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Common River Grass

Scolochloa festucacea (Willd.) Link

Comments

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This is a forage grass, providing hay from swampy areas.
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 245 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
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Description

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Plant with spreading spongy rhizomes. Culms robust, erect from a decumbent base, rooting at lower nodes, 0.7–2 m tall. Leaf sheaths smooth, glabrous; leaf blades 15–40 cm × 4–10 mm, smooth, margins sharply scabrid, apex finely acuminate; ligule 3–8 mm, truncate. Panicle loose, elliptic to ovate in outline, 15–30 cm; branches 2–4 at each node, erect at first, spreading after anthesis, naked in lower half, scabrid. Spikelets 7–10 mm, florets (2–)3–4(–5); glumes broadly lanceolate, lower glume 6.5–8 mm, upper glume 7.3–10 mm; lemmas 6–8 mm; palea lanceolate, ca. 6 mm. Anthers 2.5–3.4 mm. Fl. Jun–Aug. 2n = 28.
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 245 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
project
eFloras.org
original
visit source
partner site
eFloras

Distribution

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Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol [Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia; SW Asia (Caucasus), NE Europe, North America].
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 245 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
project
eFloras.org
original
visit source
partner site
eFloras

Habitat

provided by eFloras
Shallow, slow-flowing water, swamps; below 1000 m.
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 245 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
project
eFloras.org
original
visit source
partner site
eFloras

Synonym

provided by eFloras
Arundo festucacea Willdenow, Enum. Pl. 1: 126. 1809; Donax borealis Trinius; Festuca borealis (Trinius) Mertens & Koch ex Rôhling; Fluminia arundinacea (Roemer & Schultes) Fries; F. festucacea (Willdenow) Hitchcock; Graphephorum arundinaceum (Roemer & Schultes) Ascherson; Schedonorus arundinaceus Roemer & Schultes (1817), not (Schreber) Dumortier (1824), nom. cons.
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of China Vol. 22: 245 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of China @ eFloras.org
editor
Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan
project
eFloras.org
original
visit source
partner site
eFloras

Common Names

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
common river grass
whitetop rivergrass
sprangletop
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Conservation Status

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The Nature Conservancy Heritage Program lists common river grass as critically
imperiled in Wyoming because of extreme rarity [2].
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Cover Value

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More info for the term: cover

Common river grass provides good nesting cover for some waterfowl, shorebirds, and
ground-nesting raptors [7,10,39].
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Description

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More info for the term: cool-season

Common river grass is an emergent, perennial, rhizomatous cool-season grass which
grows 2.6 to 4.9 feet (0.8-1.5 m) tall. The stout culms are hollow and
0.1 to 0.2 inches (3-5 mm) in diameter near the base. The extensive
rhizomes are soft, thick, and succulent [13,23,36]. Some authors [5,17]
suggest common river grass is an introduced species to the United States because
of its scattered distribution. However, abundant collection of common river grass
in North Dakota over a long period of time suggests that it is native
[13].
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Distribution

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Common river grass has a circumpolar distribution. In North America, it occurs
primarily in the Northern Great Plains and Prairie Pothole region of the
United States and Canada from Nebraska and Iowa north through Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, and Alberta to the Northwest Territories. Disjunct
populations occur in eastern Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska
[13,14,16,17,19,23].
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Fire Ecology

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More info for the term: litter

Common river grass resists fire by sprouting from rhizomes. It occurs on sites
that most often experience fire in late summer or early fall when no
longer flooded. Fire benefits common river grass stands by removing excess litter
which suppresses common river grass growth [37]. Fire may also create openings in
other plant communities, allowing common river grass to establish [44].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Fire Management Considerations

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Prescribed fall burning of common river grass increases biomass production [4,37].
In North Dakota, burned stands averaged 11,580 kilograms per hectare and
unburned stands averaged 7,480 kilograms per hectare. Fire did not
affect the nutrient levels in common river grass [37].

