Deschampsia cespitosa

Common name: tufted hairgrass, Beringian grass.

Abbreviation code (Codon): DECE

Synonyms:

Agrostis caespitosa (L.) Salisb.
Aira alpicola (Rydb.) Rydb.
Aira ambigua Michx.
Aira aristulata Torr.
Aira caespitosa Muhl.
Aira cespitosa L.
Avena caespitosa (L.) Kuntze
Campella caespitosa (L.) Link
Deschampsia alpicola Rydb.
Deschampsia ambigua P. Beauv. ex B.D. Jacks.
Deschampsia andina Phil.
Deschampsia biebersteiniana Schult.
Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv.
Deschampsia caespitosa ssp. genuina (Reichenb.) Volk.
Deschampsia cespitosa var. confinis Vasey ex Beal
Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. genuina (Reichenb.) Volk.
Deschampsia cespitosa var. strictior Kurtz
Deschampsia confinis (Vasey ex Beal) Rydb.
Deschampsia pungens Rydb.
Podionapus caespitosus (L.) Dulac

Taxonomy

Kingdom Plantae – plants
Subkingdom Viridaeplantae – green plants
Division Tracheophyta – vascular plants
Subdivision Spermatophytina – seed plants,
Infradivision Angiospermae – flowering plants
Class Magnoliopsida
Superorder Lilianae – monocotyledons
Order Poales
Family Poaceae – grasses
Genus Deschampsia P. Beauv. – hairgrass
SpeciesDeschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. – tufted hairgrass

Description

Tufted hairgrass is a densely cespitose cool-season native perennial bunchgrass. Culms are hollow, slender, erect, and 8 to 48 inches (20-120 cm) in height.

Abundant leaves form basal tufts; blades are 0.8 to 13 inches (2-33 cm) long and 0.04 to 0.16 inch (1-4 mm) wide.

The inflorescence is generally a loose, open panicle, though occasionally narrow and contracted; it is 4 to 12 inches (10-30 cm) long.

Branches are whorled, hairlike, and spikelet-bearing near their tips. Spikelets are two- to occasionally three-flowered. Lemmas are awned toward the base. The fruit is a caryopsis.

Bloom Period

Blooms in June, fruit ripens through summer and fall.

Distribution

Transcontinental Canada, s. to NC, WV, Great Lakes, ND, mts. of NM, AZ & CA

Habitat

Deschampsia cepitosa occurrence is circumglobal, extending throughout cooler regions of the northern Hemisphere. In Oregon and Washington, sites with tufted hairgrass include seasonally wet soils in low lying areas of the western interior valleys, tidal mudflats and estuarine plant communities near the coast, poorly drained fields, and moist mountain meadows. It can form nearly pure stands in wet or intermittently flooded areas. The species is highly variable.

Occurs in fine, medium and coarse soils – sandy loam, sandy clayey loam, silty loam, loam, loamy clay, and clay. Tufted hairgrass growth is rated fair on sandy loam and good on loam and clayey loam.

Uses

Tufted hairgrass is frequently grazed by bears. Sitka black-tailed deer and feral horses consume tufted hairgrass. Larval host and/or nectar source for Umber Skipper. Attracts birds.

First Nations people report that seeds of Deschampsia species were eaten by indigenous Californians.

Propagation

Tufted hairgrass can be grown for seed on well drained medium to fine textured soils on uplands as well as on poorly-drained silts and clays in low lying areas. If seasonally flooded areas are to be used for seed production, fields must be firm enough to perform weed control measures and dry enough to windrow and harvest by as early as mid-June (western Oregon). This species is broadly adapted to soils that are acid to neutral (pH 4.5-7.0).

Good results from fall sowing. In a nursery, sow in containers in April on heat (night -15º C, days 20-24º C), germination in 30 days. Cover lightly with soil and screen until germination occurs. Plugs form slowly in about 60 days if kept continually moist and at a constant temperature (S. Bastin, pers. comm.).

Can be very aggressive. Leave room to spread or control in place. Doesn't tolerate transplanting unless well-rooted (S. Bastin, pers. comm.).

Photo Gallery

Seed

Average Measurement with husk/awn: 3.4 x 0.8 x 0.8

Average Measurement without husk/awn: 1.8 x 0.6 x 0.6

Measurement Range with husk/awn: L: 2.5 – 4.5, W: 0.5 – 1, D: 0.6 – 1

Measurement Range with husk/awn: L: 1.5 – 2, W: 0.5 – 0.75, D: 0.5 – 0.6

Features

Shape: Seed narrow at hilum and opposite apex, rounded in the middle.

Additional Structures: Lemma thin, and have several nerves running across them. Awn originates from the hilum and is about 1 ½ times the length of the seed body. Hilum bearded with feather like appendage. Palea also thin.

Color: Tan palea and lemma, awn slightly darker brown. Inner seed red-brown, and somewhat transparent.

Surface: Seed finely longitudinally striate and lustrous. Awn finely barbed.

Latitudinal Cross Section: elliptical

Longitudinal Cross Section: elliptical