Corynephorus canescens

Silver grass ( Corynephorus canescens )

The silver grass ( Corynephorus canescens ) is a species of the genus Corynephorus from the family of grasses ( Poaceae ). It is a pioneer plant on open, sparsely vegetated, loose, humus- free flight sandy fields. It is adapted to the extreme environmental conditions of its natural habitat ( heat, drought, lack of nutrients ). The plant has small tufted Horsten a distinctive type of silver grasslands ( Corynephorion canescentis ). The silver grass serves the Erstberasung of loose sand and plays a crucial role in the definition of shifting dunes.

Etymology

The genus name comes from the Greek and Corynephorus derives from korýne = lobe and phoréin = wear off. It refers to the characteristic club-shaped awn. The species name is of Latin origin and means canescens graying or gray looking and takes on the color of the plant cover. The German name refers to the light silvery inflorescences.

Description

The silver grass is a perennial, overwintering green Hemikryptophyt. The grass is about 10 to 35 inches tall and grows in dense clumps with erect, slightly splayed blades. The stalks are remarkably thin, hairless, slightly roughened and have below the center over two to seven knots. The leaf sheaths are reddish - purple, also slightly rough and hairless. The leaf blades are silvery gray-green, very stiff, curled bristle- shaped, sharply pointed and rough. They are about 0.5 mm wide and about 6 inches long.

The inflorescences are finely branched, narrow -oblong, 2-8 cm long panicles. These are colored purple or variegated, sometimes pale green. They are loosely spread only during the flowering period, otherwise contracted. The 4 mm long spikelets are two flowered, compressed very narrow and easily. The lemmas are almost completely enclosed by the glumes. You are indistinct annoyed and wear a light brown already on the basic free awn. This characteristic is thickened club-shaped and carries approximately in the middle a bristle development of hair wreath. The grass blooms from June to August, sometimes into October.

Distribution and location

The silver grass is widespread from southern Scandinavia over north-west Europe to the Mediterranean ( subatlantisch - sub-Mediterranean ); in the distant coast inland however, it is very rare. It is missing in the Alps and in higher upland areas. It also occurs in North Africa, North America and South America.

The grass grows in warm, dry, nutrient -and base- poor, neutral to acidic, mostly humus and fine earth poor, loose, well drained Sandrohböden the lower altitudes. As a colonizer, it happens on flight sands of the coastal and inland dunes, shifting sands blankets, on fallow land, along roads, sand pits, clear pine and birch forests. On open sandy areas where the soil in summer extremely dries out, it is often the only consisted forming flowering plant.

Its main deposit is located in sandy dry grasslands. Here it is the characteristic species of the association of silver or silver grass grassland pioneer grass ( Corynephorion canescentis ). The plant communities are composed of Magerkeits and dry hands. These are in addition to the silver grass, the sand bentgrass ( Agrostis vinealis ), the narrow- sorrel ( Rumex tenuifolius ), the Spring Spark ( Spergularia morisonii ) and shepherd's cress ( Teesdalia nudicaulis ). On mosses to find the Purpurstielige horn -moss ( Ceratodon purpureus ) and the women's hair moss ( Polytrichum piliferum ). It is characterized by a variety of lichens such as the moose antler - Becherflechte ( Cladonia alcicornis ) or Floerkes Becherflechte ( Cladonia floerceana ).

Ecology

Silver grass is a Intensivwurzler and can be up to 15 cm to penetrate into the ground. Because of this property, it is suitable for Erstberasung of loose sand and plays a crucial role in the definition of shifting dunes. Furthermore, it enters so even with strong drought in deep water reserves. Other morphological features are especially designed for a life on dry and warm habitats. The surfaces of the roots are magnified by the velvety pubescence. This enables the plant to take up enough water. Furthermore, the rigid upright stalks of clumps function somewhat like dew and rain collectors and divert water to the roots. Finally, the rolled leaves restrict water loss through evaporation by the stomata are hidden. The plant bears in summer up to 60 ° C, but dies during heavy frost. The silver grass grows extremely slowly and is not even eaten by sheep, because its nutrient content is so low.

If dry, the deck and hurt a glumes or they spread out, humidity, however, stretch the hygroscopic responsive hair and beards. Thus, the self- propagation takes as Bodenkriecher and Bohrfrucht. The fruit can also be distributed as velcro fruit, for example, in the fur of sheep.

Endangering

The silver grass applicable in Germany as not at risk. However, it is in the states of Hesse, North Rhine -Westphalia, Rhineland -Palatinate, Saarland, Baden- Württemberg, Bavaria and Hamburg classified as endangered. In Thuringia, the species is threatened with extinction. In Austria, the species is also threatened with extinction. The destruction of most of the lean sandy areas in recent decades also the habitat of the silver grass has largely been lost. The currently remaining small-area locations are particularly threatened by the nitrogen input from adjacent agricultural land.