Diiro [3] investigated the effects of burning and mowing on common river grass
ponds and associated wildlife in Manitoba. Fall fires were conducted
after the first hard frost and spring fires were conducted during dry
days from early April to June. Fall prescribed burns had greater stem
densities and biomass the following growing season than did unburned
control sites, mowed sites, spring prescribed burns, or sites
undisturbed for one growing season.

Diiro [3] concluded that prescribed burning to increase common river grass biomass
has detrimental effects on wetland wildlife. Burning is most feasible
in dry years when wildlife are most susceptible because of decreased
habitat availability. Ponds are more likely to contain water in the
spring if they were not burned in the fall. Dead, standing common river grass
culms catch and retain snow, and fall burning decreases this moisture
retention capability. Diiro [3] recommended fall prescribed burning
only in areas that do not rely on snow trapped within ponds as a water
source. Even when feasible, he does not recommend spring fires because
they destroy nests.
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Growth Form (according to Raunkiær Life-form classification)

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More info for the term: hemicryptophyte

Hemicryptophyte
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat characteristics

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More info for the term: marsh

Common river grass grows in northern climates where the winters are cold. It
occurs in seasonally flooded wetlands including wet depressed meadows,
prairie potholes, and lake and river margins [4,20,36].
Common river grass shoots
have been observed elongating in 32 degree Fahrenheit (0 deg C) water
[36]. Common river grass occurs in freshwater and saline wetlands, with optimal
occurrence in oligosaline water [20,26].
Common river grass germination is
substantially reduced by soil sodium chloride concentrations of 1,000
parts per million and higher [11,38]. Optimal seedling emergence
occurred in soil containing 250 parts per million sodium chloride.
Seedling emergence decreased steadily as magnesium chloride
concentrations increased from 0 to 6,000 parts per million [38].
Common river grass has been reported in water with specific conductivity as low as
0.1 and as high as 12.1 millisiemens per centimeter, with a mean of 3.4
[20,38]. Common river grass
occurs in the shallow marsh zone which is inundated by snowmelt
water until June or July [36]. The soil surface does not dry out except
possibly at the end of the growing season [26]. The thick, corky
epidermis of the rhizomes prevents desiccation by drying or freezing
[36]. Established common river grass is generally tolerant of continuous flooding
for 1 to 2 years, with individual plants surviving as many as 5 to 6
years [31]. Common river grass grows on mineral soils high in clay with some organic matter
[15,36]. In the Peace-Athabasca Delta of Alberta, average particle
distribution of the mineral fraction of common river grass sites was 5 percent
sand, 49 percent silt, and 46 percent clay. Organic content in the
upper 12 inches (30 cm) averaged 23 percent, and soil pH averaged 6 [4].
license
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Ecosystem

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This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

FRES17 Elm - ash - cottonwood
FRES37 Mountain meadows
FRES38 Plains grasslands
FRES39 Prairie
FRES41 Wet grasslands
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Plant Associations

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This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

K049 Tule marshes
K066 Wheatgrass - needlegrass
K067 Wheatgrass - bluestem - needlegrass
K074 Bluestem prairie
K075 Nebraska Sandhills prairie
K098 Northern floodplain forest
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cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Immediate Effect of Fire

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More info for the term: litter

Common river grass is probably top-killed by fire. Rhizomes may be damaged by
fires which occur during drought when the soil is dry and litter
moisture content is low.
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Importance to Livestock and Wildlife

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More info for the term: marsh

Common river grass provides important habitat for nesting waterfowl [10,39].
Dabbling ducks including mallards, northern pintails, gadwalls,
widgeons, northern shovelers, blue-winged teals, and green-winged teals
nest in common river grass. White-winged scoters, redheads, and lesser scaups
occasionally nest in common river grass [39]. American bitterns, northern
harriers, and short-eared owls nest in tall coarse wet-meadow or marsh
vegetation including common river grass [7]. Common river grass
provides valuable forage for cattle [23].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Key Plant Community Associations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: codominant, fresh, marsh

