Nardus stricta

Mat-grass ( Nardus stricta )

Mat-grass ( Nardus stricta ), also known as deer hair or Bürstling, is the only species of one genus of the tribe Nardus Nardeae within the plant family of grasses ( Poaceae ). It is widespread in Eurasia.

Description

The bristle grass is a wintering green, perennial herbaceous plant that reaches the plant height 10-30 inches. It grows in gray-green, board-like nests. The dense, solid clumps are surrounded by the yellowish leaves of the previous year. The stalks are thin and rough under the ears.

The leaves are divided into leaf sheath and blade. The sheath has a joint, on which the lower leaves horizontally flex outwardly. The ligule is pointed to two millimeters long. The leaf blades are borstlich while wild and densely tufted (so-called " Punkerschopf ").

The flowering period extends from May to July. The single-flowered, 7-15 mm long spikelets are narrow, einseitswendig, weakly convex and initially bristle- shaped ( hence the name). The spikelets are purple to bluish. There are no Glumes present. The lemma is kurzgrannig and very dark. At maturity, the spikelets are available from a comb.

Ecology

When bristle grass is a hemicryptophytes. To the Horst producing a dense scatter blanket, as the dead leaves are difficult decomposable. The leaves are borstlich; presumably as an adaptation to the mineral salt poverty of the soil, it is therefore an Peinomorphose before. It is rooted deep to 80 cm. Vegetative reproduction occurs by the long creeping, up to 5 cm rhizome. The rhizome is short, creeping and adjusts to the periods of the year zigzag bent, board -shaped sympodium dar. It is a VA -mycorrhiza before; Symbiotic partner is probably the most typical for corresponding grasses symbioses fungus Glomus intraradices. The type is a Rohhumuszehrer.

The flowers are wind-pollinated and vorweiblich.

The airspace of a surrounded Karyposen are encased by the remaining deck and palea. Its propagation is done as Regenschwemmling and because of the harsh lemmas also takes place Velcro spread, as well as randomly spread with food intake by ungulates. Fruit ripening is from August to October.

Occurrence

The bristle grass is widespread throughout Europe, in the Caucasus, in Siberia and in Turkey. It is found in many parts of Europe. In North Africa, it is located only in Algeria. The bristle grass is a neophyte in North America and Greenland.

In Austria, the bristle grass is in all provinces often ( in Vienna rare) from the ( colline ) montane to alpine height under level.

As the site preferably the kalkmeidende plant acidophilous Magerrasen, especially pasture grass ( grazing in forests it is a relic ). It occurs only periodically (or physiologically ) dry soil.

When bristle grass is among other things, the eponymous character species of the alpine community Nardetum strictae ( mat-grass pasture, high Nardus grass mats).

Others

Bristle grass is sensitive to liming and fertilization. It is a Rohhumuszeiger and Trockentorfbildner. The grass shows extensive grazing. It is eaten by cattle only in the young state. Appreciated it is as Bodenbefestiger on gray dunes. Bristle grass is favored by grazing and long snow cover.

The name Nardus was transferred arbitrarily Linnaeus to this genus. In ancient times, was nardos ( from the Indian ) a fragrance oil ( spikenard ) -providing valerian plant, later were referred to the aromatic smelling basic axes of different beard grass species.