Molinia

Right: purple moor grass ( Molinia caerulea)

The pipes grasses ( Molinia ) are a genus of plants of the family Gramineae ( Poaceae ). In this genre there are four types, two of which occur in Central Europe. There are occurrences in Europe, Africa, the temperate climate in Asia and North America. Among these are typical for meadows grasses.

The botanical genus name is derived from Juan Ignacio Molina (1737-1829), a Jesuit living in Chile and botanist. The German common name derives from the use of the hard stems from a pipe cleaner.

Description

The Molinia species are perennial, herbaceous plants. The pipes grasses are hemicryptophytes: The dense clumps of foliage in winter to protect the renewal buds, which are located near the earth's surface. They make more than short rhizomes. The upright stems are 15 to 120 cm long depending on the type. The ligule ( ligule ) consists of a Haarsaum. The narrow, rough leaves of mostly blue-gray color reach a length of 30 to 90 cm. Your eye-catching autumn colors ranging from yellow to yellow brown to reddish brown tones.

The Rispige inflorescence is composed of solitary, 4-15 mm long spikelets. Fertile spikelets are stalked and included depending on the type a fertile to six flowers. There are also sterile flowers available. The glumes are keeled or ungekielt. The membranous lemma is ungekielt and wingless with three to five nerves. The palea is about the same as the awn with two nerves. The two Schwellkörperchen ( Lodiculae ) are fleshy. There are three stamens and two stigma lobes present.

The caryopses are obovate. The hilum is the same length as the achene.

Use as an ornamental plant

Moor grass species offer with its many varieties use a rich opportunity. They are in gardens as a specimen plant, but also for group planting. Gern are they used in semi-natural herbaceous plantings. The cultivar ' Variegata' is suitable for the rock garden. A corresponding to its natural occurrence location finds it in heather gardens or on the edge of woodland plantings. The flowers and seed heads are often used in flower arranging.

The dry seed heads also remain until spring on the plant and make the garden a decorative winter jewelry. How many perennials can be Molinie easily multiply by dividing it together, however, also for yourself.

System

The genus belongs to the tribe Molinia Arundineae the subfamily Arundinoideae. Synonyms for Molinia cabinet are: Amblytes Dulac, Enodium pers. ex Gaudin, Moliniopsis Hayata, Monilia Gray, orth var

In the genus pipes grasses ( Molinia ), there are two to four types:

• Pipe - moor grass ( Molinia arundinacea closet, Ex.: Molinia litoralis host, Molinia altissima link)
• Japanese moor grass ( Molinia japonica Hackel, Syn: Moliniopsis japonica ( Hackel ) Hayata ): home is the north-eastern Asia.

No longer belong to the genus:

• Molinia maxima Hartm. ⇒ Glyceria maxima ( Hartm. ) Holmb.
• Molinia squarrosa Trin. ⇒ Kengia squarrosa ( Trin. ) Packer