Common river grass occurs in emergent communities of seasonally flooded wetlands.
It often occurs in bands along the shore, bordered by cattail (Typha
spp.) or bulrush (Scirpus spp.) in deeper water and slough sedge (Carex
atherodes) on the shallower, drier side [36]. It also occurs in shallow
basins within common reed (Phragmites australis) stands [44].
Common river grass forms monospecific stands in moderately saline wetlands. It is
not as likely to attain dominance in fresh or saltwater wetlands [45].
Common river grass is most commonly associated with slough sedge [3,6,36]. Other
important associates include common spikerush (Eleocharis macrostachya),
American sloughgrass (Beckmannia syzigachne), American mannagrass
(Glyceria grandis), and bluejoint reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis)
[4,25,36]. Minor associates include perennial sow thistle (Sonchus
arvensis), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), smartweed (Polygonum spp.),
field mint (Mentha arvensis), rough bugleweed (Lycopus asper), marsh
hedgenettle (Stachys palustris), and Canada germander (Teucrium
canadense) [33]. Common river grass is listed as a dominant or codominant in the following
publications:

1. Landscape classification and plant successional trends in the
Peace-Athabasca Delta [4]
2. Riparian dominance types of Montana [15]
3. The vegetation of the Canadian prairie provinces. III. Aquatic and
semi-aquatic vegetation [26]
4. The vegetation of the Canadian prairie provinces. III. Aquatic and
semi-aquatic vegetation, Part 2. Freshwater marshes and bogs [27]
5. The vegetation of Alberta [32]
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Life Form

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More info for the term: graminoid

Graminoid
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Management considerations

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More info for the term: litter

Neill [33] studied the effect of fertilizer on common river grass marshes in
Manitoba. Common river grass biomass increased after 1 year but decreased after 2
years of fertilizing with nitrogen. The second year decrease was
attributed to the mat of litter created by the tall weakened culms which
resulted from the first fertilizer application. Phosphorus had no
effect on common river grass biomass [33].

Moderate to heavy grazing decreases common river grass productivity. The soft
rhizomes which are near the soil surface may be damaged by trampling
[18]. If heavily grazed, common river grass may be replaced by bulrush [23].

Eldridge [8] describes management strategies for maintaining
semipermanent wetlands in the Prairie Pothole region.
license
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Nutritional Value

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
Kirby and others [21] measured percent digestibility, protein, and
phosphorus during four seasons: late spring, early summer, mid-summer,
and late summer. Common river grass had good protein and digestibility levels
early in the season, but levels declined rapidly after seedfill [21].

Smith [37] investigated the effect of growth stage, mowing, and burning
on common river grass nutrient levels. Two growth stage patterns emerged:
common river grass nitrogen levels decreased through the flowering stage, then
increased, and potassium levels decreased throughout the growing season.
Burning and mowing during the previous year did not affect common river grass
nutrient levels. Postflowering average dry-weight nutrient levels of
common river grass, undisturbed by burning or mowing during the previous growing
season, were as follows: 1.02 percent nitrogen, 0.12 percent calcium,
0.08 percent magnesium, 1.2 percent potassium, and 0.0054 percent sodium
[37].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Occurrence in North America

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AK IA MN MT NE ND OR SD UT WY
AB BC MB NT SK
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Palatability

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Common river grass is highly palatable to livestock [37].
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Phenology

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Common river grass shoot emergence is initiated from mid-April to mid-May while
the ground is still inundated with water. Deeply submerged plants break
the water surface at the same time as plants in shallow water. Flowers
develop in May. Seeds mature from mid-June to late July. Germination
of 1-year-old or older seeds occurs from mid-July to late August when
the ground surface is no longer inundated. Rhizomes are produced from
late August to mid-September. Dormancy begins in late September and
early October [36].
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Plant Response to Fire

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: density, litter, marsh

Common river grass sprouts from rhizomes after fire. Fall fire removes the dead
standing culms and accumulated litter, allowing unimpeded spring growth.
In North Dakota, spring growth was initiated earlier on burned sites
than on unburned sites, possibly because soil and water temperatures
were higher where the litter had been removed by fire [37].

