Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. genuina (Rchb.) O.H. Volk

Scientific Name: Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. genuina (Rchb.) O.H. Volk

Synonyms: Aira caespitosa L., Aira cespitosa L., orth. var., Deschampsia bottnica (Wahlenb.) Trin., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv., orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>arctica</i> Vasey, orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>alpicola</i> (Rydb.) Á. Löve & D. Löve & Kapoor, orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>abbei</i> B. Boivin, orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>glauca</i> (C. Hartm.) C. Hartm., orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>glauca</i> (C. Hartm.) C. Hartm., non Regel, orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>genuina</i> (Rchb.) O.H. Volk, orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>intercotidalis</i> B. Boivin, orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>longiflora</i> Beal, orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>littoralis</i> (Gaudin) K. Richt., orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>maritima</i> Vasey, orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>mackenzieana</i> (Raup) B. Boivin, orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>orientalis</i> Hultén, orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>parviflora</i> (Thuill.) K. Richt., orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>parviflora</i> (Thuill.) Coss. & Germ., orth. var., Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>paramushirensis</i> (Honda) Tzvelev, orth. var., Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>alpicola</i> (Rydb.) Á. Löve & D. Löve & Kapoor, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>arctica</i> Vasey, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>abbei</i> B. Boivin, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>bottnica</i> (Wahlenb.) Tzvelev, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>bottnica</i> (Wahlenb.) Vasey, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>cespitosa </i>, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>glauca</i> (C. Hartm.) C. Hartm., non Regel, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>glauca</i> (C. Hartm.) C. Hartm., Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>genuina</i> (Rchb.) O.H. Volk, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>intercotidalis</i> B. Boivin, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>littoralis</i> (Gaudin) K. Richt., Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>longiflora</i> Beal, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>maritima</i> Vasey, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>mackenzieana</i> (Raup) B. Boivin, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>orientalis</i> Hultén, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>obensis</i> (Rosh.) Tzvelev, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>parviflora</i> (Thuill.) Coss. & Germ., Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>paramushirensis</i> (Honda) Tzvelev, Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. <i>parviflora</i> (Thuill.) K. Richt., Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var. <i>pallida</i> Gren. & Godr., Deschampsia glauca C. Hartm., Deschampsia mackenzieana Raup, Deschampsia obensis Rosh., Deschampsia paramushirensis Honda, Deschampsia pumila (Ledeb.) Ostenf., Deschampsia sukatschewii (Popl.) Rosh.

Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Deschampsia P. Beauv./ Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. genuina (Rchb.) O.H. Volk

<i>Deschampsia cespitosa</i> (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. genuina (Rchb.) O.H. Volk
General Information
Usda SymbolDECEG3
GroupMonocot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsGraminoid
Native LocationsDECEG3

Plant Guide

Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. genuina (Rchb.) O.H. Volk.

Fact Sheet

Uses

Tufted hairgrass is useful for restoring moist to seasonally wet prairies and stabilizing disturbed sites, streambanks, canals, shorelines, and upper tidal marshes. Other applications include acid and heavy metal mine spoil reclamation, alpine and boreal revegetation work, and bio-filtration swales. As a range or pasture grass, it is both a desirable, productive forage for cattle and sheep particularly at higher elevations, and a species of lesser or low value in regions where plants are coarse and less palatable. The species is sometimes cut for hay. Utilization by deer, elk, pronghorn, bison, bear, horses, and rabbits is variable. Likewise, cover and food values are rated poor to good for small mammals, upland game birds, songbirds, and waterfowl depending on wildlife species and location. Tufted hairgrass is a larval food plant for several butterflies in North America and is host for at least 40 species of Lepidopteran insects world-wide. Varieties have been bred as wear resistant turf for golf courses, sports fields and other uses.

Description

Tufted hairgrass is a highly variable, perennial cool season species that grows 20 to 60 in. tall. Stems are erect and the leaves are .06 to .16 in. wide, flat or rolled, and mostly basal in a dense tuft. The panicle (seed head or inflorescence) is upright to nodding, loosely branched, open, and 4 to 10 in. long. There are two florets (flowers) per spikelet. Flowering occurs from May to September and seeds mature from late June to late September depending on location.

Status

Please consult the Plants Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as state noxious and wetland indicator values, , Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Deschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. genuina (Rchb.) O.H. Volk.

