Diarrhena americana

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Diarrhena americana
Manual of the grasses of the United States (Page 172) BHL42020811.jpg
Botanical illustration [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Diarrhena
Species:
D. americana
Binomial name
Diarrhena americana
P.Beauv. 1812
Synonyms
  • Festuca diandraMichx 1803 not Moench 1794
  • Diarina festucoidesRaf.
  • Korycarpus arundinaceusZea ex Lag.
  • Roemeria zeaeRoem. & Schult.
  • Corycarpus diandrusKuntze
  • Diarina sylvaticaRaf.
  • Diarrhena arundinacea(Zea ex Lag.) Rydb.
  • Diarrhena festucoides(Raf.) Fernald
  • Festuca diandraMichx.

Diarrhena americana, also known as American beak grass or American beakgrain, is a native, perennial bunchgrass of North America. [2] [3]

Contents

Historically, Diarrhena americana was the only species of beak grass recognized in the United States; however studies have suggested that the known beak grass is to be classified into two distinct species, Diarrhena americana and Diarrhena obovata. [4]

Distribution

Diarrhena americana naturally occurs throughout the Midwestern United States, including in eastern Oklahoma and Missouri; south to Alabama; east to Kentucky, the Appalachian Mountains and northern Maryland; and north to southern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and southern Michigan. [2] [5] [6]

The grass plant lives in rich cove forests and woodlands, preferring to grow in the moist soils of shaded ledges and riverbanks. [7] It grows in rich, moist woodlands from Missouri to Maryland and south to Oklahoma and Alabama. [2]

Description

In cultivation at the Berlin Botanical Garden Diarrhena americana - Berlin Botanical Garden - IMG 8546.JPG
In cultivation at the Berlin Botanical Garden

Diarrhena americana is a bunchgrass that grows in 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m) tall clumps. It has bright green leaf blades, that can grow up to 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) in width. [2]

These perennial plants can grow flowers that grow above the foliage, with 3 inch tall floral spikes, during the early to mid-summer. The culms range from 60–131 cm (24–52 in) high. [2] [8] [8]

By late summer the flowers turn into hard, brown seed heads. [2] Each seed is reduced to a blunt beak, which is where the common name of beak grass comes from, and this beak is dispersed. [8]

Cultivation

Diarrhena americana is cultivated as an ornamental grass, grown in traditional and wildlife gardens, and in natural landscaping projects. [8]

It is considered an easy plant to grow and maintain, not needing much sun or water while generally being a tough plant. It will tolerate drought, heavy shade, competition from eastern black walnuts, and urban air pollution. [8] When available, the plant will grow into dense clumps in moist rich soils in full shade. [8]

Conservation

Diarrhena americana is a listed endangered species in Maryland and Wisconsin, and a threatened species in Michigan. [3]

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References

  1. Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Miscellaneous Publication No. 200. Washington, DC.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Utah State University: Intermountain Herbarium". Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Diarrhena americana 'Beauv.'" (PDF). Retrieved May 30, 2009.
  4. Brandenburg, D.M.; J.R. Estes; S.L. Collins (1991). "A Revision of Diarrhena (Poaceae) in the United States" (PDF). Torrey Bot. Club. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  5. "The Grass Manual on the Web.edu: Distribution map for Diarrhena americana". Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  6. "Beak Grass Diarrhena obovata" . Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  7. "Diarrhena americana Beauv" . Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Diarrhena americana" . Retrieved 2014-04-25.