In Saskatchewan, each of 13 marsh stands composed of common river grass, slough
sedge, and common spikerush was burned one to four times during a
10-year study period. The species composition did not change [31].

In Manitoba, common river grass shoots emerged 5 days after a late July fire and
were 4 inches (10 cm) tall after 10 days. At the end of the growing
season, common river grass on burned and unburned areas averaged 19.5 inches (49.5
cm) and 37.4 inches (95.0 cm) tall, respectively. Stem density was less
on burned areas. After the next full growing season, common river grass stem
height was still less but stem density was greater on burned areas. The
fire opened up stands of common reed and stimulated growth of common river grass
within these stands. Red goosefoot (Chenopodium rubrum) established
with the regenerating common river grass, especially where common river grass roots had been
killed as peaty humus burned [44].
license
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Post-fire Regeneration

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More info for the terms: fire regime, herb, rhizome

Rhizomatous herb, rhizome in soil

FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this species may occur by entering the
species name in the FEIS home page under "Find FIRE REGIMES".
license
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Regeneration Processes

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: density, litter, rhizome, seed, stratification

Common river grass regenerates and spreads primarily by shallow rhizomes. In
North Dakota, a road grader removed the vegetation from a site dominated
by hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus). The following growing season, the
cleared area was dominated by common river grass with 90 stems per square foot
(998 stems/sq m) while water was still 16 inches (40 cm) deep. Common river grass
regenerated from rhizomes in the substrate [36].

Although common river grass generally produces abundant seeds, it does so only if
wetlands contain water early in the spring [18]. Seeds are dispersed by
water movement and accumulate in the seedbank [34,43].

Smith [38] tested the effects of stratification temperatures and times
on germination of wet and dry common river grass seeds. Results were variable.
Galinato and van der Valk [11] reported that stratification does not
improve common river grass germination.

Seed burial, which occurs with inundation, is required for common river grass
emergence. Anaerobic conditions stimulate fermentation which increases
the germination rate. In summer, anaerobic conditions increase as water
levels decrease and potholes stagnate. Seeds, which have been
stimulated by early season anaerobic conditions, germinate when light
reaches the substrate and the ground is no longer submerged [11,36]. A
seed burial depth of 0.4 inches (1 cm) maximizes emergence and seedling
length and weight [38]. Seedlings can reach the soil surface from a
maximum depth of 2 inches (5 cm) [11]. Smith [36] found no seedlings in
areas with heavy litter accumulation.

Few common river grass seedlings become established. A seedling must have a
rhizome to survive the winter. Seedlings produce a rhizome 30 to 60
days after emergence. The window of time between germination and
dormancy is often too short to produce a rhizome [36].

Merendino and others [29,30] investigated common river grass establishment and
success on artificially created mudflats subject to reflooding 1 year
later at different depths. Mudflats were created at four drawdown
dates: May 15, June 15, July 15, and August 15. Seedling density,
measured on August 30, was highest with the June 15 and July 15
drawdowns. The soil may have been too cold for germination in May. The
plots were reflooded the following May with four depths: 0, 6, 12, and
20 inches (0, 15, 30, and 50 cm). By August 30, most 1-year-old
common river grass seedlings had died with 12 inches (30 cm) or more of continuous
flooding [29,30].