Adaptation

Populations occupy moderately moist to seasonally flooded, sunny to partially shaded environments with a wide variety of soil types (fine to coarse, mesic to hydric) and pH ranging from 3.5 to 7.5. Some populations have extreme tolerance to heavy metals and high soil acidity. Salinity tolerance is generally considered low, but plants occurring in coastal estuaries may be slightly more salt tolerant. Crowns typically survive all but the most severe or hottest fires. Distribution-As one of the most widely distributed grasses on earth, tufted hairgrass is found in many arctic and temperate regions. It occurs from sea level to 14,000 ft in the mountains. Habitats include coastal terraces, upper tidal marshes, seasonally wet prairies, moist subalpine mountain meadows, open forests, and alpine areas above timberline. Limitations or environmental concerns Tufted hairgrass is host to a number of diseases including ergot, several rusts, stripe smut, blind seed, several leaf spots, and the turf disease take all patch. Insect pests typical of pasture and turf grasses include aphids, billbugs, leafhoppers, and others. In some parts of the world, this grass spreads readily into newly disturbed areas, is a weed in certain forage crops, and can become a serious competitor with trees. Reprinted with permission Univ. of WA Press Specific management practices are applied to wet, low elevation pastures in Europe in order to control it. The plant is considered nontoxic to livestock and humans. Uses such as general cover and turf can be limited by summer moistustress and billbugs.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

CaCO3 ToleranceMedium
Frost Free Days, Minimum80
Frost Free Days, Minimum100
Frost Free Days, Minimum100
Fire ToleranceHigh
Fire ToleranceHigh
Fire ToleranceHigh
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fertility RequirementMedium
Drought ToleranceLow
Drought ToleranceLow
Drought ToleranceHigh
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-43
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
Anaerobic ToleranceLow
Anaerobic ToleranceHigh
Anaerobic ToleranceHigh
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsNo
Hedge ToleranceNone
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-38
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-38
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Salinity ToleranceNone
Salinity ToleranceLow
Salinity ToleranceLow
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)8
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)14
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)14
Precipitation, Minimum14
Precipitation, Minimum14
Precipitation, Minimum10
Precipitation, Maximum24
Hedge ToleranceNone
Hedge ToleranceNone
Moisture UseHigh
Moisture UseLow
Moisture UseLow
pH, Maximum7.2
pH, Maximum7.2
pH, Maximum7.5
pH, Minimum4.8
pH, Minimum4.8
pH, Minimum5.5
Precipitation, Maximum24
Precipitation, Maximum60


Morphology/Physiology

Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
Shape and OrientationSemi-Erect
Shape and OrientationErect
Shape and OrientationErect
Resprout AbilityNo
Resprout AbilityNo
Flower ConspicuousNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fire ResistantNo
Fire ResistantNo
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ConspicuousNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Flower ConspicuousNo
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Foliage Porosity SummerPorous
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
BloatNone
Resprout AbilityNo
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
Active Growth PeriodSummer and Fall
After Harvest Regrowth RateModerate
After Harvest Regrowth RateRapid
After Harvest Regrowth RateSlow
BloatNone
BloatNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
C:N RatioMedium
C:N RatioMedium
C:N RatioMedium
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
LifespanLong
Height, Mature (feet)3.4
Height, Mature (feet)3.4
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
LifespanLong
LifespanModerate
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Nitrogen FixationNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
Growth RateModerate
Height, Mature (feet)3.0
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage TextureCoarse
Foliage TextureFine
Foliage TextureMedium
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Growth FormBunch
Growth FormBunch
Growth FormBunch
Growth RateModerate
Growth RateModerate
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo


Reproduction

Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Seed per Pound1300000
Seed per Pound1308333
Seed per Pound1500000
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seedling VigorLow
Seedling VigorMedium
Seedling VigorMedium
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Bloom PeriodLate Summer
Bloom PeriodMid Spring
Bloom PeriodMid Summer
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed AbundanceLow
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSpring
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Fruit/Seed Period EndSummer
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo


Suitability/Use

Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Protein PotentialLow
Protein PotentialLow
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Fodder ProductYes
Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Lumber ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Palatable Browse AnimalLow

<i>Deschampsia cespitosa</i> (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. genuina (Rchb.) O.H. Volk

<i>Deschampsia cespitosa</i> (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. genuina (Rchb.) O.H. Volk

<i>Deschampsia cespitosa</i> (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. genuina (Rchb.) O.H. Volk

<i>Deschampsia cespitosa</i> (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. genuina (Rchb.) O.H. Volk

[Plant Index] [Site Map]