Pinegrass - Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences
Transcription
Pinegrass - Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences
Pinegrass Calamagrostis rubescens Buckley. A perennial, mid-seral to climax, upland grass often forms bunchgrass status if the overstory is removed. Pinegrass exhibits a reddish hue when in full sunlight. Plant Characteristics mineral soil, forming a sod in the top 20 cm (8 in) (4). GENERAL HABITAT CONSIDERATIONS Soil Types and Conditions: Inhabits mesic to dry sites of welldrained loams (1) to coarse textured Luvisols and Brunisols. Also found on glacial till, outwash, alluvium loams to sandy loams with rapid permeability. Occasionally found on limestone derived soils (2). Moisture/temperature requirements: Widely distributed from British Columbia to Manitoba SW to Northern Colorado and Central California. Found from sea level to 3,048 m (10,000 ft), but prefers mid-elevation Ponderosa stands (Pinus ponderosa) or dry coniferous forests. Requires a warmer, drier, southern exposure at higher elevations. (5, 8) Management Considerations UTILIZATION Forage and Palatability: It is the least palatable of the common forage grasses but utilized, especially by sheep, during the spring when its green and succulent. As leaves mature the palatability decreases dramatically. Palatability is directly related to time of year. Wildlife Use: Wildlife, especially elk, utilize it during spring and again in fall and winter (8). Studies show utilization by bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, blackbear, and mule deer. Rocky mountain goats consume pinegrass and also using it for bedding. Boreal owls nest in pinegrass clippings (2). VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS Culms and leaves: Moderately large grass has long, flat, inrolled basal leaves. Blades are 10-30.5 cm (4-12 in) long, curving slightly toward the ground. It will reach heights of 116 cm (45 in), but typically grows to 50 cm (20 in). Inflorescence:Panicle 6-12 cm (2.3-4.7 in), somewhat compressed, dense, ranging from yellowish-green to purple. Glumes smooth to slightly rough with hairs covering half their length. One floret per spikelet with a 2.2-3.5 mm (0.08-0.13 in) long, twisted awn (1). The panicles appearance is erect and tufted compared to the softer leaf structure (8). Roots: Long, well developed, creeping, extensive rhizomes with a fibrous root system. Typically grows in the top 5 cm (2 in) of the PLANTING Growth Season and Seedling Establishment: Initiates growth during late April and completes senescence in August. Rapid growth can occur in open areas postfire. Seeds can germinate in the fall if enough moisture is available and other conditions are suitable. Wind disperses the seed increasing changes of off-site establishment. Very shade tolerant. Propagation: Reproduces by seeds, rhizomes, and tillers. Highly vigrous seeds are produced readily on open sites with full sun. When seeding, anchor chaining scarification can increase cover and abundance. Nitrogen based fertilizers increase pinegrass abundance. DISTURBANCE Response to Competition: An aggresive competitor for soil moisture especially with conifer and Douglas-fir seedlings (2, 3). Also hinders conifer seedling growth with a formation of a thick sod. Puts on extensive root systems early in the growing season when soil moisture is readily available. Pinegrass reduction can be achieved with extensive scarification and increased overstory shade (2). Response to Grazing: Tolerates grazing relatively well by forming a thick sod layer. Livestock must be fenced in order for moderate grazing, but this method might allow the increase of local weedy species. Simulated heavy grazing for one season (2in / 2 weeks) showed a decrease in vigor and yield (2). Grazing throughout season is not recommened. Response to Fire: Resprouts from rhizomes after fire. Rhizomes are damaged if fires reach below the duff layer and into the top 2.5cm of the mineral soil. Early postfire dominance has been observed and will continue to bloom profusely for up to 3 years. Rapid growth can occur in open areas postfire. Response to Drought:Very tolerant but generally not as drought resistant as Elk Sedge (Carex geyeri) (7). Prepared by OSU Rangeland Ecology and Management, March 2005. Pinegrass Calamagrostis rubescens Buckley. Sources: 1.Cronquist, A., et al. 1997. Intermountain Flora: Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol6. New York: Columbia University Press. 2.Matthews, Robin F. 2000. Calamagrostis rubescens. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2005, February 15]. 3.Nicholson, A.C. Water Relations. 1990. Survival and Growth of Douglas-Fir Seedlings at a Pinegrss dominated Site in the Inter Douglas-Fir zone of South-Central British Columbia. Masters Thesis, Forestry Science, Oregon State University, USA. 114p. 4. Oregon State Cooperative Extension Service. Pinegrass. Rangeplant leaflet #5. 5.Parish, Roberta, Ray Coupe and Dennis Lloyd (ed.). 1996. Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing. 464p. 6.Steele, Robert and Kathleen Geier-Hayes. The Douglas-Fir/White Spirea Habitat Type in Central Idaho: Succession and Management. Gen Tech. Rep. INT-305. Odgen, UT: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Stattion. 81p 7.Svejcar, Tony. 1983. Season and Dirunal Changes in the Water Relations of Elk Sedge (Carex geyeri) and Pinegrass (Calamagrostis rubescens). PhD Thesis, Department of Rangeland Resources, Oregon State University, USA. 124p. 8.U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 1937. Range plant handbook. Washington, DC. 532p.