McKee and others [28] investigated root metabolic response of common river grass
to flooding. Common river grass has insufficient air space development in the
roots to allow complete aerobic metabolism during prolonged flooding.
It is not as tolerant of flooding as hybrid cattail (Typha glauca),
hardstem bulrush, softstem bulrush (Scirpus validus), or common reed [28].
license
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Regional Distribution in the Western United States

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This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

5 Columbia Plateau
8 Northern Rocky Mountains
9 Middle Rocky Mountains
14 Great Plains
16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands
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Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Successional Status

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Facultative Seral Species Common river grass colonizes exposed mud flats [14,20,43]. Once established, it
persists under a seasonally flooded regime. Common river grass occupies a fairly
specific environment with respect to water level. It is replaced by
cattail and bulrush when average water levels rise and by sedge (Carex
spp.) and American mannagrass when average water levels drop [4,32].
On nutrient-rich saline sites with stable water levels, common river grass and
slough sedge replace cattail as the pond bottom gradually builds up with
silt and organic matter [24].
license
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Taxonomy

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
The currently accepted scientific name for common river grass is Scolochloa
festucacea (Willd.) Link (Poaceae) [13,14,16,19,23]. There are no
currently accepted infrataxa.
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bibliographic citation
Carey, Jennifer H. 1994. Scolochloa festucacea. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Physical Description

provided by USDA PLANTS text
Perennials, Terrestrial, not aquatic, Rhizomes present, Rhizome elongate, creeping, stems distant, Stems nodes swollen or brittle, Stems erect or ascending, Stems terete, round in cross section, or polygonal, Stem internodes hollow, Stems with inflorescence 1-2 m tall, Stems, culms, or scapes exceeding basal leaves, Leaves mostly cauline, Leaves conspicuously 2-ranked, distichous, Leaves sheathing at base, Leaf sheath mostly open, or loose, Leaf sheath smooth, glabrous, Leaf sheath and blade differentiated, Leaf sheath enlarged, inflated or distended, Leaf blades linear, Leaf blades 2-10 mm wide, Leaf blades 1-2 cm wide, Leaf blades mostly flat, Leaf blades mostly glabrous, Leaf blades scabrous, roughened, or wrinkled, Ligule present, Ligule an unfringed eciliate membrane, Inflorescence terminal, Inflorescence an open panicle, openly paniculate, branches spreading, Inflorescence solitary, with 1 spike, fascicle, glomerule, head, or cluster per stem or culm, Inflorescence branches more than 10 to numerous, Lower panicle branches whorled, Flowers bisexual, Spikelets pedicellate, Spikelets sessile or subsessile, Spikelets laterally compressed, Spikelet less than 3 mm wide, Spikelets with 3-7 florets, Spikelets solitary at rachis nodes, Spikelets all alik e and fertille, Spikelets bisexual, Spikelets disarticulating above the glumes, glumes persistent, Spikelets disarticulating beneath or between the florets, Rachilla or pedicel glabrous, Glumes present, empty bracts, Glumes 2 clearly present, Glumes distinctly unequal, Glumes equal to or longer than adjacent lemma, Glumes 3 nerved, Glumes 4-7 nerved, Lemma similar in texture to glumes, Lemma coriaceous, firmer or thicker in texture than the glumes, Lemma 5-7 nerved, Lemma 8-15 nerved, Lemma glabrous, Lemma body or surface hairy, Lemma apex acute or acuminate, Lemma awnless, Lemma mucronate, very shortly beaked or awned, less than 1-2 mm, Lemma margins thin, lying flat, Lemma straight, Callus or base of lemma evidently hairy, Callus hairs shorter than lemma, Palea present, well developed, Palea membranous, hyaline, Palea longer than lemma, Palea 2 nerved or 2 keeled, Stamens 3, Styles 2-fid, deeply 2-branched, Stigmas 2, Fruit - caryopsis, Caryopsis ellipsoid, longitudinally grooved, hilum long-linear, Caryopsis hairy at apex.
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
compiler
Dr. David Bogler
source
Missouri Botanical Garden
source
USDA NRCS NPDC
original
visit source
partner site
USDA PLANTS text