of forage in springtime, especially in its western distribution. Small mammals and quail will eat the hardy seeds. [5]
In Canada, Aristida basiramea is threatened by the decline and fragmentation of its sandy habitat. Prevention of fire in particular endangers the habitat of the species, as fire no longer maintains natural succession of the sand ridges. The greater competition arising from lack of wildfires in particular threatens the species. The glossy buckthorn, the spotted knapweed, and the white sweet clover are all invasive species which threaten the grass. [1]
Bromus arvensis, the field brome, is a brome grass native to Europe and Asia. The specific epithet arvensis is Latin, meaning "of cultivated land".
Aristida is a very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family. Aristida is distinguished by having three awns (bristles) on each lemma of each floret. The genus includes about 300 species found worldwide, often in arid warm regions. This genus is among those colloquially called three-awnswiregrasses, speargrasses and needlegrasses. The name Aristida is derived from the Latin "arista", meaning "awn".
Bromus hordeaceus, the soft brome, is an annual or biennial species of grass in the grass family (Poaceae). It is also known in North America as bull grass, soft cheat, and soft chess.
Bromus secalinus is a species of bromegrass known as rye brome. The specific epithet secalinus is Latin, meaning "rye-like". The fruits are hard, rounded glumes that appear superficially similar to the rye grain, which gives the brome its common and scientific name. The grass has a diploid number of 28.
Festuca occidentalis is a species of grass known as western fescue. It is native to much of the northern half of North America and is most widely distributed in the west. It is most often found in forest and woodland habitat. The specific epithet occidentalis is Latin, meaning "western".
Bromus madritensis is a species of brome grass known by the common name compact brome. The specific epithet madritensis refers to Madrid, Spain. It has a diploid number of 28.
Bromus catharticus is a species of brome grass known by the common names rescuegrass, grazing brome, prairie grass, and Schrader's bromegrass. The specific epithet catharticus is Latin, meaning cathartic. The common name rescuegrass refers to the ability of the grass to provide forage after harsh droughts or severe winters. The grass has a diploid number of 42.
Bromus kalmii, Kalm's brome, is a species of brome grass. It is a native bunchgrass in the North-central and Northeastern United States, the Great Lakes region, and eastern Canada. The specific epithet kalmii refers to its discoverer Pehr Kalm.
Bromus erectus, commonly known as erect brome, upright brome or meadow brome, is a dense, course, tufted perennial grass. It can grow to 120 centimetres (47 in). Like many brome grasses the plant is hairy. The specific epithet erectus is Latin, meaning "erect". The diploid number of the grass is 56.
Bromus aleutensis, commonly known as the Aleutian brome, is a perennial grass found in North America. B. aleutensis has a diploid number of 56.
Triplasis purpurea, the purple sand-grass, is a species of grass in the family Poaceae native to North America. The specific epithet purpurea is Latin for "purple", referencing the purple spikelets of the grass.
Bromus latiglumis, the earlyleaf brome, is a grass native to North America. The specific epithet latiglumis is Latin for "broad-glumed", referring to the wide glumes.
Bromus japonicus, the Japanese brome, is an annual brome grass native to Eurasia. The grass has a diploid number of 14.
Bromus squarrosus, the rough brome, is a brome grass native to Russia and Europe. The specific epithet squarrosus is Latin, meaning "with spreading tips". The grass has a diploid number of 14.
Festuca brachyphylla, commonly known as alpine fescue or short-leaved fescue, is a grass native to Eurasia, North America, and the Arctic. The grass is used for erosion control and revegetation. The specific epithet brachyphylla means "short-leaved". The grass has a diploid number of 28, 42, or 44. This species was first described in 1827.
Festuca saximontana, the rocky mountain fescue or the mountain fescue, is a perennial grass native to North America. The specific epithet saximontana is Latin and means "of the Rocky Mountains". The grass has a diploid number of 42.
Aristida contorta, commonly known as bunched kerosene grass, kerosene grass, bunched windgrass, silvergrass, mulga grass,sand speargrass, and medicine grass, is a species of grass in the family Poaceae that is native in Australia. The Walmajarri name for this species is Ngirrirli.
Bromus pacificus, the Pacific brome, is a perennial grass native to the Pacific coast of North America. Bromus pacificus has a diploid number of 28.
Vulpia elliotea, known by the common name sand fescue or squirreltail fescue, is an annual grass native to the southeastern United States. Its specific epithet elliotea is named for its discoverer, Stephen Elliott.
Bromus racemosus, the smooth brome or bald brome, is a species of flowering plant in the family Poaceae. It is native to subarctic and temperate Eurasia, and widely introduced elsewhere, including North America, Iceland, the Southern Cone of South America, the Korean Peninsula, Australia, and New Zealand. It grows in alkaline meadows and in waste places.